10 Best Ice Cream Makers Consumer Reports & Reviews 2022

If you are searching for the best ice cream maker according to consumer reports in 2022 then this post is for you.

Nothing can beat the heat of summer better than your favorite ice cream scoop.

You can’t run to the nearest ice cream shop every other day to satisfy your overnight cravings; it’s neither economical nor practical.

The better option comes in handy to buy an ice cream maker that brings yummy ice cream within reach of every family member.

From traditional to modern design, ice cream makers bring various capacities, styles, and features.

In this post, I am going to review the best ice cream makers as per consumer reports. So without further ado, let’s get started.

Best Ice Cream Maker Consumer Reports

I have compiled a list of the 7 best ice cream makers based on consumer reports 2022.

1. Lello 4080 Ice Cream Maker

Creating professional-style ice cream at home is made possible with Lello 4080 dessert maker.

It comes with a 1.5-quart capacity, good enough to meet the demand of the whole family.

This automatic maker would require one and a half hours to complete the entire operation.

Churning out tasty ice cream is effortless as no pre-cooling is required; pour all the ingredients in its non-removable bowl and start making a delicious dessert.

This user-friendly machine brings a two-button operation with a dial timer. You don’t need to check its manual as every operation and button is simple to use.

However, you can find some delicious recipes of gelato in the manual, worth a try.

People become skeptical about cleaning when an ice cream maker has a built-in bowl, but all you need to remove desert with stainless steel stapula. Pour warm water and wipe it all with a clean sponge.

2. Whynter ICM-201SB Automatic Ice Cream Maker

When you need to churn out smooth and creamy ice cream for a big family, products like Whynter ICM-201SB seem like a good option.

This self-contained frozen dessert maker comes with a 2.1 quart or 2-liter capacity. The stainless steel housing makes this investment long-lasting.

The Digital panel has an LCD timer, so you will enjoy full control over the ice-cream-making process where you can have 0.4ºF to -31ºF Cooling temperature.

This dessert maker is suitable for churning out freshly homemade frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream.

The motor protection function is a safety net that protects stainless steel housing from damage.

It will automatically shut off the maker when the mixture inside the bowl freezes solid.

When it comes to cleaning, a stainless steel removal mixing bowl is easier to clean with liquid soap and a spatula. Remove the blade first for quick cleaning and easy storage.

Mix-only mode lets you mix the required ingredients smoothly while the keep-cool model switches on automatically to keep your ice cream from melting.

3. Cuisinart ICE-100 Ice Cream and Gelato Maker

Making commercial-quality ice cream at home is made possible with Cuisinart ICE-100.

Having batch after batch of your favorite ice cream will not be a problem.

With a maximum capacity of 1.5 quarts, you can easily make delicious and tasty homemade ice cream for the whole family.

You can’t run a cleanup operation on metal parts through a dishwasher, but going with a manual cleaning won’t be a challenging chore. The removable bowl is comfortable to remove and clean.

This fully automatic ice cream maker doesn’t require much effort from your side after slipping the ingredients in the bowl; keep an eye on its digital timer where you can have your sweet snack ready only within 60 minutes.

Once the timer goes off, your snack will stay cold for almost 10 minutes.

The machine is integrated with two paddles, where one paddle would help you make creamy ice cream, while a gelato paddle would let you taste a lip-smacking gelato.

The machine is designed with gelato and sorbet paddles that blend air in the ingredients to create a rich, creamy texture featured with intense flavor.

4. Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker

If you want to make the ice cream whenever the mood strikes, Breville’s ice cream maker would be an ultimate blessing.

With a 1-liter bowl capacity and 12 hardness settings, you can make a yummy scoop of your favorite ice cream.

There is a little hatch door that lets you add sprinkles and other additional ingredients at the end of the process.

You can make the most of its prep freeze and keep cold functions. You can opt for fully automatic or manual operation.

This smart ice cream maker has its self refrigeration compressor, so keeping your ready ice cream cool for almost three hours won’t be a challenge anymore.

Based on your personal preference and flavor, you can select your preferred hardness or softness.

The secret of taking full advantage of this ice cream maker is to read its manual, become familiar with its different functions, and then follow the best recipes. People on the keto diet can give it a try to other energy-riched desserts.

Taking all its parts off and putting them together won’t take more than two minutes. Once you get to know different settings, this ice cream maker becomes easier to use.

Best of all, when dessert is ready, you will get quick music alerts, three music tones to choose from its digital screen.

5. Whynter ICM-200LS 2.1 Quart Ice Cream Maker

Making a fully-customized frozen dessert at home is super convenient because it is easy to use a 2-quart capacity ice cream maker.

This fully-automatic machine doesn’t require you to put a bowl in the freezer for one day before ice-cream making.

Its built-in stainless steel bowl is ready to run the churning ingredient option; all you have to press the start button.

Once ice-cream is ready, its extended cooling function doesn’t let the temperature disrupt your ready product’s texture and consistency.

The motor protection function will automatically turn off the motor once dessert is prepared, so your motor doesn’t get overheated.

You can have two quarts of frozen dessert in a single batch, and it’s enough capacity for a big family.

Even when you need more, running another batch is super quick and easy. The stainless steel bowl adds aesthetic and durability features to this ice cream maker.

Although this machine is super friendly, you better read all the manual instructions for smooth operation.

6. Cuisinart ICE-70 Electronic Ice Cream Maker

When your task is to make a yummy scoop of ice cream for the whole family as quickly as possible, you need to rely only on Cuisinart ICE-70.

This fully-automatic ice cream maker has a capacity of making 2 quarts in less than twenty minutes.

That means even when your family needs a second round of different flavors, you can make it without going through any hassle.

This compact housing of Cuisinart has got its aesthetic appeal with sleek brushed chrome.

Inside this body, you will explore a two qt freezer bowl with an improved paddle to boost processing time, whereas its bowl has an ingredient spout bowl.

Even Breville gives you a free measuring cup to make the whole scoop making the process quicker.

A simple upfront digital display lets you choose auto settings for churning ice cream, sorbet, and gelato.

Once frozen dessert is ready, the machine turns off automatically. Even display showcases a countdown timer to give you a clear idea of how long you will wait to serve your taste buds with sweet snacks.

Once you study the whole manual, operating this maker will become an easier task.

Don’t forget to try the secret recipe that comes alongside the manual. Best of all, the machine churns ice cream quietly.

7. Cuisinart ICE-45P1 Mix Serve

Do you need a professional-style ice cream maker and dispenser at home? Look no further as Cuisinart ICE-45P1 Mix Serve will bring a fun activity for your kids.

You can make 1.5-quart ice cream in a day; there is a need to keep a Double-insulated bowl in the freezer overnight and then put it in the machine where ice cream churn out time is almost 15 minutes.

Please don’t churn it more than 15 else you will get a buttery texture instead of a soft creamy one.

Once the cream is ready, fill chocolate chips, M&M, and sprinkles in three built-in compartments.

There is a cone holder on the right side of the ice cream dispenser. Now your kids can fill their cone with ice cream and then add their favorite mix-ins.

Pulling out the tab and serving ice cream with different mix-ins would be a real fun-filled experience.

No need to work with chemicals, salt, or Ice. All parts are removable and make cleaning easy.

8. Whynter ICM-15LS Automatic Ice Cream Maker 1.6 Quart Capacity

Are you planning to churn homemade ice cream for your small family?

You can make up your mind about an automatic ice cream maker from Whynter ICM-15LS, which offers a 1.6 Quart Capacity.

It is an award-winning best homemade ice cream maker by top online consumer magazines like Real Simple and WireCutter.

The Built-in powerful compressor doesn’t require any pre-freezing of the bowl in the freezer.

This versatile machine allows you to make various frozen desserts, not just premium quality ice cream.

So, when you are in a mood to taste sorbet, fresh frozen yogurt, Italian gelato, and other sweet snacks, then you need to gather the required ingredients and start churning them in this fully automatic machine.

You can turn your ingredients into a dessert in less than 30 minutes; it’s super fast and efficient.

There is a built-in audible timer with LCD timer control, so you can set time as per recipe and get a quick alert when your treat for sweet teeth is ready to serve.

The stainless steel housing of an ice cream maker blends beautifully with your modern kitchen style.

You can have a cooling temperature: -0.4°F to -31°F with this smart ice cream maker.

You can remove its blade and bowl and give them a quick rinse with warm water for cleaning tasks; it won’t take more than five minutes.

9. Nostalgia WICM4L Electric Ice Cream Maker Makes 4-Quarts

Want to churn ice cream for an upcoming party? You need a large-capacity 4-quart ice cream maker from Nostalgia.

This classic design will remind you of a time when your grandmother prepared a delicious treat for you.

This large-capacity wooden bucket is featured with a 4-quart aluminum canister in which you can pour all the ingredients and put it inside a wooden bucket after filling with layers of Ice and salt.

This conventional design ice cream maker doesn’t require much effort from your side as it has an electric motor that would handle auto-intensive stirring.

There is a motor lock that keeps all the parts secure and at their place. There is a see-thru lid that lets you get an idea of whether your ice cream has reached its final stage or not.

For making some delicious desserts, you should use Nostalgia Ice cream kits, though you can give a try to your favorite recipes.

10. Cuisinart 1.5 Quart Frozen Yogurt ICE-21P1 Ice Cream Maker

Many people complain that it’s hard to work with a homemade ice cream maker as its motor gets overheated and damages the product.

You have to stay close to the machine all the time to avoid this scenario, and it’s a big hassle.

Thanks to Cuisinart, you don’t need to keep around an ice cream maker as it has brought a safety feature.

If the motor overrun or gets heated due to continuous operation, it will shut down automatically.

Before preparing any sweet snack, put a double-insulated bowl in the freezer for almost 24 hours; this freezer bowl contains cooling liquid. It has double insulation, thereby for the creation of fast and even freezing.

The next day put it back into the machine and turn it on. Add all the ingredients, and lock the lid on the bowl with a comfortable lock facility.

To make the rich, creamy texture of your ice cream, the brand has added a new paddle design for improved churning and mixing process.

Paddles make frozen desserts faster and provide better flavor than other ice cream makers.

A heavy-duty motor can handle all kinds of frozen desserts such as ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, etc.

Once dessert is ready, you can add mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, m&m, or sprinkles from the ingredient spout.

Ice Cream Maker Buying Guide

Are you out in the market and want to buy the best ice cream maker?

You better keep in mind all those points that need due consideration before you hand over your money to the shopkeeper.

Let’s find out what these factors are.

Types of Ice Cream Maker

You can find three different kinds of frozen dessert machines in the market.

1. Ice & Salt Ice Cream Makers

Do you want to make yummy ice cream in a traditional style?

You should think of buying an ice and salt ice cream maker, and it’s the same machine your grandmother used to create a treat for your sweet teeth. You can get both classic and modern versions of this maker.

With this maker, you will have to prepare and chill the ingredients. Besides, you can’t keep your eyes off this maker while your ingredients turn into ice cream.

People like to buy traditional-style models as they control the texture and consistency of ice cream.

By testing different ice and salt quantities, they can set a temperature that’s right to get desirable results.

2. Electric Frozen Bowl Icecream Maker

Working with this specific machine is more comfortable than that of the salt and Ice model. You only need to keep the machine’s bowl in the freezer for one and two days.

Once the freezing bowl is ready, add ingredients and turn on the machine. It’s pretty simple.

3. Compressor Ice Cream Maker

People who don’t have time and want to produce homemade ice cream spend money on compressor models.

They don’t require any pre-freezing and bring many great features to make the frozen dessert, making the process super convenient.

Although they don’t offer the same taste as conventional ice cream makers, they are still worth your investment.

User-Friendliness

It’s always fun to churn our creamy dessert with your kids, so getting a machine that isn’t difficult to use is certainly not a good investment.

People prefer compressor ice cream makers over manual and pre-freeze bowl options only because these machines are super easy to use.

All you have to do is to mix the ingredients in the bowl and turn on the button. Your sweet snack churns out automatically.

Easy operation depends on multiple factors. What type of machine you use is the first thing; working with a compression one is more straightforward than an electric frozen bowl.

Another thing that adds to convenience is a bowl. People prefer removable bowls as transferring ice cream from a freezing bowl to a standard bowl is super easy, with less hand-movement.

When buying an ice and salt ice cream maker, motor power is a big thing to look into. It would help if you went to spend money on a powerful motor to enjoy the ease of operation.

In case you are making up your mind about compressor ice cream makers, certain features boost convenience.

For example, I prefer a machine with digital control and display to know how much time is left and what function is going on.

Another feature for which you can invest more money is a light-weight bowl that you can lift-out easily.

Capacity

Before you finalize any machine, you better check what the capacity is.

A machine with a large capacity is always a good investment because you can meet the whole family’s demand in one go.

You may save money by purchasing a mini machine maker, but it would require more time and effort from you.

Try to buy a machine that lets you create more than three batches of ice cream without waiting too long. Everyone at home would like to taste a delicious dessert; you can’t keep everyone waiting.

Ice and salt models often have a large capacity, but you can’t make the batch on the same day.

On the flip side, a compressor model might have only 1.5-2 quart capacity, but with a fully automatic machine, you can have ice cream for the whole family on the same day.

Texture and Consistency

You think of buying an ice cream maker because you need professional style and commercial-grade quality. Texture and consistency of ice cream depending on the ice cream maker.

With a compressor ice cream maker, you can have a silky-smooth texture. However, when you need extra control over texture, a salt-ice model is your best bet.

These machines run at slow speed and churn thick ice cream. Compressor models run faster, and thereby they make light and thin ice creams.

Time Requirements

The timing of making ice cream is another factor to consider. With modern and compact fully automatic makers, you can have your ice cream ready in less than an hour.

People who want to make ice cream the same day they decide to taste a new flavor should always invest in a compressor ice cream maker.

People who don’t mind waiting to taste delicious desserts can save money by buying pre-freeze bowl models.

On the first day, you will freeze the bowl, and on the second day, you can pour ingredients. Decide how many hours you are ready to spend on this activity and pick a model accordingly.

Ease of Cleaning

After you taste the creamy flavor of your favorite ice cream, you will have to deal with its cleaning. Of course, your heart will go to a machine that is easy to clean.

A built-in bowl is difficult to clean, while a removable one can be washed in five minutes.

You should read the best ice cream maker reviews to find out whether a machine is easy to clean or not.

Noise

As ice cream makers run on electric motors, noise is unavoidable. However, modern versions of machines come with quiet operation.

If noise is an issue, think of buying a model that would churn out your favorite ice cream without disturbing your neighbors. It’s better to spend extra for your peace of mind.

Appearance

When you have kids at home, they will demand different flavors of ice cream every other day.

You better spend money on an ice cream maker that brings its aesthetic appeal.

Try to spend money on a model that blends beautifully with your existing kitchen style and utensils.

Price and Budget

Your budget is a significant consideration during shopping. Can’t pay too much?

You will get a simple ice cream maker that lets you churn out ice cream in an old-fashion style. That means you need to work more like pre-cooling and mixing stuff.

In case you need a dedicated machine, you better spend money on a high-end maker.

They will add more convenience and bring great features. Best of all, you won’t have to put in much effort.

Don’t mind prep-time and efforts? You can save money and create classic-style ice cream at home with an ice/salt model or freeze bowl. You can get your hands on these machines while spending less than $150.

In case you are not ready to spend the whole day making smooth ice creams prepared to pay more.

With this high-end investment, you will enjoy features like fast speed, no-freezing requirements, great consistency, and ultimate convenience.

Conclusion

When budget is an issue, you should think of buying an ice cream maker with an insulated bowl like one provided by Whynter ICM-15LS Automatic. You will save money while offering a delicious treat to every family member.

For adding a comfort level into your life, it’s good to spend some extra money and buy a fully-automated ice cream maker with a self-refrigerator, so you make ice cream quickly and without spending time pre-freezing a bowl.

You can consider buying Nostalgia’s Electric Ice cream maker if you need an enormous capacity of 4quarts ice cream.

It’s affordable and lets you throw a party without worrying about desserts.

If you need a fun activity for kids, an excellent addition to your kitchen will be an Ice cream maker plus dispenser akaCuisinart ICE-45P1 Mix Serve. Your kids would love to mix-in their favorite toppings on ready ice cream.

FAQs

What are the best ice cream makers for home use?

Here are the best ice cream makers for home use in 2022:

1. Lello 4080 Ice Cream Maker
2. Whynter ICM-201SB Automatic Ice Cream Maker
3. Cuisinart ICE-100 Ice Cream and Gelato Maker
4. Whynter ICM-200LS Automatic Ice Cream Maker
5. Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker
6. Cuisinart ICE-70 Electronic Ice Cream Maker
7. Cuisinart ICE-45P1 Soft Service Ice Cream Maker
8. Little Snowie Max Snow Cone Machine
9. Crownful Ice Maker Countertop Machine
10. Cuisinart 1.5 Quart Ice Cream Maker

How long does it take to make ice cream in an ice cream maker?

Ans: You can make ice cream within 30 to 60 minutes. Timing depends on the model you pick.

Lello can make ice cream in less than 25 minutes, while you need to wait for 50 minutes to make the first batch of ice cream with Cuisinart.

Our ice cream makers worth it?

Yes, when you have kids with sweet teeth, it’s good to spend money on an ice cream maker.

This maker will become your fun activity where you and your kids can churn out their favorite flavors. Besides, it’s healthy to serve your kid’s homemade ice cream.

Is making ice cream cheaper than buying it?

Of course, you can save money by buying an ice cream maker. The cost of homemade products is lesser than what you pay in the market.

How long should you churn ice cream?

Depending on the ingredients, you need to churn out ice cream for 30 to 40 minutes.

Read a review of an ice cream maker you buy to get an idea of how long you need to keep an eye on the bowl.

Electric Freeze vs. Compressor Ice Cream Maker: Which one is the best?

If you don’t mind spending time and effort churning ice cream, you can go with an electric freezer model.

However, when you don’t have much time and need ice cream withs speed, the compressor offers you a professional style frozen dessert quickly

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