Making your own ice cream is not only fun but also gives you the versatility to experiment with different ingredients. And with your own ice cream machine at home, you can have unlimited servings of your favorites, on-demand.
Having an ice cream maker at home also allows you to make your creations healthier. If you are particular about your diet or allergies, you can use only the safest and allowed ingredients to suit your restrictions. And if you have kids, you can still spoil them with their favorite cold dessert but with healthier ingredients, you can sneak in it.
You and your kids can also use an ice cream maker machine and bond over creating different flavors and try them together. It is a good bonding and learning opportunity for the family, adding more memories they can look back when they grow up.
Now that we’ve listed a handful of advantages in owning an ice cream machine at home, it is time to check the functions you need to look for when buying one.
A home ice cream machine must be of the right size to fit normal kitchen space. It also should be able to create enough for the whole family in one go. Parts should also be easy to detach and clean, and operating it should not consume too much electricity.
We checked Amazon for the most rated and raved ice cream machine options and narrowed them down to our best three. Here they are.
Best Ice Cream Machine for Home Use – (Comparison)
| Name | Key Feature | |
| Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker – (Editor’s Choice) | Comes with 2 types of paddle attachment; one for gelato and one for ice cream | Check Price |
| Whynter ICM-201SB Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker 2 Quart | Narrower so it does not take up so much space on your kitchen counter | Check Price |
| Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker | Produces restaurant-quality ice cream or gelato in terms of creaminess, texture, and consistency (as other users also attest to) | Check Price |
Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker – Editor’s Choice
This ice cream machine is a gelato maker, too. This expanded functionality provides you with more options to serve your family, as well as more opportunities to experiment with your ice cream-based desserts.
The Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker is a modern ice cream machine with its digital touchpad controls and panel, a timer, and automatic operation. The controls are intuitive and the design is sleek and modern overall with its stainless-steel finish, which fits your modern kitchen countertop space.
This electric ice cream maker includes two types of paddle attachments, with one designed to create gelato and sorbet while the other one makes creamy ice cream.
In terms of performance, this ice cream machine is powered by a commercial quality compressor. This allows you to create succeeding batches of ice cream without waiting long for the machine to cool down first.
The Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker is easy and convenient to use. Just dump your ingredients and mix them in the anodized aluminum mixing bowl, put it on the base, set the timer (default is at 60 minutes), then press the Start/Stop button to begin the churning process. You can also watch the action via the clear top lid.
With a digital timer readout and a see-through lid, you can know when it is time to add your other ingredients like chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruits, etc., which is when the mixture thickens and nearing the end of the churning process. And also, it has a small opening where you can put your add-ons without interrupting the churning cycle.
Once the process is done, the gelato machine proceeds to the 10-minute cooling mode, which keeps your ice cream cold enough. It is best to transfer your homemade ice cream to a separate container right away and freeze it for several hours first before serving.
Pros
- Comes with 2 types of paddle attachment; one for gelato and one for ice cream
- Powered by a commercial-quality compressor
- With see-through lid
- With a small opening where you can add your last-minute ingredients without interrupting the process
- With a 10-minute cooling mode to keep your ice cream cold and solid
- Has digital touchpad controls and display
Cons
- It is hard to clean once the ice cream spills
Conclusion
Creating restaurant-quality ice cream and gelato is now possible even while at home with the Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker. This ice cream machine is easy to operate and looks great with any style of kitchen interior.
Whynter ICM-201SB Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker 2 Quart
This ice cream machine is also one versatile model, which allows you to have either gelato or creamy soft serve ice cream depending on your mood. Not only it creates yummy and satisfying desserts to cool you down on a hot day, but it also provides you with control over the ingredients and quality of your homemade ice cream.
The Whynter ICM-201SB Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker 2 Quart may be pricier than its traditional ice cream machine contemporaries, but it is worth it. If you are entertaining guests, it is easier to whip up several batches of ice cream with less preparation time.
This homemade ice cream maker has a compressor freezer built on it that omits the need to pre-freeze your bowl for best results. This way, you can create a big batch of the mixture then add them to the machine as a churned batch is done.
The Whynter ICM-201SB Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker 2 Quart offers 3 operating modes – ice cream, mix, and cooling. This allows you to use it according to your needs, with the flexibility to accommodate your preferences. You can now experiment with different ingredients, flavors, and even with the churning time.
After each cycle, the ice cream machine proceeds to the cooling mode. This keeps your ice cream in its ready state. Alongside, the machine deploys its motor protection feature that keeps your motor from getting damaged from the low temperature of the ice cream.
As a soft serve ice cream maker, users attest to get a creamier texture of their ice cream consistently from this ice cream machine. This way, you always make restaurant-quality ice cream-based creations that used to only come from a commercial ice cream machine.
The Whynter ICM-201SB Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker 2 Quart is also space-efficient with its upright and narrower design and configuration. It is also made with stainless steel finish that looks great on any kitchen countertop.
This ice cream machine is also intuitive to use, with soft touchpad control and an LCD panel for that modern touch.
Pros
- Provides 2 quarts’ capacity
- With a built-in compressor freezer so it won’t require pre-freezing
- Narrower so it does not take up so much space on your kitchen counter
- With audible timer function
- With motor protection feature
Cons
- Ice cream output is too soft for some; freezing it for a few hours more will make it firmer
Conclusion
The Whynter ICM-201SB Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker 2 Quart is comparable with its commercial ice cream maker counterpart with its reliability and output quality. But what we liked most about this ice cream machine is it is narrower, which makes it more fitting to more types of kitchen space including smaller ones.
Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker
This ice cream machine is the most expensive on the list, but not without a reason. It promises professional performance with modernized control settings and overall design.
Let’s start with the looks. The exterior is made of polished stainless steel that exudes professional and modern appeal. It is also heavy, which makes it feel premium inside and outside. The parts can be easily cleaned and sanitized, just like how a commercial soft serve ice cream machine is.
You can whip the creamy ice cream – restaurant quality that is, with this homemade ice cream machine. The secret to it, which of course, will be plain obvious once you get your hands on this ice cream machine, is the equipment itself. The use of industry-grade materials and precision paddle operation guarantees consistent results all the time.
Many users who have used other ice cream machine models in the past can immediately see the difference in the output and can surely nod about the reason behind the hefty price tag.
The Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker also delivers output fast in 30 minutes. Yet you can also use any of the different timer controls depending on the frozen confection you want to achieve.
And since it utilizes a compressor, you do not need to pre-freeze your bowl and paddle with every batch. Just prepare a huge batch of the mixture and churn it in smaller batches (since this ice cream machine can only work on up to 1.5 quarts at a time).
Whether you are looking for a frozen fruit ice cream maker, a home soft serve machine, or a gelato maker, you can get the results you need from this powerhouse ice cream machine.
Pros
- Produces restaurant-quality ice cream or gelato in terms of creaminess, texture, and consistency (as other users also attest to)
- Utilizes a freezer compressor for better quality ice cream and faster output
- Intuitive operation
- Detachable parts and body are all made of industry-grade stainless steel
- Heavy and looks modern and premium
Cons
- The mixing bowl is built on the housing so some users are skeptical about the cleaning part
Conclusion
The Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker is surely one of the best ice cream maker models you can get your hands on. If you can afford the fat price tag, you will not be disappointed with the results.
Final Verdict
Every kitchen enthusiast, professional chef, or even a normal homemaker would be delighted to have the dreamiest appliance that will make his or her life in the kitchen easier and more fun. An investment-worthy ice cream machine can expand your cooking repertoire in no time.
The best home ice cream maker should be robust enough to cater to personal use and special occasions. And because you may not use your ice cream machine as often as restaurants do, you should also consider its value in terms of price versus functionality. With that, our Editor’s Pick goes to Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker.
The Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker provide you with versatility in the kitchen, giving you more control over the ingredients you put in your frozen concoctions.
This best ice cream machine on our list is also easy to use and clean. The compressor feature also hastens the process, allowing you to have more time enjoying your creations with your family than on the preparation and cleaning aspects.