If you're anything like me, as soon as the summer heat begins to rise, all you want is ice cream. Summer just isn't the same without a great scoop of it. Bonus points if it's homemade. I just can't get enough of it! With the right ice cream maker, you could be easily whipping up batches of your own favorite ice cream in no time.
But how will you know which decide which ice cream maker to buy? Don’t worry; we’ve rated and reviewed some of the top-rated ice cream makers of 2024 to make your friends and family jealous of your homemade treats. Whether you’re making a scoop for yourself or a full-out ice cream party for your friends, there’s something for you on this list.
The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker is an exceptional product designed with the consumer’s convenience in mind. It boasts a patent-pending mixing paddle that prepares your frozen treats in just 20 minutes or less. Its double-insulated freezer bowl eliminates the need for ice, and its easy-lock transparent lid with a large spout allows you to conveniently add ingredients without removing the lid. How sweet!
What I like most about this ice cream maker is its BPA-free construction, so you can rest easy knowing that no harmful chemicals will leach into your ice cream. Its tight seal lid helps keep out unwanted contaminants while locking in all the delicious flavors. With its three-year limited warranty, large capacity, and easy-to-use design, this ice cream maker tops our list.
For an adorable demonstration on how to make vanilla ice cream with this product, check out this YouTube video:
Whether you’re just looking for basic vanilla ice cream or something more complex with your favorite mix-ins, the Hamilton Beach Ice Cream Maker is a must-have. With a large four-quart capacity, it makes enough ice cream for the whole family, allowing everyone to enjoy their favorite flavors.
This machine includes all the features you need to make delectable homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelato, sherbet, or custard. When I make myself a treat, I like it to be as customized as possible. And this product allows that! Choose from a variety of mix-ins like fruit and nuts or chocolate chips and candy pieces for endless customization options. Plus, the machine does all the hard work, so you can just sit back and relax until it’s done.
The DASH Electric Ice Cream Maker offers a healthy and convenient way to make delicious homemade ice cream, gelato, sorbet, or frozen yogurt in less than 30 minutes. This user-friendly machine creates 1.6 cups of ice cream, providing a delightful treat for the entire family. I particularly like that it comes with a cooling bowl, mixing spoon, and recipe book. Plus, it disassembles easily for quick and convenient cleanup.
You will have complete control over the ingredients you use with this ice cream maker, allowing you to choose from all-natural, organic, sugar-free, and fresh fruit options. With the ability to add chocolate chips, caramel bits, sprinkles, or any other condiment of your choice to customize the dessert, it makes for a tasty treat that you can enjoy anytime!
If you’re looking for perfect old-fashioned soft-serve ice cream, the Nostalgia Vintage Ice Cream Maker could be a great addition to your kitchen. I can’t get over how cute it is! The aluminum canister makes cleanup a breeze, while the see-through lid lets you easily view the process and control the ingredients without removing it. The powerful electric motor eliminates manual effort and locks all parts into place for secure operation. It also comes with a carrying handle, making it easy to take your ice cream wherever you go!
The capacity of this machine is perfect for parties or snacks — it makes four quarts of deliciousness at one time. With a powerful electric motor, a classic design, and the ability to create large batches of ice cream at once, this appliance is sure to be a hit at any event!
The Elite Gourmet Ice Cream Maker is a versatile and easy-to-use ice cream maker for those who want to create delicious frozen desserts at home. Unlike manual crank ice cream makers, this electric bucket model allows users to easily churn out up to six quarts of ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, or sorbet. With that much space for ice cream, I’d be throwing a party! Assembling and using the ice cream maker is a breeze. The electric motor locks conveniently onto the bucket, and all the other parts interlock securely for quiet operation. With only three steps required to begin churning up delicious desserts, you’ll have a treat in no time, just like the old-fashioned way.
The aluminum canister also allows easy cleanup after making frozen delights — simply wipe away any messes. Thanks to the included see-through lid that fits on top of the ice cream canister, you can easily store leftovers in your freezer.
When looking for an ice cream maker, there are a few important features to consider. The following guide will help you understand these features and make the perfect purchase for your needs.
If you plan on making batches for large gatherings, look for a machine with a three-quart capacity or higher. Smaller ones may be ideal for families who just want enough for a few people. The batch size also affects the time it takes to freeze, so larger batches require more time to cool down.
When selecting an ice cream maker, consider the size and strength of its motor. Look for an ice cream machine with a good wattage rating to ensure it’ll mix and freeze with strength and reliability. Also, consider any settings that offer pulse mode or adjustable speed to get optimum performance out of your machine.
Pay attention to how easy it is to assemble, use, and clean up after each batch of ice cream. I know I love a good hassle-free appliance. Look for models with clear instructions and step-by-step diagrams on how to use them properly. Also, consider machines with an auto-shutoff feature so you don’t have to constantly monitor it until the cycle finishes.
The outer design is also important as it should be attractive and durable enough to last many batches of ice cream making. Stainless steel designs are usually ideal because they are easier to clean and maintain and add an attractive touch to your kitchen countertop. Different colors are available if you want something different from traditional stainless steel models.
Some machines offer features like digital timers, automatic shut-offs, fruit strainers, and built-in chillers. Determine which features would be most useful for you, and then look for appliances that come with those extras preinstalled or as add-ons (or both). I particularly love the ones that include recipe cards or instructional videos on making delicious desserts and meals with their machine.
Before investing in a particular model, find out how loud it is when running, as this can be very disruptive in a quiet environment like the home kitchen. Generally, electric ice cream makers tend to produce more noise than manual ones due to their motorized components. Look for machines with quieter motors, if possible, for minimal disturbance while enjoying your homemade treats.
Some machines come with attachments or options that allow them to make other frozen desserts like sorbet or margaritas and meals, such as soup or chili if desired! If having multiple uses out of one appliance interests you, keep an eye out for models with these features when browsing different stores or websites online.
A: Machines offer several advantages over hand churning when making homemade ice cream. The primary one is that machines are faster since they use a motor to churn the mixture faster than by hand. Additionally, they can also provide more consistent results compared to hand churning. They have adjustable settings for temperature and time, which help create a more even consistency throughout the batch of ice cream.
A: To use an electric ice cream maker, simply add your ingredients, turn it on, and let it work its magic! Manual models require you to freeze the included bowl before adding ingredients and then churn by hand or with a hand crank until you reach the desired consistency.
A: Ice cream makers come in a wide range of prices depending on features such as capacity and settings. Generally, most home-use models range from $50 to $200, depending on their size and capabilities.
A: Most home-use machines don’t require any specialized equipment besides ingredients and storage containers for finished products (if desired). Some models may require that you pre-freeze the bowl, but the included instructions usually indicate this.
A: It’s important to regularly clean your machine after each use with warm soapy water or specialized cleaning solutions made specifically for cleaning kitchen appliances. If possible, try not to open or close the lid while in operation because this can disrupt how efficiently your machine works and impact your results accordingly.
A: Soft-serve machines produce a softer, smoother texture due to their lower freezing temperatures than hard-serve machines, which produce a firmer texture. Hard serve machines typically take longer to churn the mixture due to more air being whipped in at higher speeds during churning compared to soft serve machines.
A: Once your ice cream has been churned, you should transfer it immediately into a freezer-safe container to keep its rich texture and flavors. If left too long in the machine, it will start getting very hard once frozen over time due to the excessive amounts of air incorporated during churning!