TechGearLab

The Whynter ICM-200LS is one of our all-time favorite ice cream makers. This appliance can create gelato or ice cream in as little as 35 minutes. It's not required to freeze the bowl or chill the ingredients beforehand, making it a great option for the impulsive ice cream maker out there. It's convenient, easy to use, and produced all-around excellent frozen treats. The bowl is simple to clean &mdash; especially since you don't need to wait for it to thaw like its freezer bowl counterparts &mdash; and has three different operating modes so you can fine-tune your frozen treat's consistency. 
On the downside, the Whynter ICM-200LS is fairly large and somewhat pricey, so consider how often you might actually use it to determine if it's worth the investment in cost and countertop real estate. Additionally, we weren't too impressed with its overall build quality. The first one we ordered arrived broken and leaking, forcing us to immediately exchange it. Like most compressor-powered machines, the Whynter ICM-200LS doesn't take too kindly to being stored inverted for long periods. However, we still think this is an excellent all-around machine for the serious home ice cream maker — but it might be a little more machine than the occasional user needs. 

The Whynter ICM-200LS is one of our all-time favorite ice cream makers. This appliance can create gelato or ice cream in as little as 35 minutes. Freezing the bowl or chilling ingredients isn't required, which is great when you get the impulsive urge to make ice cream since there's no planning involved. This machine is convenient, easy to use, and produces all-around excellent frozen treats. The bowl is simple to clean &mdash; especially since you don't need to wait for it to thaw like its freezer bowl counterparts &mdash; and has three different operating modes so you can fine-tune your frozen treat's consistency. 
The downside is this machine is relatively large and somewhat pricey. It's a good idea to consider how often you might actually use it to determine if it's worth the investment, both in cost and countertop real estate. Additionally, we weren't too impressed with its overall build quality. The first one we ordered arrived broken and leaking, leaving us no choice but to immediately exchange it. Like most compressor-powered machines, the Whynter ICM-200LS doesn't take too kindly to being stored inverted for long periods. However, we still think this is an excellent all-around machine for the serious home ice cream maker — but it might be a little more machine than the occasional user needs. 

Best for Most

amazon.com

bazaarvoice

Wirecutter

Ice cream lovers will appreciate the ability to conjure frozen concoctions with a touch of a button.

Of all the compressor machines we’ve tested over four years, the larger-capacity ICM-201SB is one of the easiest to use, scoop from, and clean. And compared with far pricier options, this model can’t be beat for the smooth ice cream it produces.

Upgrade Pick

walmart

The Cuisinart ICE-21 is one of our favorite non-compressor ice cream machines, and we think it is the best bet for most people shopping on a budget. This model only took about 15 minutes to make excellent ice cream given the correct preparation &#40;ingredients pre-chilled and bowl frozen for 8+ hours&#41;. It won't take up much room on your kitchen counter and also won't drain your bank account. It produces delicious ice cream that is a bit softer and creamier than some of the other machines &mdash; usually requiring a brief rest in the freezer to firm up. 
The fact that you must pre-freeze the bowl for at least 8 hours means that you can't make different batches of ice cream back-to-back. Clean-up isn't too laborious, but you will need to wait until the bowl is thawed completely, as hot water can damage the fluid inside, and room temperature or cold water will immediately freeze to the bowl when washing. Get used to leaving a bowl of melting ice cream in your sink for hours on end if this is the model you choose. Regardless, the Cuisinart ICE-21 is still one of our favorites and is a great choice for folks who like to make small batches of homemade ice cream on an occasional or semi-regular basis.

The Cuisinart ICE-21 is one of our favorite non-compressor ice cream machines, and we think it is the best bet for most people shopping on a budget. This model only took about 15 minutes to make excellent ice cream given the correct preparation &#40;ingredients pre-chilled and bowl frozen for 8+ hours&#41;. It won't take up much room on your kitchen counter and also won't drain your bank account. It produces delicious ice cream that is a bit softer and creamier than some of the other machines &mdash; usually requiring a brief rest in the freezer to firm up. 
The fact that you must pre-freeze the bowl for at least 8 hours means that you can't make different batches of ice cream back-to-back. Clean-up isn't too laborious, but you will need to wait until the bowl fully thaws, as hot water can damage the fluid inside, and room temperature or cold water will immediately freeze to the bowl when washing. Expect leaving a bowl of melting ice cream in your sink for hours on end if you go with this model. Regardless, the Cuisinart ICE-21 is still one of our favorites and is a terrific choice for folks who like to make small batches of homemade ice cream on an occasional or semi-regular basis.

Budget Pick

target

This machine makes the absolute smoothest homemade ice cream we’ve tasted in years of testing. You may find it harder to clean than our main pick because it doesn’t have a removable bowl, and it’s large and heavy. The huge price tag may dissuade casual dessert-makers, but it’s worth the investment for ice cream aficionados.

The Hamilton Beach 68330N 4-Quart is one of the most cost-efficient ways to make large quantities of ice cream at home. Pre-freezing your components isn't necessary, and making multiple back-to-back batches is simple, provided you have ample rock salt and ice. It makes delicious, soft ice cream that's barely firm enough to hold a scoop shape. Overall, it's straightforward to use, with a motorized paddle that churns the ice cream and automatically stops once it reaches the correct consistency. 
Unfortunately, this ice cream maker is exceptionally loud, bordering on ear-splitting. It's almost impossible to carry on a conversation over it, and our testers resorted to wearing earplugs or noise-canceling headphones while it was churning. Cleanup can also be a giant hassle, as you have to deal with around 3 cups of rock salt and 12 pounds of melted ice per batch. In addition to the machine being hard to clean, it always seemed to make a giant mess across the surrounding area &mdash; even when we laid out a plastic tray to contain it. The Hamilton Beach 68330N is great if you love traditionally made ice cream, are shopping on a budget, and need large batches. However, be prepared to vacuum up large amounts of rock salt every time you use it. 

For a reasonably low-cost ice cream maker capable of making large batches of ice cream with minimal prep, consider the Nostalgia ICMP400BLUE 4-Quart Electric. This machine uses the rock salt and ice method to freeze your ice cream, meaning that it is ready to go whenever you want &mdash; no pre-freezing required &mdash; provided you have plenty of rock salt and ice on hand. This appliance churned out some delicious frozen treats in our tests, producing a softer and creamier texture than many of its compressor and freezer bowl counterparts. It has more than enough power to add mix-ins and is decently easy to clean and use. We also appreciate that it comes with a cap that you can use to store your finished ice cream right in the container where you churned it. 
You will have several pounds of partially melted ice and brine to dispose of, so more cleanup is involved with these types of ice cream makers than compressors or freezer bowls. This appliance is also a little on the louder side. However, if you are trying to make large batches of freshly-churned ice cream at once and are shopping on a limited budget, we think the Nostalgia ICMP400BLUE is hard to beat. 

Ice Cream Maker Comparison