If you’ve always wanted to make your very own homemade ice cream, then you’re in luck. This guide will reveal the top 3 best ice cream makers in the market that are easy to use and easy on the wallet.

There’s nothing better than making your very own frozen treats with your favorite ingredients. While it does take time, the best part about making your own ice cream is knowing you made it yourself, and you made it with love.

But before we delve into these amazing products, here is a short guide on what to look for when buying an ice cream machine for the first time.

The Top 3 Ice Cream Makers in the Market

There are so many incredible ice cream makers in the market today that it’s really hard to choose which the best one is.

From the Breville Smart Scoop to the KitchenAid Stand Mixer, there are many bestselling machines that thousands of people rave about.

But for our own experience, we love the products made by Cuisinart. We already have the Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker, which we love to use, but we wanted to try out the new model which has the brand’s patent-pending mixing paddle that promises to produce ice cream in as little as 20 minutes.

We also wanted to try out their compressor model, because we wanted to experience making ice cream without much preparation.

Cuisinart is a reliable and trusted brand with a reputation for high-quality kitchen products and since we loved our first Cuisinart ice cream maker so much, we believe that these three are some, if not, the best ice cream makers in the market today.

So let’s begin our list with the most expensive model, which is the Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice, Cream Maker.

This fully automatic compressor ice cream maker works wonders. It features a commercial quality compressor machine that makes batch after batch of ice cream. It’s quite expensive for something that you might use only once in a while. But if you want an easy-to-use, efficient, and effective ice cream maker, this is for you.

We like the fact that you can turn it on, pour your mixture, and it works instantly. No need to freeze the container or the mixture, and it’s just good to go anytime.

It has 2 kinds of paddles, one for ice cream and one for gelato. Honestly, we love gelato more than ice cream because it’s creamier and denser. Not all ice cream makers can make gelato, so that’s something you might want to consider as well if you prefer gelato over ice cream.

Moreover, it has added features, such as the 60-minute countdown timer, the keep-cool feature, and the LCD readout, which makes everything easier.

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This is the model that we had before we got the ICE-100 and the ICE-21P1 model. We loved using this machine so much that we’ve made ice cream, yogurt, and other frozen desserts with this all year round.

We love the fact that it’s super cheap and that it has a large capacity, churning out 2 quarts of ice cream in one batch.

It’s a freezer bowl type of ice cream maker, which means it does take time to use. It has a brushed stainless steel body and commercial-grade motor, which makes it sturdy and durable. We’ve had it for months and used it countless times and it still works as well as new.

The freezer bowl is also double insulated and it’s made for North America Electrical Standards.

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And last on our list is the ICE-21P1 with the patent-pending paddle that makes ice cream in as little as 20 minutes.

We decided to buy this primarily because of this feature. With the ICE-30BC, we made sorbet in 45 minutes, while the ice cream took about 30 minutes. Ice cream in 20 minutes is fast, and the fact that the paddle is patent-pending means the ICE-21P1 is the only one in the market today that has this kind of technology, so we were naturally curious.

It features the same double-insulated freezer bowl as the ICE-30BC, but its design is much more streamlined and simple. It features a heavy-duty motor, a transparent lid with a large sprout, and has a 1.5-quart capacity, which is a little smaller than the ICE-30BC.

So did it produce ice cream in just 20 minutes? You bet it did, and we were ecstatic. However, we still need to freeze the bowl for 24 hours before churning, as well as having to freeze the mixture.

The only difference between this model and the old one that we have is the 10-minute difference in producing the creamy consistency.

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Tips to Choosing the Best Ice Cream Maker

Making your own ice cream at home is fun and exciting. You get to experiment with different flavors, different recipes, and knowing it’s completely fresh and homemade makes it even more special.

You can make it for a special dinner, or a kid’s party, or even make a small batch to give out as gifts. Whatever your intention is for wanting to make ice cream, there are some things you need to know about ice cream makers and what to consider when buying one.

First on the agenda is knowing the different types of ice cream makers out there. Yes, there are more than one kind of ice cream maker, and choosing one depends on how much time you have on your hands, as well as how much money you’re willing to spend.

Here are the types of ice cream makers in the market

1. Compressor Ice Cream Makers

We believe that this is the best type of ice cream maker out there. It’s easy to use, electric, and automatic. They also have plenty of features that help beginners create delicious and creamy ice cream without having to master the machine or ice cream recipes.

However, these can be expensive and heavy. They also take up a lot of space on the countertop and we’d like to think they’re more of an investment rather than something you want to try out for fun or out of curiosity.

2. Salt and Ice, Ice Cream Makers

These are usually manual ice cream makers that make use of ice and rock salt rather than a freezer or cooling agent to freeze the mixture. They’ve been around since the 1800s and they’re one of the oldest methods to make ice cream but is still being used today.

They’re inexpensive and lightweight, but they do take time and effort to operate.

3. Freezer Bowl Ice Cream Maker

Freezer bowl ice cream makers are some of the most common types in the market. They’re inexpensive and easy to use. All you have to do is place the freezer bowl in your freezer overnight and use a churning machine to make ice cream.

Even though they’re the most popular type of ice cream maker, they do require some effort and preparation.

How Ice Cream Makers Operate

These machines work the same way – you add an ice cream mixture, and the machine churns to turn liquid into ice cream.

The container chills the mixture to below freezing temperature, while the paddle constantly scrapes the mixture from the sides of the bowl or container and moves them towards the center. This constant scraping creates air that’s responsible for the smooth and creamy texture of ice cream.

Now that you have an idea about how they work and what the most common types of ice cream makers are, here are some factors to consider when shopping for your first ice cream maker:

Factors to Consider When Buying an Ice Cream Maker

1. Easy to Clean

Ice cream makers are usually not dishwasher-safe. If you place a freezer bowl in the dishwasher, the cooling agent present in its walls can be washed off, rendering it useless.

Most ice cream makers need to be washed by hand but that doesn’t mean they’re hard to clean. Machines that have few parts and those that don’t require complex assembly are the most ideal.

2. Easy to Use

With a simple power switch, ice cream makers start churning and make ice cream in minutes. Complicated machines that are hard to operate may be too overwhelming to use, especially for first-timers.

3. Machine Size

Freezer bowl ice cream makers require you to place the bowl in your freezer somewhere between 16 to 24 hours. If you don’t have space in your freezer, then this type of machine is not for you. If you have a small kitchen, a compressor type may also be too big. Consider your counter space and freezer size when you choose an ice cream maker.

4. Freezes Fast

The primary task of an ice cream maker is to prevent ice crystals from forming. It does this by freezing the mixture fast.

Related: Does ice cream go bad?

5. Batch Size

Are you looking for an ice cream maker to make a pint for yourself? Or maybe for your entire family? Or how about for a small business? Some ice cream makers can only make one batch, while some machines provide 2 or 3 bowls so you can make one batch after the other.

There are many things you need to consider when buying an ice cream machine for the first time. The most important thing is you have some knowledge beforehand so you won’t regret making your purchase.

The Bottom Line

Ice cream makers may not be an essential appliance for the kitchen but they do bring so much fun at home. If you love ice cream, then we guarantee you will love having your very own ice cream maker at home. While they take some time to prepare and make, homemade ice cream will always beat commercial ice cream bought in a supermarket.

Though it does take some time to master its operations, once you get the hang of it, the world of flavors you can make is boundless. With patience, the desire to create your very own ice cream at home, and some creativity, an ice cream maker can add joy and excitement to any dinner, family gathering, or simply as a treat for yourself.

 

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