If scorching summer afternoons aren’t already dreadful, they can get worse with your kids bugging you for store-bought ice cream every day. Not only do their demands mean additional costs for you, but they have numerous adverse effects on their health as well.
What if I told you that getting the best ice cream maker is the ultimate solution for this ordeal? You can enjoy a scoop or two with your kids to beat the summer heat while choosing your ingredients.
However, there are multiple ice cream makers available with different features and price tags. This makes it quite challenging to pick the best ice cream maker for yourself.
Don’t worry; we’ve listed the best five options with their detailed ice cream maker reviews so you can make your purchase right away.
5 Best Ice Cream Makers for 2022 Reviews
If you search for ice cream maker reviews online, you will come across hundreds of options. We have narrowed the options down for you so you can go for the best ice cream maker that fits your needs.
Best Overall Home Ice Cream Maker: Cuisinart Electronic Ice Cream Maker
This electronic ice cream maker from Cuisinart is the best home ice cream maker on our list. Mainly because it comes from a reputable brand and ticks all the boxes to create delicious ice cream maker recipes.
You don’t have to turn a hand crank endlessly or wait for your machine to churn out a quart of ice cream for hours. Instead, this electronic ice cream maker does all the work for you.
All you have to do is ignite the machine and let it do all the work while you make breakfast or prep for other dishes. This best homemade ice cream maker comes with four different settings: ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, and sorbet.
The setting you choose will determine the time the machine will run for and the churning technique it will use for your ingredients. Moreover, it has an auto shut-off system. So, you don’t have to worry about checking the machine from time to time.
Most importantly, all its parts, including the freezer bucket, paddle, and lid, are made out of BPA-free plastic. This ensures a healthy treat every time. Furthermore, the brushed metal finish on the outside will easily fit into your kitchen decor.
Best Compressor Ice Cream Maker: Cuisinart Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker
If you’re looking for a hassle-free ice cream maker, this model by Cuisinart is easily the best compressor ice cream maker on our list. It is a fully automatic machine integrated with a high-quality commercial-grade compressor.
Additionally, it comes with a touchpad control system. Through this, you can choose from ice cream and gelato options. The machine will automatically adjust its paddle speed and timer to make a delicious batch of ice cream for you.
Furthermore, even if you’re busy grilling meat or cooking rice, the machine will keep your ice cream cold through its “keep cool” feature until you take the bucket out at your leisure.
Apart from adding cream, sugar, and fruit, you can use various ingredients in this ice cream maker to enhance the texture of your ice cream. These include brownie chunks, cookies, nuts, and even candy.
Best High-End: Breville Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker
This high-end professional ice cream maker by Breville is the most expensive machine on our list, but its features make it worth the price.
Usually, you get 3-4 settings with most ice cream maker models. This one lets you choose from a staggering 12 customizable ice cream textures. Select from the versatile settings and make sorbet, gelato, ice cream, or frozen yogurt.
Additionally, you don’t have to pre-freeze the ice cream bucket before use. The machine comes with a pre-cool setting which ensures the optimal operating temperature.
Simply leave the setting on when you start the slow cooker for your dinner and pour in the ingredients when the timer goes off. This way, you can serve homemade ice cream with home-cooked meat without any extra effort.
Besides that, the ice cream maker will keep your treat frozen for up to three hours. Just scoop out the goodness whenever you want and enjoy it with your family.
The only drawback to this model is that not all parts are dishwasher-friendly. So, you’ll have to hand wash some of them with extra care after use.
Best Mid-Tier: Whynter Automatic Ice Cream Maker
If you’re looking for a functional ice cream maker with an affordable price tag, this best rated ice cream maker by Whynter is the ultimate option for you. It can make more than 1.5 quarts of ice cream at a time. Also, the model does not require pre-freezing or any extra preparation.
All you have to do is select the settings and let the machine make frozen yogurt, sorbet, or ice cream for you.
Furthermore, the internal and external parts are made out of durable, BPA-free materials. So, you can use them safely to make treats for your kids.
Besides that, you can store the freezing bowl directly in your refrigerator. This way, you won’t have to go through the hassle of vacuum-storing your homemade ice cream to retain its creamy texture.
This is the best electric ice cream maker for budget buyers. That’s because it has all the premium features found in expensive models.
Apart from the compact design and high-end built-in timer, the machine uses electricity productively. This helps you save up on energy bills.
Best Budget: Cuisinart ICE21R Ice Cream Maker
If you’ve been using the best hand crank ice cream maker to avoid purchasing a costly electric model, this Cuisinart budget model is the ideal option for you. It gives you the reliability of Cuisinart products along with an astonishingly low price tag.
Moreover, you can use the machine to make around 1.5 quarts of ice cream in less than 40 minutes. It comes with a double-insulated freezer bowl, so you don’t need to add any ice to it while it churns away.
Besides that, it has a transparent lid with a handy spout. Through this, you can add ingredients at any preparation stage.
However, unlike other high-end machines, you will have to freeze the bucket for at least 12 hours before using it to bring the coolant inside it to an optimal temperature.
Most importantly, the machine is compact and easy to clean, making it a handy kitchen gadget for small families.
How to Make Homemade Ice Cream With Cuisinart Electronic Ice Cream Maker
If you haven’t tried anything but store-bought ice cream, the idea of buying an ice cream maker might seem unnecessary for you.
But, let me remind you of when sous-vide cookers and deep fryers were considered kitchen luxuries. Now, barely anyone can imagine preparing their everyday dishes without such equipment.
Remember, homemade ice cream will not exactly give you the same taste and texture as store-bought goods.
But, they help you incorporate healthy, preservative-free treats into your lifestyle. So, if you live with children or just have a sweet tooth yourself, electric ice cream makers will only make your life easier.
If you’ve already picked which model you want from our list, it’s better to learn how to use one before finalizing your purchase.
Here’s how to make homemade ice cream with a versatile Cuisinart electronic ice cream maker.
Step 1
When it comes to using ice cream makers, every model has a different set of instructions. Therefore, if you own any model other than the Cuisinart electronic, you should first check out the instruction manual.
Some machines come with a pre-freeze system to get started right away, while others require you to freeze the bowl. This activates the coolant.
The freezer bowl on this model needs to be prepped in the freezer for at least 12 hours or overnight.
Step 2
Besides that, another initial prep you’ll need to make is mixing the essential ingredients. According to the maximum capacity of your ice cream maker, mix milk and heavy cream in equal amounts along with sugar.
Whisk this mixture thoroughly by hand or use a stand mixer until the sugar is fully incorporated into the cream. Now, you can either pour the mixture directly into the ice cream machine or store it in the freezer to cool down.
Using a cold ice cream mixture provides the best results if you’re using this Cuisinart model. You can add vanilla or any other fruit flavoring and edible color to the mixture during the mixing stage.
Step 3
Once your freezer bowl is ideally prepped, place it inside your ice cream machine and secure the paddle.
Cover it with a transparent lid with the spout open. This way, you can add additional ingredients like cookie chunks or nuts.
Next, turn your machine on and select from the three options, ice cream, gelato, and sorbet.
After that, press the start button and let the machine do the work. When the timer goes off, open the lid and take the paddle out. Scoop the creamy dessert out of the freezer bowl and enjoy it with your family.
Conclusion
If you and your family like to enjoy frozen desserts during summer (or even winters), an ice cream maker is a must-have in your kitchen. With the versatile range of models available from different brands, you can easily find one that fits your needs.
Remember to narrow down the essential aspects before choosing the best ice cream maker. These include your budget, storage space, brand preference, and quantity requirements.
