I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for the Best Ice Cream Makers in 2022

Capable of making 2.1 quarts of ice cream, the Whynter ICM-200LS Stainless Steel Ice Cream Maker will have no problem keeping up with you or your family’s appetite for top quality ice cream, gelato, and frozen yogurts. The Whynter comes in at about 11 inches high by 17 inches long and 10 inches deep. It has an extended cooling function so ice cream doesn’t melt after it’s finished and a motion detector switch shuts off the motor if the ice cream becomes too hard. This unit makes a batch of ice cream in about 30 to 40 minutes, with both the bowl and churn blade being removable for very easy cleaning when you’ve wrapped things up.

If price isn’t holding you back and you want to make larger quantities of high quality ice cream, then the Lello Musso Pola 5030 Dessert Maker is just right for you. These machines are frequently used in commercial settings with some performing for 10+ years without breaking down. You can make up to 6 quarts of ice cream, gelato, or sorbet per hour, making this model a perfect machine for larger families hungering for ice cream. The 5030 Dessert Maker measures in at about 20 inches long, 14 inches high and 12 inches deep. It’s also a heavy unit at over 50 pounds thanks to the massive, built-in freezing unit built-in.

This beast has a manual timer and two switches, one for your basic “on and off” and then one to turn off just the freezer part of the machine while it’s still churning up your decadent frozen treats. Sadly there’s no removable bowl, so although cleaning can be done by wiping it out with a damp cloth, it’s still a bit more labor intensive to clean than some of the other options on this list.

If counter space is at a premium but you still want high quality ice cream, the Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker might be just what you are looking for. The ICE-100 sacrifices speed for size, coming in at 16 inches deep, 9 inches high and 12 inches long. That means a smaller freezer size, and this unit can take up to 1 hour or more to make 1.5 quarts of ice cream. However, the Cuisinart ICE-100 would be the perfect ice cream maker for a couple or a small family. This unit comes with two churning paddles, one for ice cream and a specialized paddle for gelato. It also features a 10 minute cooling function to keep your ice cream from melting before you can remove it, and a removable bowl makes cleanup a breeze. It comes with a 3 year limited warranty.

If you want multiple setting on the hardness of your ice cream, try the Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker. With 12 different hardness settings, you'll get the right consistency that you want, every time for maximum ice cream enjoyment. The Breville will make 1.5 quarts of hard ice cream in about an hour but it will take less time if you want softer ice cream.

This ice cream maker will keep your frozen treats frozen for 3 hours after it’s finished, and if the pre-cool setting is turned on about 20 minutes before you begin, it will shave about 10 minutes off of ice cream production time. Although fully automatic, this unit can be run manually if you want to experiment with different times and ingredients. At 16 inches long by 10 inches deep and high, it is fairly compact too.

The BCI600XL is versatile in making sorbet, frozen yogurt and gelato, and although it is rated at making 1.5 quarts of ice cream per batch, in actuality it’s more like 1 quart so take that into consideration if you decide to choose this model.

If versatility is what you want in your gelato maker, than the Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker is what you might be looking for. Made in Italy, the Lussino excels at making excellent gelato as well as a range of other frozen treats. The Lello 4080 is made entirely of stainless steel including the freezer bowl and mixing paddle, meaning clean up is as easy as wiping it down. This self-contained unit will produce 1.5 quarts of gelato an hour and the slow mixing/freezing process keeps the air out during gelato production. The simple push of a button after the ingredients are added makes it extremely user-friendly. Although the 4080 comes with a 1 year warranty, the actual compressor unit has been reported to last over 10 years during continual usage.

The MaxiMatic "Mr Freeze" EIM-550 Elite Compressor Ice Cream Maker is a versatile ice cream maker also capable of making frozen yogurt, custard, sherbet and gelato. This ice cream maker is totally self-contained; simply add the ingredients, push a button, and it automatically goes to work. Soft serves are done in about 40 minutes while hard ice creams may take up to an hour but if you freeze the bowl ahead of time, you'll shave off about 10 minutes of production time. This unit makes 1.5 quarts of ice cream per batch, and the stainless bowl and housing are simply wiped down when you’re ready for clean up. It has a transparent top and an ingredient spout for a straightforward method of adding ingredients while your favorite frozen treat forms up.

For parties, large events, or just big families hungry for ice cream, you can't beat the Nostalgia Electrics ICMP400BLUE 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker. This is a modernized version of the classic ice cream bucket, and capable of making up to four delicious quarts of ice cream the old fashioned way via salt and ice added into the exterior freezing container.

Add the ingredients into the mixing bowl, mount the motor, switch the unit on, and in about 40- 50 minutes, you'll have a full batch of soft serve ice cream; you can even make gelato and frozen yogurt if you feel like it. The aluminum ingredient container and the mixing paddle is dishwasher safe, while both buckets, the outer plastic freezer, and inner ingredient container can be rinsed and wiped clean.

If you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly ice cream maker, look no further than the West Bend IC13886WB Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine. This model is built to look like an old fashioned ice cream dispenser and functions just like one too. It uses the freezer bowl method where you freeze the freezer bowl for about 12 hours, add ingredients into the mixing container, and fire the mixer up. In about 40 minutes you'll have soft serve ice cream you can dispense right from the machine into a bowl, cone, or cup. Kids will absolutely love this ice cream maker and since it makes a full quart there will be more than enough to fill multiple waiting ice cream cones. It has an easy-add ingredient opening for adding your favorite sweet condiments, syrups, nuts or whatever else you desire during the mixing process.

If you want proven ice cream quality, the rugged Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker makes it to the top of this list. Just put the freezer bowl in the freezer between 18 to 24 hours, load your preferred ingredients inside, and mount it on the motorized base. Push one button to begin the mixing process and in about 20 minutes you'll have 1.5 quarts of ice cream. Clean-up is merely rinsing out the freezer bowl and then putting it back into the freezer. The Cuisinart ICE-21 is simple and easy to use which makes it perfect for kids and adults alike. With a three year manufacturer’s warranty it will last for years to keep providing you with delicious, quality ice cream.

Sometimes innovation wins out over tradition, and the Yaylabs Ice Cream Ball is definitely the most fun way to make ice cream. This ice cream maker is constructed in the shape of a hollow ball with two compartments; one side is filled with ice and salt while the other side is filled with ice cream ingredients which can be as simple as cream, sugar and vanilla flavoring. Once the cover is attached, you merely roll the ball around for about 20 minutes and after that, you'll get 1 pint or quart of soft serve ice cream depending on the model you choose.

This ball allows you to easily make ice cream virtually anywhere, from campsites to backyard parties. Kids will absolutely love it and the reward will be a cold and delicious treat. The optional inflatable covering allows for even more aggressive rolling for more complete ice cream production. For the best and most innovative way to make ice cream, the Yaylabs Ice Cream Ball takes the crown.