Best Ice Cream Makers

The ice cream maker brand Esperanza is a budget-friendly, compact, and extremely simple device for making frozen desserts. Its power is only 7 W, and the capacity is quite modest — 600 ml. Moreover, this is the total volume of the bowl, and the resulting ice cream is up to 300 ml. Therefore, the model is suitable for users who don't cook often and are satisfied with one or several servings.

The ice cream preparation process takes up to 30 minutes, but since the ice cream maker operates in a semi-automatic mode, the preparation requires a lot of time. The bowl needs to be placed in the freezer in advance to allow the special gel inside to freeze. It's best to do this a day before cooking: according to the manufacturer, at a temperature of -18 °C, freezing takes about 22 hours, and at -25 °C — up to 13 hours.

Otherwise, the model is simple and straightforward to operate. Due to the absence of any modes, there is only one power button on the body. Thanks to its compact size, the device doesn't take up much space in the kitchen. It weighs only 1.15 kg, so you can take it with you to a friend's house or a summer cottage. The construction is easy to disassemble and clean. The inner part of the bowl is made of durable, long-lasting metal, while the body is made of plastic.

The Camry ice cream maker combines a not too high price and basic functionality. The model is designed for making a small amount of ice cream, as it is equipped with a fairly compact bowl. Its volume is 0.7 liters, but the useful volume is much less — a maximum of 0.3 liters. Additional accessories included in the package are a measuring cup, a spoon, and a spatula.

The Camry CR 4481 belongs to the category of automatic models, meaning the cooling process is fully automated, and you don't have to pre-place the bowl in the freezer. Depending on the chosen settings and ambient temperature, the ice cream is prepared from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

The device doesn't have many programs, but there are two modes to choose from: HARD (strong freeze) and SOFT (light freeze) for hard and soft ice cream. If you have reached the desired consistency and want to finish the process manually, a STOP button on the control panel is provided. Upon completion of the preparation, the device informs you with a sound signal. Thus, the control is quite simple, and even inexperienced users can easily manage the ice cream maker.

A spacious ice cream maker equipped with a 2-liter bowl allows you to prepare a large amount of homemade ice cream, sorbet, and frozen yogurt at once, making it a good assistant for a family where they cook often and in large quantities. However, keep in mind that the more capacious the device, the larger it is, so the model is definitely not compact and takes up a significant amount of space in the kitchen.

Despite its large volume, the actual cooking process doesn't take long — about 20 – 25 minutes. However, preparation is lengthy: since the ice cream maker operates in a semi-automatic mode, its bowl must be pre-cooled in the freezer for at least 12 hours. The durable, wear-resistant metal container withstands active use, can be continuously stored in the freezer, and allows storing the prepared ice cream. Its construction with double walls, between which there is a cooling liquid, facilitates prolonged cold retention.

During the ice cream maker's operation, it is not the blade that rotates, but the bowl itself, ensuring thorough mixing. The transparent lid with a special opening lets you control the process and add various ingredients (chocolate, nuts, fruits, toppings) directly while mixing.

The device doesn't have programs or modes, only a lever for turning on and off. This means that you'll have to monitor the cooking duration yourself.

The company Ninja developed an ice cream maker that combines stylish design, modern control, and efficient performance. First of all, the device attracts attention with its appearance — it will definitely become a beautiful addition to the kitchen interior. But that's not its only advantage.

The main tool is the spatula, which doesn't chop but mixes the contents of the cup. Even though the ice cream maker uses the semi-automatic method, it doesn't require pre-cooling the cup, but it doesn't freeze the ingredients itself either. To prepare ice cream, sorbet, or a milkshake, you need to freeze the base for the dish in advance — the device works with mixtures at temperatures from -12 °C to -25 °C. The spatula evenly mixes them to a homogeneous, creamy consistency.

While you don't need to manually choose optimal settings, as the model offers 7 automatic programs: ice cream, sorbet, soft ice cream, smoothie bowl, gelato, milkshake, and mixing. The last program allows adding various sauces, toppings, and other ingredients. Besides this, there is a separate RE-SPIN function — reprocessing the base if it looks crumbly after freezing. On average, the mixing process takes from 1 to 2.5 minutes.

An equally important advantage of the model is its extended package. Along with the main cup, you receive three portioned cups of 473 ml with airtight lids. However, the large cup doesn’t affect preparation; the mixing process takes place only in the small cups, which are placed in the main one. As a result, a small portion is made at a time, but thanks to the package, you can prepare different desserts and types of ice cream: freeze the base in cups, and then mix it for various treats in just 5 – 8 minutes. The prepared ice cream can also be stored in portions in the containers.

All removable parts and cups of the ice cream maker are suitable for washing in a dishwasher.

The UNOLD company's model isn't cheap, but it is convenient to use, with advanced capabilities and extended functionality. The device belongs to the category of automatic devices and operates autonomously, eliminating the need to pre-cool the cup or freeze ingredients. All that is required from the user is to cool the ice cream mix in the refrigerator before mixing, while the device itself handles the freezing.

Besides, you don’t have to monitor the time yourself, as the model is equipped with a built-in timer from 5 to 60 minutes. After the set time runs out, the process automatically stops, but if the mass hasn't reached the required consistency and temperature, the cooking time can be extended at any moment. At the same time, the time countdown is displayed on a small screen.

The ice cream maker isn't too cumbersome but quite capacious — the bowl's volume is 1.2 liters, sufficient to prepare ice cream for the whole family. Thanks to the transparent lid on the body, you can watch the preparation process, and a small opening allows adding ingredients without stopping the device.

In addition to the timer, the model offers 3 modes: cooling only, mixing only (without freezing), and a combined mode with freezing and mixing simultaneously.