Best Ice Cream Makers

Undoubtedly, when developing the device, the company Ariete focused on appearance: the ice cream maker is designed in a retro style and resembles home appliances in 50s American diners. It looks great both in a vintage kitchen and in a modern interior. Moreover, there are several bold colors to choose from, which will appeal to lovers of bright hues.

The model has a rounded shape and doesn't take up much space in the kitchen. Its dimensions are 25x22.5x22.5 cm, and its weight is about 2.7 kg. Therefore, if you wish, you can take the device with you to a house party.

As for the characteristics, the ice cream maker is quite standard. The bowl with a volume of 1.5 L allows you to make a large amount of ice cream at once. Since the model is semi-automatic, the container with special liquid needs to be pre-chilled in the freezer — the manufacturer recommends leaving it there for a whole day. The plastic spatula mixes the chilled mixture to a homogeneous, creamy texture, and the special opening in the lid allows you to add necessary ingredients directly during cooking. There are no automatic programs or any settings on the device — you'll need to control the mixing time yourself. Overall, it takes about 30 minutes to make ice cream.

Besides the ice cream maker, the Ariete Party Time collection also includes sandwich makers and waffle makers in the same colors and retro design.

The spacious ice cream maker has a 2-liter bowl and allows you to make a large amount of homemade ice cream, sorbet, and frozen yogurt at once, so it will be a good helper in a family where they cook often and in large quantities. However, keep in mind that the more spacious the device, the bulkier it is, so this model definitely isn't compact and takes up quite a bit of space in the kitchen.

Despite the large volumes, the cooking process itself does not take long — about 20 – 25 minutes. But the preparation is quite long: since the ice cream maker works in semi-automatic mode, its bowl needs to be pre-chilled in the freezer — for at least 12 hours. The durable, wear-resistant metal container withstands active use, can be constantly stored in the freezer, and allows storing the prepared ice cream. Its double-walled design, with cooling fluid in between, helps retain cold for a long time.

In the ice cream maker's operation, it's not the spatula that rotates, but the bowl itself, ensuring thorough mixing. A transparent lid with a special opening allows you to control the process and add various additives (chocolate, nuts, fruits, toppings) right during mixing.

The device does not have any programs or modes — just a lever to turn it on and off. This means you'll need to watch the cooking duration yourself.

The Ninja company developed an ice cream maker that combines stylish design, modern controls, and efficient performance. First and foremost, the equipment attracts attention with its appearance — it will certainly be a beautiful addition to the kitchen interior. But that's far from its only advantage.

The main tool is a spatula, which does not crush but mixes the contents of the bowl. Although the ice cream maker uses a semi-automatic method, it does not require pre-chilling the bowl, nor does it freeze the ingredients itself. To make ice cream, sorbet, or a milkshake, you need to freeze the base beforehand — the device works with mixtures at temperatures from -12 °C to -25 °C. The spatula evenly mixes them to a homogeneous, creamy consistency.

Moreover, you don't need to manually select the optimal settings, as the model offers 7 automatic programs: ice cream, sorbet, soft serve, smoothie bowl, gelato, milkshake, and mixing. The last program allows you to add various sauces, toppings, and other add-ins. In addition, there is a separate RE-SPIN function — a re-processing of the base in case 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. In addition to the main bowl, you get three portion cups with a volume of 473 ml with airtight lids. However, the large bowl does not affect the cooking process — mixing only takes place in the small cups, which are placed in the main bowl. As a result, you get a small portion at once, but this configuration allows you to create different desserts and ice cream types: freeze the base in the cups, then mix it for various treats in just 5 – 8 minutes. The finished ice cream can also be stored in portions in the containers.

All removable parts and cups of the ice cream maker are dishwasher safe in the dishwasher.

The 2-in-1 model combines the capabilities of a yogurt maker and an ice cream maker, capable of preparing both frozen desserts and dairy products. In the first case, the built-in compressor provides autonomous cooling without the need for pre-freezing the bowl or ingredients, while in the second case, the device maintains a low temperature optimal for the development of lactic acid bacteria over a long period. As a result, making ice cream takes from 30 to 60 minutes, yogurt — 5 – 8 hours.

The model includes a 2-liter bowl, which can be used to prepare desserts for a large company or family. It is fully removable, easy to clean, and equipped with a transparent lid with an opening for adding ingredients right during mixing. However, keep in mind that the ice cream maker is not only spacious but also quite large — its dimensions are 43x28x28.5 cm, and it weighs almost 12 kg, which is also influenced by the robust stainless steel body.

The device's body features an intuitive control panel with a display. You can choose from 4 main modes: ice cream, cooling, mixing, and yogurt. You can also manually set a timer, pause the process, and use the low temperature maintenance mode — in this case, the device will cool the ready ice cream for up to 60 minutes before serving. The digital timer eliminates the need to keep track of time — when the cooking is finished, the device automatically turns off and notifies you with an audio signal.

Sage's ice cream maker belongs to the high class both in terms of cost and capabilities: it's an advanced model with a 1-liter bowl, modern controls, quality materials, and a stylish design to fit any kitchen interior. Its main convenience is its automatic operation, meaning it can cool ingredients for desserts autonomously without the need for pre-cooling. Moreover, the device features a PRE-COOL function, enabling it to cool ingredients from -10 °C to -30 °C in just 5 – 10 minutes. This is necessary to prepare the base for ice cream before whipping, thereby reducing dessert preparation time.

Another advantage of the Sage Smart Scoop BCI600 is its flexible settings. First, there are 4 programs available: sorbet, frozen yogurt, gelato, and ice cream. Plus, 3 levels of freezing for each, totaling 12 settings. Thus, the device will automatically select the optimal parameters for soft ice cream or firm sorbet. In addition, the timer allows you to manually set the required cooking duration. If you need a dessert with additives (chocolate, nuts, jam, fruits, etc.) — the ice cream maker will provide an audio signal at the right time, and the flip-up lid will help you add ingredients.

A melody sounds upon completion of cooking. The KEEP COOL function will help keep the dessert cool for another 3 hours. During this time, the compressor will work intermittently to maintain the correct consistency and low temperature.

All selected settings and the time remaining until the end of cooking are displayed on the display. The convenience is that the audio signals can be adjusted (louder, quieter, or silent), and the control panel can be locked, so that children or adults do not interfere in the cooking process with accidental button presses.