Which Ice Cream Maker Is Right for You?

Best Old School Ice Cream Maker

Want to make ice cream the old-fashioned way? Use a hand-crank machine, like the Donvier 1-Quart Manual Ice Cream Maker ($78). You don’t need any salt or ice; just freeze the bowl overnight and turn the crank occasionally for 15 to 20 minutes.

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Check out our top homemade ice cream recipes.

Best Ice Cream Maker for Kids

Let your kids take control of their ice cream with the Zoku Ice Cream Maker ($28). It makes a single-serving batch of ice cream in 10 to 20 minutes, all without any wires or electricity. Pick up a few cups and everyone in the family can create their own bowl!

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Best Value Ice Cream Maker

If you’re not sure you love making ice cream yet, start with an inexpensive model like the Nostalgia 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker ($30). The electric motor does all the churning, and the unit comes with a lid to store any leftover ice cream in the freezer.

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Best Ice Cream Maker for a KitchenAid owner

You already have a KitchenAid, so why not use it to make ice cream? The Ice Cream Bowl Attachment for 5-qt Mixer is an economical choice at $60 (currently on sale). Just put it in the freezer a few hours before you’re ready and let the mixer do all the churning!

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Best Ice Cream Maker for People Who Love Ice Cream

True ice cream lovers need a machine fit for a queen, and the Whynter 2.1 Quart Upright Ice Cream Maker ($255) certainly fits the bill. It doesn’t come cheap, but it doesn’t require any prefreezing, so you can whip up a batch of ice cream, gelato or sorbet anytime.

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Best Ice Cream Maker for Health Nuts

Whip up a batch of restaurant-quality FroYo using the Cuisinart 1.5 Quart Frozen Yogurt Maker ($42). This machine makes it easy to turn regular old yogurt into a frozen treat in as little as 20 minutes. Don’t forget to customize our frozen yogurt recipe with your favorite flavorings!

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Best Soft Serve Machine for Continuous Ice Cream

Feeling nostalgic for summertime soft serve? Pick up a Cuisinart Mix It In Soft Serve 1.5 qt. Ice Cream Maker (on sale for $82). It has a built-in condiment dispenser, so you can top your soft serve ice cream, yogurt, sorbet and sherbet with all your favorite sprinkle toppings!

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Best Manual Ice Cream Maker

If you don’t want to mess with churning by hand but you’re looking for a hand-made ice cream option, look to the Chef’n Sweet Spot Ice Cream Maker ($50). Mix your ice cream on the frozen base using the included scoop and scraping spade and it’ll be ready in about 2 minutes! You can also use the Chef’n to make sorbets, fresh-fruit granitas, and frozen margaritas.

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Best Space Saving Ice Cream Maker

Short on counter space? Pick up a DASH My Pint Ice Cream Maker (on sale for $20). This low-profile ice cream makes the perfect 1.6 cups of ice cream per batch. When it’s not in use, it’s small enough to store in a drawer or cabinet.

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Can’t wait for your new ice cream maker to arrive? Here’s how to make ice cream without a machine.

Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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Lindsay D. Mattison