Home ice cream makers chill the mix in one of three ways: a bowl pre-frozen in the freezer, a built-in compressor, or an ice and rock salt bucket. Ninja’s pint-style machine is a fourth kind: it processes a base you freeze solid first. Capacity, run time and planning effort differ for each.
The six machines below cover all four approaches. Sizes, capacities and features come from each product’s listing page. We have not used these machines ourselves. Texture and speed statements are the makers’ own.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Chilling method | Compressor, freezer bowl, ice and salt, or frozen pint |
| Capacity | From a 16 ounce pint to 4 quarts |
| Run time and timer | Countdown timers and auto shutoff cut supervision |
| Size and weight | Compressor units are far heavier than bowl units |
Specs at a Glance
| Machine | Capacity and method | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja CREAMi NC299AMZ | 16 oz pint; base frozen 24 hours | 12.07 x 6.52 x 15.95 in.; 13 lb | 7 programs; 1-year warranty |
| Cuisinart ICE-70P1 | 2 qt; pre-frozen bowl | 9.74 x 8.62 x 13.22 in. | 3 programs; countdown timer; 3-year warranty |
| Whynter ICM-201SB | 2.1 qt; compressor | 14.25 x 12.5 x 14.25 in.; 24.3 lb | LCD timer; stainless bowl |
| Nostalgia 4 Qt | 4 qt; aluminum canister | 16.25 x 13 x 13 in. | Vintage wooden style; 1-year warranty |
| Cuisinart ICE-100 | 1.5 qt; compressor | 16.73 x 12 x 9.33 in.; 27.2 lb | 2 paddles; 60-minute timer; 3-year warranty |
| Hamilton Beach | 4 qt; ice and rock salt | 12.5 x 11.1 x 15 in.; 5 lb | 20 to 40 minute churn; 1-year warranty |
The 6 Best Ice Cream Makers
1. Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 NC299AMZ
A pint-style machine with seven one-touch programs: ice cream, gelato, sorbet, milkshake, smoothie bowl, lite ice cream and mix-in. You freeze a prepared base for 24 hours, then process it. It holds 16 fluid ounces, weighs 13 pounds and has dishwasher-safe parts.
Suits: small single-pint batches. Strengths: seven programs and a mix-in setting. Weaknesses: needs a 24 hour freeze and makes one pint. Skip it if you want a family-size batch.
View Ninja® CREAMi® 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker, Ice Cream, Gelato and more, NC299AMZ on Amazon
2. Cuisinart 2 Qt Ice Cream Maker ICE-70P1
A freezer-bowl machine with a 2 quart double-insulated bowl that must freeze for 24 hours. It has dedicated ice cream, gelato and sorbet programs, a countdown timer with auto shutoff and a spout for mix-ins during churning. The maker cites a typical 20 minute churn. Warranty is 3 years.
Suits: a timer-driven bowl machine. Strengths: a 3-year warranty and a mix-in spout. Weaknesses: the bowl needs 24 hours in the freezer. Skip it if you want back-to-back batches.
View Cuisinart 2 Qt. Ice Cream Maker Machine, Gelato, and Sorbet Maker, ICE-70P1 on Amazon
3. Whynter Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker ICM-201SB
An upright compressor machine with a 2.1 quart capacity, so no bowl needs pre-freezing. It has an LCD timer with an audible alert, a removable stainless bowl and a churn blade that comes apart. It weighs 24.3 pounds and has a 1-year warranty.
Suits: impromptu batches. Strengths: no pre-freezing and a small footprint for a compressor unit. Weaknesses: 24.3 pounds. Skip it if you want a light machine.
View Whynter Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker, 2.1 Qt, ICM-201SB on Amazon
4. Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Maker, 4 Qt
A vintage wooden-style machine with an aluminum canister and a 4 quart capacity, marketed for ice cream, gelato and frozen yogurt. It measures 16.25 by 13 by 13 inches. The listing text we read does not spell out the chilling method, so check the listing before buying.
Suits: a retro look and large batches. Strengths: 4 quarts. Weaknesses: the chilling method is unclear in the text we read. Skip it if you want a compact machine.
5. Cuisinart 1.5 Qt Compressor Ice Cream Maker ICE-100
A self-refrigerating compressor machine, so churning starts without pre-freezing. It includes separate ice cream and gelato paddles, a 10 minute Keep Cool cycle, an adjustable 10 to 60 minute timer and a touchpad with blue LCD. It holds 1.5 quarts, weighs 27.2 pounds and has a 3-year warranty.
Suits: an ice cream plus gelato option without pre-freezing. Strengths: two paddles and a Keep Cool cycle. Weaknesses: the heaviest here. Skip it if counter or storage space is tight.
View Cuisinart 1.5 Qt. Compressor Ice Cream Maker with No Pre-Freezing, ICE-100 on Amazon
6. Hamilton Beach Automatic Electric Ice Cream Maker
A 4 quart machine that works with ice and rock salt in the bucket. The maker lists a 20 to 40 minute churn that stops when ready and a simple on/off switch with no hand churning. It weighs 5 pounds and has a 1-year warranty.
Suits: family-size batches. Strengths: 4 quarts and light weight. Weaknesses: needs ice and rock salt. Skip it if you do not want a salt and ice routine.
View Hamilton Beach Automatic Electric Ice Cream Maker and Frozen Yogurt Machine on Amazon
Care and Setup
- Chill the mix in the refrigerator before churning where the manual suggests.
- Freeze bowls or pints for the full time the maker states.
- Wash removable parts as the manual directs; some are dishwasher safe.
- Dry the machine fully before storing.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Putting in a bowl that has not frozen long enough.
- Overfilling the canister.
- Forgetting to plan the 24 hour freeze on pint and bowl models.
- Ignoring weight when you plan to store a compressor unit.
Ice Cream Maker FAQ
What does a compressor model change?
It chills itself, so no pre-freezing is needed, but it is larger and heavier.
Can I add mix-ins?
The Ninja has a mix-in program, the Cuisinart ICE-70P1 has a mix-in spout and the Hamilton Beach lists mix-ins.
The Short Version
For single pints, the Ninja CREAMi. For a timer-driven freezer bowl, the Cuisinart ICE-70P1. For an upright compressor, the Whynter. For a retro look, the Nostalgia. For two paddles, the Cuisinart ICE-100. For ice and salt batches, the Hamilton Beach.
