Ice Cream Makers: Reviews

Reviews say the countertop Cuisinart ICE-20 consistently delivers 1.5 quarts of creamy ice cream in about 20 minutes. The catch (as with all models under $100) is that you need to pre-freeze its gel-filled canister for… ten hours or so (depending on your freezer). There's a large opening in the top for adding ingredients and an automatic shut-off feature that prevents the motor from overheating. Owners say this ice cream maker cleans up easily, but, like many ice cream makers, it's a bit noisy. Compressor ice cream makers don't need any pre-freezing, but they cost at least $150 more.

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If you are ice-cream obsessed, Slate magazine's Stephen Metcalf says the all-stainless-steel Lussino "was exponentially better than that of any other machine, to a degree that amazed tasters." Reviews say it's the best… machine for making richer, creamier French-style ice cream. It produces superb, highly aerated ice cream in 25 to 35 minutes. Unlike gel-canister ice cream makers, the Lussino has its own compressor, so it can make consecutive batches immediately (it can also make slushy drinks like frozen margaritas). This ice cream maker is powerful and relatively quiet, but it weighs nearly 40 pounds.

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Like the Lussino ice cream maker, the Cuisinart ICE-50BC does not need any pre-freezing. Reviews say it whips up two quarts of creamy, mousse-like ice cream in about 40 minutes. Owners say that it is noisy, but not… intolerably so. This sleek, box-like appliance is well designed and attractive enough to leave out on the counter. The Cuisinart ICE-50BC has an automatic shut-off feature and a large opening for mix-ins. At just over 12 pounds, this machine weighs much less than many other compressor models. Its ice cream may not be as refined as that of the $700 Musso Lussino, but the Cuisinart costs a lot less.

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If you want to make a lot of ice cream, a bucket-style ice cream maker is the way to go. This electric White Mountain ice cream maker makes 1.5 gallons. You'll need ten pounds of ice plus salt, and it is best used… outdoors because of runoff, but using this ice cream maker can be a fun family project. This traditional ice cream maker has a solid pine bucket, but reviews say the steel bands holding it together are prone to rusting. The hand-crank version costs about $50 less.

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Attaching a gel canister and paddle to your KitchenAid stand mixer means you can adjust the mixing speed, which lets you decide whether your ice creams and sorbets come out dense or fluffy. This attachment makes two… quarts of ice cream in 15 to 20 minutes, but you must first freeze the gel bowl. Users say that the attachment is easy to use, and they like using the mixer's motor instead of buying a bulky, freestanding appliance. This attachment only works with specific models of KitchenAid stand mixers, however.

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