Whynter SNO Ice Cream Maker IC-2L

The Whynter SNO Ice Cream Maker IC-2L produces two quarts of delicious, creamy ice cream in 20 to 40 minutes, according to reviews. Most reviewers say this model is quiet during operation, and owners appreciate the ability to mix batch after batch of frozen treats without the need to re-freeze a gel canister. Like all self-cooling models, the Whynter SNO is expensive, but most owners say it's worth the cost. It features a 60-minute digital timer and an automatic shutoff feature that preserves the motor by halting churning if the mixture becomes too thick. The Whynter SNO Ice Cream Maker is also sold as the Lello Gelato Pro 4090 at nearly twice the price. In comparison to the favorably reviewed Lello Musso Lussino Ice Cream Maker 4080 (*Est. $700), the Whynter is about one-third the price, has a larger capacity and isn't as loud during operation. The Whynter SNO Ice Cream Maker isn't as easy to find as the Lello Gelato Pro, but it's worth looking around to save a couple hundred bucks.

Cook's Illustrated magazine includes the Whynter SNO Ice Cream Maker in their 2010 roundup, which evaluates four canister-style ice cream machines and two self-cooling ice cream makers for texture, ease of use, preparation time and noise during operation. Consumer feedback is limited to less than 20 reviews posted to Amazon.com, but an additional 30 owners evaluate the Lello Gelato Pro.