Summertime is all about cool treats, and who doesn’t love a bowl of homemade ice cream? Whether you’re looking to introduce more culinary adventures at home or just reminisce over your favorite childhood flavors, an ice cream maker can help make all those creamy dreams come true. But not all makers are created equal.
In this post, we’ll provide our top picks for the best ice cream makers consumer reports based on testing conducted by Consumer Reports and our own unique criteria. Let’s dive right in to figure out which machine will best meet your churning needs!
The 7 Best Ice Cream Makers Consumer Reports
What are Ice Cream Makers?
Ice cream makers are small kitchen appliances that allow you to make ice cream, frozen yogurt, and other frozen desserts at home. They usually have a bowl-like container with a motor attached to the lid which rotates a paddle while it churns the mixture inside.
Ice cream makers come in various sizes, styles, and price points so you can find one that fits your needs and budget. Some models even offer a variety of settings, allowing you to customize your dessert creation!
With an ice cream maker, you can use almost any ingredients from fresh fruit to chocolate chips and get creative in creating delicious treats for yourself or your family.
The 5 Best Ice Cream Makers Reviews Consumer Reports
There are many ice cream makers on the market, but only a few are worth your money.
Here are the 5 best best ice cream makers consumer reports based on quality and price:
Top 1. Whynter FM-85G Ice Cream Maker
The Whynter FM-85G Ice Cream Maker is the perfect choice for those looking to craft delicious homemade ice cream with minimal effort. Featuring a food-safe stainless steel exterior and a compact design, this ice cream maker will look stylish on any countertop. With a capacity of up to 2 quarts, this unit allows you to make large batches of your favorite frozen desserts with ease. You can customize it to create whatever flavor combinations or ingredients you desire, enabling you to experiment and create a truly unique treat.
Packed with features that make it stand out from the crowd, this best ice cream makers consumer reports Whynter model includes a built-in compressor freezer that allows you to make batch after batch of creamy, delicious ice cream without having to wait for your bowl to pre-freeze.
With its stainless steel mixing bowl and fully digital control panel, this Whynter model is both efficient and intuitive – perfect for creating frozen treats quickly and easily. Its advanced motor protection function prevents overheating and damage to the motor, keeping it safe from churning over and solidifying the mixture.
Pros
- Makeup to 2 quarts of dessert in a single batch
- Powerful built-in compressor freezer
- Safe and easy to use
- A sleek and food-safe stainless steel exterior
- LCD timer control
Cons
- Expensive
Top 2. Breville BCI600XL Ice Cream Maker
The Breville BCI600XL Ice Cream Maker is an essential kitchen tool for anyone who loves to make homemade ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, and gelato. This machine offers 12 different hardness settings so you can choose the perfect consistency for your desserts every time. With a capacity of 1.5 quarts (1 liter), this Breville Ice Cream Maker is capable of producing large batches or just enough for a small gathering with friends and family.
It features a self-refrigerating compressor, allowing it to produce ice cream quickly without the need for pre-freezing bowls or containers. Its unique design also makes it easy to clean and store, giving you more time to enjoy your creations.
With its keep-cool setting, you can enjoy up to three hours of cold and creamy deliciousness without having to worry about it melting away. It is equipped with a pre-cool setting to ensure that the bowl reaches optimal operating temperature quickly. This setting circulates chilled liquid around the cooling bowl, reducing the time required for cooling before use.
Pros
- 12 hardness settings
- 1.5-quart bowl capacity
- Self-refrigerating compressor
- Fully automatic or manual functionality
- Keep cool setting for up to 3 hours
- Pre-cool setting to optimal operating temperature
Cons
- Sounded like a gear slipping a tooth
Top 3. Lello 4080 Ice Cream Maker
The Lello 4080 Ice Cream Maker is designed to make creating delicious desserts a breeze. Featuring an impressive 1-1/2-quart capacity bowl, this best ice cream maker can quickly freeze up to 3 quarts of ice cream or sorbet per hour with the touch of a button. Its simple design and straightforward controls allow novice and experienced chefs alike to easily whip up decadent frozen treats in no time.
Equipping a fully automatic process, this machine makes it easy to create delectable ice cream in no time. Simply add your ingredients to the bowl and press two buttons, it will take care of the rest. It comes with an adjustable timer control and can be used to make different types of confections including ice cream, sorbet, gelato, and even frozen yogurt. The timer allows you to choose the ideal time for each type of confection, ensuring that you get the perfect final product every time.
Pros
- 1-1/2-quart capacity bowl
- Freeze 3 quarts of ice cream per hour
- Fully automatic
- Timer controls operation
- Easy cleaning
Cons
- Smell like it’s burning inside
Top 4. Ninja NC301 CREAMi Ice Cream Maker
The Ninja NC301 CREAMi Ice Cream Maker is an innovative appliance that brings the entire family together with its easy-to-use functionality. Its compact size allows it to fit perfectly on any countertop, allowing for easy storage and seamless use.
With its intuitive digital display and multiple settings, you can easily craft your favorite flavors without any hassle. This innovative appliance utilizes Ninja’s proprietary Creamerizer System to finely shave and churn ice into creamy frozen desserts in minutes, eliminating the need for traditional manual ice cream makers altogether.
Featuring seven one-touch programs, you can craft the perfect bite of ice cream, sorbet, gelato, milkshake, smoothie bowl, and more with just a press of a button – Ninja’s combination of speed, pressure and time optimizes each set to give you the best results every time. For those looking for lighter options or wanting to add mix-ins like chocolate chips or nuts mid-cycle, Ninja also offers Lite Ice Cream and Mix-in settings.
Pros
- Compact in size allowing for seamless storage
- Easy-to-use functionality
- 7 one-touch algorithms enable the ideal balance of time, pressure, and speed.
- Innovative Creamerizer System
Cons
- It seems to wear quickly
Top 5. Cuisinart ICE-21P1 Ice Cream Maker
The Cuisinart ICE-21P1 Ice Cream Maker is an ideal choice for ice cream lovers. Its efficient double-insulated freezer bowl eliminates the need for ice, allowing you to make delicious frozen treats with no hassle. With a generous 1.5 quart capacity and easy-to-use controls, you’ll have homemade ice cream in as little as 20 minutes.
The Cuisinart ICE-21P1 Ice Cream Maker features an easy-lock transparent lid with a large spout, making it simple to add ingredients and keep the mess contained. The locking feature also helps to prevent any spills or accidents, so you can make delicious ice cream without worry.
A restricted 3-year warranty is offered. For any troubleshooting or questions regarding the Cuisinart ICE-21P1 Ice Cream Maker warranty policy, please refer to the User Manual provided with your product. Besides, Cuisinart takes pride in providing BPA-free components as part of their products.
Pros
- Make ice cream quickly in 20 minutes or less
- Double-insulated freezer bowl
- Makeup to 1-½-quarts of ice cream
- Easy lock transparent lid
- BPA free
Cons
- Making a horrible ratcheting noise
Advantages Of The Ice Cream Makers
Ice cream makers are great devices that make it easy to create delicious, frozen treats in the comfort of your own home. They can make both soft and hard-serve ice cream, as well as other frozen desserts such as sorbets, gelatos, and slushes.
With the best ice cream maker consumer reports in your kitchen, you can enjoy the convenience of making your favorite cold treats whenever you want. The advantages of having an ice cream maker include the:
1). Speed & convenience
An ice cream maker allows you to quickly produce freshly made frozen treats in less time than traditional methods would take. The time saved means more time for family bonding or leisure activities.
2). Customization
Making your own homemade ice cream gives you full control over the ingredients, so you can tailor the flavors to your own unique tastes.
3). Healthier treats
Making your own ice cream means that you can use natural and healthier ingredients compared to store-bought brands. This can help reduce sugar and fat in your frozen creations while still providing delicious treats.
4). Cost savings
Purchasing an ice cream maker is often more cost-effective than buying pre-made ice creams from stores or restaurants. By making them at home, you are also eliminating unnecessary trips to get desserts which saves time and money.
Some Factors To Choose When buying The Best Ice Cream Makers According Consumer Reports
By taking into account these factors when selecting an ice cream maker, you’ll be able to find one that meets your needs perfectly and allows you to enjoy delicious frozen treats at home.
1). Type of machine
When looking for an ice cream maker, you should consider the type of machine that is most suitable for your needs. This can typically be divided into two main categories: manual and electric ice cream makers.
Manual machines are often the cheapest option but require a lot more effort to operate as you’ll need to manually turn a crank in order to churn your ingredients together. Electric machines are more costly but offer convenience, as they require minimal effort from the user.
2). Capacity
The capacity of the machine is another important factor to consider when choosing an ice cream maker. Generally speaking, a larger capacity means that it can produce greater quantities of ice cream in one go – ideal for large families or entertaining guests. Smaller models are better suited for single-serve ice creams, which are great for those who prefer to make smaller batches of ice cream.
3). Materials
Pay attention to the materials used to make the machine as well. Stainless steel or heavy-duty plastic are considered the highest quality options as they are more durable and long-lasting than other materials used in the making of ice cream makers. Moreover, check the design of the machine – there should be enough room for ingredients and a comfortable handle for easy use.
4). Power
The ice cream maker’s power is also something to consider. A powerful motor will make the process of making ice cream faster and easier, resulting in an excellent texture. Additionally, look at the digital controls that come with the device; they should be user-friendly and intuitive so you can easily adjust settings like temperature or time duration.
Last but not least, check if the machine comes with pre-programmed recipes so you can make amazing desserts quickly and conveniently.
4). Bonus features
Finally, some models come with bonus features such as timers, which allow you to set how long you’d like the machine to churn for before turning off automatically; this is useful if you’re using ingredients that need more time to mix properly.
Others may come with ice cream scoops and other accessories that can make the process of serving your homemade treats a breeze.
Related:
- Whynter Vs Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker: Which is Better?
- Breville Vs Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker: Which One is Best?
How They Evaluated These Ice Cream Makers According to Consumer Reports?
Consumer Reports conducted an extensive evaluation process of all the ice cream makers on the market to determine which are the best. They assessed each machine for its ease-of-use, convenience, and overall performance across multiple criteria.
To evaluate each ice cream maker, Consumer Reports used a combination of in-depth lab testing and feedback from experts and consumers. Their lab testing looked at aspects including build quality, performance, and the consistency of the final product. They also assessed each machine’s ease-of-use, convenience, overall design, and cost to help identify the best options available.
Consumer Reports also surveyed experts in the field for their opinions on each ice cream maker, as well as feedback from consumers who had used each model. They looked at how well each machine performed in real-world settings and asked for detailed reports about their experiences.
The end result of this evaluation process was a comprehensive list of the best ice cream makers available on the market today. Consumer Reports has ranked these machines according to their performance, ease-of-use and overall value. They also provided detailed information about each machine, so that you can make an informed decision when looking for an ice cream maker.
Now that you know how Consumer Reports evaluated these ice cream makers, why not check out the list they compiled to see which one is right for you? With the wide selection of models available, you’re sure to find one that works perfectly for your needs. Whether it’s a budget-friendly model or a top-of-the-line machine with all the bells and whistles, there’s something here for everyone!
Start making delicious homemade treats today with the best ice cream maker according to Consumer Reports.
How To Use Ice Cream Maker Step-By-Step?
Once you have gathered all of the required ingredients and equipment, making ice cream in an ice cream maker is easy. Begin by preparing your mix according to the recipe instructions, then follow these steps:
1. Fill the ice cream maker bowl with ice and rock salt, making sure that the ratio of ice to salt is as recommended by the manufacturer.
2. Pour your prepared mix into the center of the bowl, ensuring that it does not come in contact with either the sides or bottom of the bowl.
3. Securely clamp the lid onto your machine and switch it on. Allow enough time for the mixture to freeze according to the instructions in your recipe, this will vary depending on your ingredients and desired consistency of the finished product.
4. When done, carefully remove the lid from your machine and pour out any remaining liquid in order to avoid the soggy texture of your ice cream; this can be done with a rubber spatula.
5. Scoop out your now-frozen ice cream into an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to two weeks.
Conclusion
Finding the right the best ice cream makers consumer reports can be a difficult task. Our research revealed a few key factors to consider when making this important purchase. We looked at consumer reviews, operational features, noise levels, and prices in our comparison of different models.
Overall, we found that popular models offered by Cuisinart and Breville provided the most reliable results. However, depending on individual preferences, other options may fit better for certain people.
Regardless of which unit you ultimately choose, having an ice cream maker in your home will ensure delicious frozen desserts are always just an arm’s reach away!
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