Summer is here, and for many people, that means ice cream. Ice cream is the centerpiece of many summer memories, and it’s a popular treat to have at parties and barbecues. Whether you want to create creamy, homemade ice cream in your home, or you want something portable that can go anywhere, there’s a great ice cream maker out there for you.
What to think about when buying an ice cream maker
There are three things you should look for in an ice cream maker.
First, make sure the ice cream maker is the right size for your needs. We all love ice cream, but we may not have the freezer space to store it. If this is you, look for a machine that can produce a smaller batch of ice cream.
Second, do you want to hand crank your ice cream, or do you want an electric motor to do the work for you?
Third, choose one with a removable container. Some ice cream makers have trays that you place in the freezer to make ice cream. However, these trays are quite challenging to clean, so look for a unit with a removable container.
Modern convenience or older reliability?
Ice cream makers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Many models have easy-to-understand controls, as well as built-in timers and thermometers.
You should also consider the machine’s age and cost. Older-style models are typically less expensive but may lack some of the modern bells and whistles of newer models.
Also, older ice cream makers tend to only make about 2 quarts. Recent models, on the other hand, can churn up to 8 quarts.
My top 7 ice cream makers
1. Cuisinart ICE 21Y
Ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet maker. it’s yellow, and I have a thing for Cuisinart.
I love a nice pop of sunshine yellow, but if that’s not your thing, the ICE 21Y also comes in cream, grey, pink, red, or white!
2. Dash My Pint
Perfect for smaller quantities!
Just freeze the bowl overnight and make a pint at a time. I live alone and this size is just right for me.
The Dash My Pint comes in red and aqua.
3. Ninja Creami
Ninja is famous for multi-purposing (I just made that up), and their ice cream maker is no exception.
As well as ice cream, you can make gelato, milkshakes, and smoothie bowls with add-ins ad infinitum!
There are so many opportunities to individualize your icy treats! (I knew I should have picked this up when I was at Costco yesterday.) The Ninja Creami comes in 2 sizes – 1 or 3 pints.
Probably the only downside for me with the Creami is that you have to freeze your mix [whatever you’re making into ice cream] for 24 hours before you want to make it. So, plan ahead. Nothing close to instant gratification here!
4. Hamilton Beach 4 QT Ice Cream Maker
This is an older-style ice cream maker.
It uses ice and rock salt, but it makes 4 QUARTS of delicious ice cream, frozen yogurt, or frozen custard. YUM!
Are you ready for all this healthy ice cream goodness? If you have a big family, or if you just love ice cream, this is perfect for you.
5. KitchenAid mixer ice cream maker attachment
You already love your KitchenAid mixer, and you trust the KitchenAid brand, so why buy a whole new appliance when you can buy an attachment?
There are a couple of different sizes, so make sure you buy the one that’s the right size for your mixer.
Bonus, it’s so easy to clean!
6. The Americana
Check out this striking red appliance!
And it comes with a recipe book (as I’m sure they all do), this one is sure to stand out on your counter – it just looks awesome!
This is my top pick for price AND aesthetics.
7. GreenLife
GreenLife promises you ice cream in 20 minutes, and it comes in pink, red, turquoise, or white to coordinate with the whole family of GreenLife appliances!
And you’re going to need freezer-safe containers for your ice cream, so grab some of these while you’re at it!
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Photo by micheile dot com on Unsplash