Gear guide
Best old-fashioned ice cream freezers (ice and salt)
Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick
Top picks at a glance
Compare all picks
Closest match for the job
Immergood 6 qt stainless hand crank, triple action dasher
The triple action dasher turns the can, dasher and center in alternating directions for constant folding, per the listing.
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Most for the money on paper
Immergood 8 qt stainless hand crank, 3-year warranty
8 quarts in one batch is about four times what the countertop machines here make.
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Most complete listing
Immergood 12 qt electric with 3/4 HP motor
A 3/4 HP, 110 volt motor does the cranking for 12 quarts at a time.
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An old-fashioned ice cream freezer is a metal can inside a tub packed with ice and rock salt, turned by a crank or a motor. Nothing needs to be pre-frozen and nothing plugs in unless you add a motor, which is why these still show up at reunions and July 4th cookouts. The differences that matter are in the hardware. Cheap freezers rust at the gears and leak at the tub seams. The better ones use stainless or bronze hardware, a tub that will not leak, and a dasher that keeps the mix folding as it freezes. This guide compares the complete freezers in our candidate pool, all hand built in the USA by Immergood or Amish makers, on capacity, how they are driven, the tub material, the gear and hardware materials, and the warranty term the listing states.
Compare the picks
- Immergood 6 qt stainless hand crank, triple action dasher
- Capacity
- 6 quarts
- Drive
- Hand crank
- Tub
- One-piece insulated poly, leak-free
- Hardware
- Stainless steel, poly wear bushings
- Immergood 8 qt stainless hand crank, 3-year warranty
- Capacity
- 8 quarts
- Drive
- Hand crank
- Tub
- Leak-free tub
- Hardware
- Stainless gears and gear frame
Country Ice Cream Maker 6 qt white oak tub- Capacity
- 6 quarts
- Drive
- Hand crank
- Tub
- 3/4 inch white oak
- Hardware
- Manganese-bronze housing, zinc gears
Immergood 4 qt stainless hand crank, fiberglass tub- Capacity
- 4 quarts
- Drive
- Hand crank
- Tub
- Fiberglass, never-leak
- Hardware
- All stainless steel
- Immergood 12 qt electric with 3/4 HP motor
- Capacity
- 12 quarts
- Drive
- 3/4 HP, 110V electric motor
- Tub
- Not stated; poly wagon bed for transport
- Hardware
- Stainless, industrial gear reduction
Country Freezer 20 qt Amish hand crank or motor- Capacity
- 20 quarts
- Drive
- Hand crank flywheel, can be motorized
- Tub
- Tall tub, 21 in high
- Hardware
- Stainless steel parts
| Pick | Capacity | Drive | Tub | Hardware | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immergood 6 qt stainless hand crank, triple action dasher | 6 quarts | Hand crank | One-piece insulated poly, leak-free | Stainless steel, poly wear bushings | - | Amazon |
| Immergood 8 qt stainless hand crank, 3-year warranty | 8 quarts | Hand crank | Leak-free tub | Stainless gears and gear frame | - | Amazon |
| Country Ice Cream Maker 6 qt white oak tub | 6 quarts | Hand crank | 3/4 inch white oak | Manganese-bronze housing, zinc gears | - | Amazon |
| Immergood 4 qt stainless hand crank, fiberglass tub | 4 quarts | Hand crank | Fiberglass, never-leak | All stainless steel | - | Amazon |
| Immergood 12 qt electric with 3/4 HP motor | 12 quarts | 3/4 HP, 110V electric motor | Not stated; poly wagon bed for transport | Stainless, industrial gear reduction | - | Amazon |
| Country Freezer 20 qt Amish hand crank or motor | 20 quarts | Hand crank flywheel, can be motorized | Tall tub, 21 in high | Stainless steel parts | - | Amazon |
Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.
The picks in detail
Pick 1 · Immergood
Immergood 6 qt stainless hand crank, triple action dasher
See price on AmazonA 6 quart Immergood hand-crank freezer with all stainless hardware, a triple-layer insulated tub and a triple action dasher. The best fit for most families who want the classic ice and salt method.
What the listing offers
- The triple action dasher turns the can, dasher and center in alternating directions for constant folding, per the listing.
- A one-piece, triple-layer insulated poly tub is built not to leak and to hold the cold.
- Rust-proof stainless hardware with poly wear bushings needs no grease, according to the listing.
Limits to know
- The listing notes handmade variations and possible scuff marks.
- No warranty term is stated on this listing, unlike the 8 quart model.
Pick 2 · Immergood
Immergood 8 qt stainless hand crank, 3-year warranty
See price on AmazonA large 8 quart hand-crank freezer from Immergood with stainless steel gears and a leak-free tub, made in the USA. The pick when you need several quarts at once for a reunion or block party.
What the listing offers
- 8 quarts in one batch is about four times what the countertop machines here make.
- Stainless steel gears and gear frame plus a leak-free tub, made in the USA, per the listing.
- The listing states a no-hassle 3-year warranty.
Limits to know
- You crank by hand and need plenty of ice and rock salt for every batch.
- The listing notes it is handmade, so expect some variations or scuff marks.
Pick 3 · Country Freezer Co.
Country Ice Cream Maker 6 qt white oak tub
See price on AmazonAn Amish-crafted 6 quart hand-crank freezer from Ohio with a heavy white oak tub and a stainless can with a see-through lid. The pick for buyers who want the traditional wooden bucket look.
What the listing offers
- A heavy 3/4 inch white oak tub gives the traditional wooden bucket build.
- The rustproof manganese-bronze housing and rustproof zinc gears are listed.
- The stainless steel can has a see-through lid so you can check the churn.
Limits to know
- Wood tubs need more care than poly or fiberglass, and the listing gives no care instructions.
- It costs more than the Immergood 6 quart and lists no warranty.
Pick 4 · Immergood
Immergood 4 qt stainless hand crank, fiberglass tub
See price on AmazonThe smallest Immergood freezer, a 4 quart hand crank with all stainless hardware and a fiberglass tub. Suits smaller households who want the method without a huge can to crank.
What the listing offers
- 4 quarts needs less ice, salt and cranking than the larger freezers.
- All stainless steel hardware is listed, made in the USA.
- The fiberglass tub is described as never-leak.
Limits to know
- It costs nearly as much as the 6 quart model for two fewer quarts.
- The listing gives no warranty term and notes handmade variations.
Pick 5 · Immergood
Immergood 12 qt electric with 3/4 HP motor
See price on AmazonA heavy-duty 12 quart electric ice and salt freezer with a 3/4 HP motor, industrial gear reduction and a poly wagon bed for moving it. Built for large events where no one wants to crank.
What the listing offers
- A 3/4 HP, 110 volt motor does the cranking for 12 quarts at a time.
- Stainless steel hardware and an industrial-style gear box, per the listing.
- A poly plastic wagon bed lets you take it to the event, and the listing states a 3-year warranty.
Limits to know
- The price is far above the hand-crank models, so it only makes sense for regular large events.
- It still uses ice and salt, so you need a lot of both for a 12 quart batch.
Pick 6 · Country Freezer Units
Country Freezer 20 qt Amish hand crank or motor
See price on AmazonAn Amish-made 20 quart ice and salt freezer with a flywheel that can be hand cranked or motorized. Only for events: church socials, reunions and large parties.
What the listing offers
- 20 quarts per batch is by far the largest capacity in this guide.
- The flywheel has a handle for hand cranking and can also be motorized, per the listing.
- The listing states a 5-year warranty on all stainless steel parts.
Limits to know
- At 92 lb and 21 inches tall, it is a lot of machine to move and store.
- No motor is listed as included, so plan on cranking or buying one separately.
Read before you buy
More gear: Churned ice cream and gelato
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