Gear
Gear guides, one item at a time
Each guide covers a single kind of machine or accessory and compares a handful of options by what their Amazon listings state.
Choosing a machine
- Best Whynter ice cream makers: the lineup rankedEight Whynter ice cream makers ranked by capacity, layout, extra functions and price, from the 0.8 qt compact to the 2.1 qt ICM-201SB and soft serve unit.
- Best quiet ice cream makers for apartments and late-night batchesIce cream makers compared on what their listings say about noise, plus capacity, keep-cool time and machine type, for apartments and late-night batches.
- Best high-end ice cream makers worth the splurgeSix premium compressor ice cream makers compared on capacity, controls, keep-cool hold and stainless build, from Breville, Cuisinart and Whynter listings.
- Best large capacity ice cream makers for families and partiesIce cream makers that make 2 quarts or more, or run batches back to back, compared on capacity, machine type, pre-freeze needs and build.
- Best ice cream makers with a built-in compressorEight self-freezing ice cream makers compared on batch capacity, programs or modes, keep-cool time and stated power, using only listing facts.
- Best ice cream makers for home cooks: one pick per machine typeCompressor churners, Ninja Creami models, a soft-serve dispenser and a freezer bowl compared on capacity, programs, pre-freeze needs and stated noise.
- Best compressor ice cream makers under $300Eight self-freezing ice cream makers from $150 to $300 compared on batch size, modes, keep-cool time, stated wattage and housing material.
- Best compact ice cream makers for small kitchensSix small ice cream makers compared on batch size, footprint claims, modes and pre-freeze needs, using only what each Amazon listing states.
Ninja Creami basics
- Best Ninja Creami: which model to buyFive Ninja Creami models compared on programs, tub size, soft serve and protein modes, from the 7-in-1 NC301 to the XL Deluxe Gen 2 and Scoop & Swirl.
- Best Ninja Creami alternatives that churn instead of spinCompressor churners, a soft serve maker and a hardness-sensing Breville compared as Ninja Creami alternatives on type, capacity, churn time and programs.
Recipes by program
- Best ice cream makers for protein ice creamSix machines for high-protein, low-sugar ice cream compared on protein programs, re-spin, tub size and soft serve, using only listing facts.
- Best ice cream makers for dairy-free and vegan ice creamCreami models, a Creami-style pint maker and compressor churners compared on dairy-free programs, stated plant-based support, capacity and pre-freeze needs.
Churned ice cream and gelato
- Best sorbet makers for fruit and Italian iceSeven sorbet makers compared on sorbet program or setting, capacity, keep-cool hold and pre-freeze needs, using only what each listing states.
- Best old-fashioned ice cream freezers (ice and salt)Hand-crank and electric ice and salt ice cream freezers compared on capacity, drive, tub material, hardware and stated warranty, from 4 to 20 quarts.
- Best gelato makers for homeSeven home gelato makers compared on gelato paddle or program, capacity, controls and pre-freeze needs, based on what each Amazon listing states.
- Best frozen yogurt makers for homeHome frozen yogurt makers compared on froyo programs, capacity, machine type, pre-freeze needs and whether they can also culture the yogurt itself.
Soft serve
- Best soft serve machines for home kitchensHome soft serve machines compared on type, capacity, whether they dispense a swirl, pre-freeze needs and firmness control, from the Creami Swirl to countertop units.
- Best countertop soft serve machines for small businessesEight countertop soft serve machines compared on flavors, hourly output, hopper size, power and first-batch time for cafes, food trucks and events.
- Best hard ice cream and gelato machines for small shopsCountertop and floor batch freezers for hard ice cream and gelato compared on hourly output, cylinder size, wattage, voltage and cleaning features.