# Best ice cream makers for home cooks: one pick per machine type Source: https://scoopandchurn.com/best/best-ice-cream-maker Publisher: Scoop & Churn. Picks are chosen from what each Amazon listing states, not from hands-on tests. Method: https://scoopandchurn.com/how-we-pick Most regret with a home ice cream maker comes from buying the wrong kind of machine, not the wrong brand. A compressor churner chills the mix while it spins, so you can make batch after batch the same day. A Ninja Creami does not churn at all: you freeze a base in its tub ahead of time, then a blade shaves it smooth in minutes. A freezer bowl machine is cheaper but needs its bowl frozen before every batch. Soft serve dispensers pull a swirl from a lever. This guide picks the strongest listing in each type and compares them on the facts the listings state: machine type, batch capacity, programs, whether anything must be pre-frozen, and any noise claim. Where a listing leaves a spec out, the table says Not stated so you know what to check before you buy. ## Picks ### 1. Ninja® CREAMi® XL Deluxe Gen 2, 11-in-1 Ice Cream Maker, NC601 Type: Creami; Capacity: 24 oz XL tub; Programs: 11, incl. Dairy-Free, CreamiFit; Pre-freeze needed: Yes, base frozen first; Soft serve: No The second-generation XL Deluxe Creami adds a dedicated Dairy-Free program to its 11 one-touch settings. The best fit for anyone making plant-based pints every week. What the listing offers: - It is the only listing here with a dedicated Dairy-Free program. - Re-Spin after processing gives an even creamier result, useful when a low-fat oat or almond base comes out crumbly. - 24 oz XL tubs hold 50% more than the original Creami pint, per the listing. Limits to know: - Every base must be frozen in the tub ahead of time. - The listing does not explain how the Dairy-Free program differs from the standard Ice Cream program. ### 2. Cuisinart 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker and Gelato Machine, Makes Frozen Yogurt and Sorbet, Fully Automatic with Commercial-Quality Compressor and 2 Churning Paddles, ICE-100, Black/Stainless Type: Compressor; Capacity: 1.5 qt; Programs: 60-min countdown timer; Keep-cool hold: 10 minutes; Build: Black and stainless Cuisinart's compressor model with two paddles, one for ice cream and one for gelato, plus a 60-minute timer. The most complete package under $300 for cooks who want gelato too. What the listing offers: - The second paddle made specifically for gelato is unique among the picks under $300. - The listing states a limited 3-year warranty, the clearest coverage term in this group. - Touchpad controls with a large LCD and a 60-minute countdown timer keep operation simple. Limits to know: - At 1.5 quarts it makes less per batch than the 2 to 2.1 quart machines here. - Keep Cool runs only 10 minutes after the timer ends, according to the listing. ### 3. Ninja Creami Scoop & Swirl 13-in-1 Ice Cream and Soft Serve Maker, NC701 Type: Creami; Capacity: Not stated on this listing; Programs: 13, incl. 6 soft serve; Pre-freeze needed: Yes, base frozen first; Soft serve: Yes A Creami with 13 programs including Swirled Frozen Yogurt, which dispenses froyo as a soft serve swirl. The pick for shop-style froyo cups at home. What the listing offers: - A dedicated Swirled Frozen Yogurt program is listed among six soft serve programs. - It can dispense a swirl, which is how most people expect froyo to look. - The listing supports low sugar, lower calorie and high-protein bases. Limits to know: - The froyo base must be frozen ahead in the tub. - Tub capacity is not stated on this listing. ### 4. Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker, Brushed Stainless Steel Type: Compressor; Capacity: Not stated; Programs: 12 hardness settings, 4 presets, manual; Keep-cool hold: Up to 3 hours; Build: Brushed stainless steel A stainless churner that senses the hardness of the mix for the frozen yogurt setting you choose and holds it for up to 3 hours. Suits cooks who want froyo stopped at the same texture every time. What the listing offers: - Frozen yogurt is one of the listed hardness settings, so the machine decides when it is done. - Keep Cool holds the froyo chilled and churned for up to 3 hours. - Full manual mode is available if you want to stop softer. Limits to know: - Capacity is not stated in the listing, so batch size is unknown. - It is the most expensive pick in this guide. ### 5. Cuisinart 6-in-1 Slushy & Soft-Serve Maker, Ice Cream Maker Machine Makes Soft-Serve Ice Cream, Slushies, Sorbet and More, Quick-Freeze Chill Technology Maintains Perfect Temperature, ICE-200 Type: Compressor soft serve and slushy; Capacity: 1.7 quarts; Noise claim: Ultra-quiet motor, low-noise operation; Keep cool: Holds temperature and consistency; Pre-freeze needed: No A compressor-chilled soft serve and slushy maker that produces 1.7 quarts in as little as 15 minutes and dispenses with Smart Dispense Control. The pick for swirl cones without freezing a base. What the listing offers: - No pre-freezing is required; the listing says a compressor holds the temperature and consistency. - It can produce 1.7 quarts in as little as 15 minutes, per the listing. - The listing describes an ultra-quiet motor for low-noise operation. Limits to know: - It is built for soft serve and slushies, not dense scoopable ice cream for the freezer. - The quiet claim comes without a decibel figure, so it is hard to compare with other machines. ### 6. Whynter Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker, 2.1 Qt, ICM-201SB Type: Compressor; Capacity: 2.1 qt; Programs: Not stated (LCD timer); Keep-cool hold: Not stated; Build: Stainless steel housing An upright Whynter that keeps a 2.1-quart batch in a smaller footprint than horizontal machines. For small kitchens that still feed a family. What the listing offers: - Upright stainless housing designed for a smaller counter footprint. - 2.1-quart capacity, the largest in this compact guide. - No bowl in the freezer, so it saves freezer space too. Limits to know: - Taller and heavier than the 0.8 to 1.28 quart picks, though the listing gives no figures. - No preset programs are listed, only an LCD timer. ### 7. Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Machine w/Countdown Timer, 2 qt, ICE-70P1 Type: Freezer bowl; Capacity: 2 quarts; Programs: 3 settings, countdown timer; Pre-freeze needed: Yes, the bowl; Noise: Not stated A freezer bowl machine that makes 2 quarts in as little as 20 minutes once the bowl is frozen. The pick for occasional batches when you have freezer room and want to spend less. What the listing offers: - 2 quart capacity matches the larger compressor machines at a lower price. - The listing states treats in as little as 20 minutes with 3 settings, multiple speeds and an auto shutoff timer. - A lid with an ingredient spout and a limited 3-year warranty are included, per the listing. Limits to know: - The freezer bowl must be pre-frozen before every batch, which limits you to one batch at a time. - You need freezer space for the bowl, and the listing does not state how long it must freeze. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.