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Best ice cream makers for frozen desserts at home
In this article
- The best ice cream makers: self-freezing
- The self-freezing ice cream makers we tested
- The best ice cream makers: freeze-first
- The freeze-first ice cream makers we tested
- We also tried the Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker
- How we test ice cream makers
- Is it worth getting an ice cream maker?
- How to make ice cream with an ice cream maker
The best ice cream maker will make it easy for you to create creating your favourite indulgent flavours from scratch.
There are two types that we've put to the test:
- Freeze-first Cheaper to buy but it takes longer to get the ice cream as you have to freeze the bowl first for about eight to 12 hours.
- Self-freezing More expensive, self-freezing makers that give you ready-to-serve ice cream in less than an hour.
We've tested those from £20 to almost £450 from top brands, including the Cuisinart, Ninja Creami, Lakeland and more.
Two ice cream makers stood out from the rest and earned our Best Buy recommendation, while a cheaper option impressed to earn our Great Value recommendation.
How our tests find you the best
Is the ice cream ready to serve?
There’s always room for dessert! So we tell you which machines make perfectly thick, scoopable ice cream that doesn’t require more freezing.
Dispersal of mix-ins
Our taste testers pay close attention to the spread of chocolate chips, so you get to enjoy delicious extras with every single scoop.
Ease of use
30+ batches of homemade ice cream (and a few frustrations) later, we’ve learnt a thing or two. That’s why we’ve shared our top tips for each machine.
We also test...
Texture, as part of a blind taste test, and how noisy each machine is.
The best ice cream makers: self-freezing
Only logged-in Which? members can view the self-freezing ice cream makers test results below.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
| Self-freezing ice cream maker | Price | Score | Capacity | Making ready-to-serve ice cream | Ice cream texture* | Dispersing mix-ins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations. Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time Already a member? Log in | 88% | |||||
| 78% | ||||||
| 74% | ||||||
| 72% | ||||||
| 64% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations.
Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time
Already a member? Log in
Date tested: July 2021 and April 2024. Page last checked: May 2025. We're not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
*After freezing overnight.
The self-freezing ice cream makers we tested
All the self-freezing ice cream makers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best self-freezing ice cream makers from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
Cuisinart Gelato and Ice Cream Maker
Most recently tested July 2021
Size 23 x 29 x 56cm (HxWxD)
Capacity 1.5 litres
Need to know Keep cool function up to 10 minutes, also makes frozen yoghurt, gelato and sorbet
Kumio Ice Cream Maker
Most recently tested April 2024
Size 18 x 35 x 25cm (HxWxD)
Capacity 1 litre
Need to know Recipes included, also makes frozen yoghurt
Lakeland Compressor Ice Cream Maker
Most recently tested April 2024
Size 23 x 41 x 28cm (HxWxD)
Capacity 1.5 litres
Need to know Ice cream scoop included, also makes frozen yoghurt, gelato and sorbet
Magimix Gelato Expert
Most recently tested July 2021
Size 26 x 29 x 37cm (HxWxD)
Capacity 2 litres
Need to know Includes spatula and measuring cup, also makes frozen yoghurt, granita and sorbet
Sage The Smart Scoop Gelato and Ice Cream Maker
Most recently tested April 2024
Size 23 x 39 x 26cm (HxWxD)
Capacity 1 litre
Need to know Pre-cool function, keep-cool function up to three hours, cleaning brush included, also makes frozen yoghurt, gelato and sorbet
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The best ice cream makers: freeze-first
Only logged-in Which? members can view the freeze-first ice cream makers test results below.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
| Freeze-first ice cream maker | Freezer bowl capacity | Price | Score | Making ready-to-serve ice cream | Ice cream texture* | Dispersing mix-ins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations. Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time Already a member? Log in | 88% | |||||
| 82% | ||||||
| 78% | ||||||
| 77% | ||||||
| 76% | ||||||
| 74% | ||||||
| 72% | ||||||
| 70% | ||||||
| 60% | ||||||
| 58% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations.
Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time
Already a member? Log in
Date tested: June 2022 and April 2024. Page last checked: May 2025. We're not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
*After freezing overnight.
The freeze-first ice cream makers we tested
All the freeze-first ice cream makers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best freeze-first ice cream makers from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendation below.
Andrew James Ice Cream Maker
Most recently tested April 2024
Size 22 x 19cm (HxW)
Freezer bowl capacity and size 1.5 litres; 14 x 18cm (HxW)
Pre-freeze time Minimum eight hours
Need to know Recipes included, also makes frozen yoghurt and sorbet
Cuisinart Ice Cream Deluxe
Most recently tested June 2022
Size 29 x 22cm (HxW)
Freezer bowl capacity and size 2 litres; 16 x 20cm (HxW)
Pre-freeze time Overnight
Need to know Recipes included, also makes frozen yoghurt and sorbet
KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker
Most recently tested April 2024
Size 18 x 28cm (HxW)
Freezer bowl capacity and size 1.9 litres; 18 x 28cm (HxW)
Pre-freeze time Minimum 16 hours
Need to know Compatible with all KitchenAid tilt-head stand mixers except 5KSM3311X, compatible with all bowl-lift mixers except for models 5KPM5, 5KPM50 and 5K5, also makes frozen yoghurt, gelato and sorbet
Lakeland Mini Digital Ice Cream Maker
Most recently tested April 2024
Size 16 x 15cm (HxW)
Freezer bowl capacity and size 500ml – 10 x 15cm (HxW)
Pre-freeze time Minimum 12 hours
Need to know Recipes included
Lakeland Digital Ice Cream Maker
Most recently tested April 2024
Size 23 x 20cm (HxW)
Freezer bowl capacity and size 1.8 litres; 14 x 18cm (HxW)
Pre-freeze time Minimum 12 hours
Need to know Recipes included, also makes frozen yoghurt and sorbet
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Magimix Le Glacier Ice Cream Maker
Most recently tested June 2022
Size 22 x 20cm (HxW)
Freezer bowl capacity and size 850ml; 15 x 19cm (HxW)
Pre-freeze time Minimum eight hours
Need to know Also makes frozen drinks, frozen yoghurt and sorbet
Ninja Creami Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Maker
Most recently tested June 2022
Size 40.5 x 16.5 x 27cm (HxWxD)
Freezer bowl capacity and size 500ml; 11 x 12cm (HxW)
Pre-freeze time 24 hours
Need to know Three ice cream tubs with lids and recipes included, also makes gelato, milkshake, sorbet and smoothies
Ninja Creami Deluxe Ice Cream & Frozen Drink Maker
Most recently tested April 2024
Size 42 x 26 x 17cm (HxWxD)
Freezer bowl capacity and size 709ml; 12 x 12cm (HxW)
Pre-freeze time Minimum 24 hours
Need to know Three ice cream tubs with lids and recipes included, also makes gelato, frappes, frozen yoghurt, frozen drinks, milkshake and slushis
Why is the Ninja Creami so popular?
The Ninja Creami put ice cream makers into the limelight when it went viral on TikTok in 2023. There have been more than 90m videos made about the Creami to date.
As well as ice cream, it makes gelato, milkshake, sorbet and smoothies. Its upgraded model, the Ninja Creami Deluxe, also makes frozen drinks such as frappes and slushis. We've put both to the test to see if they are worth the hype.
Sensio Home Ice Cream Maker Machine
Most recently tested June 2022
Size 23 x 20cm (HxW)
Freezer bowl capacity and size 500ml; 13 x 20cm (HxW)
Pre-freeze time 12 hours
Need to know Also makes frozen yogurt, gelato and sorbet
VonShef Stainless Steel Ice Cream Maker
Most recently tested June 2022
Size 23 x 21cm (HxW)
Freezer bowl capacity and size 750ml; 15 x 19cm (HxW)
Pre-freeze time Eight hours
Need to know Also makes frozen yoghurt and sorbet
We also tried the Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker
Most recently tested April 2024
Size 44 x 25 x 20cm (HxWxD)
Freezer bowl capacity and size 1.4 litres; 15 x 18cm (HxW)
Need to know Keep warm cup for sauces and cone holder included, also makes frozen yoghurt and sorbet
This Cuisinart machine makes ice cream that's a soft-serve consistency with a ribbony texture.
It isn't the same as the thick, scoopable ice cream made in most machines, so its results aren't directly comparable to the other options we tested.
How we test ice cream makers
We buy the most popular ice cream makers sold at leading UK retailers. We make vanilla chocolate chip ice cream in each machine (as the chocolate chips can prove a stumbling block) and assess them on the factors below.
We regularly revisit the ice cream makers on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and when we find them we do.
- Is the ice cream ready to serve? The best ice cream makers create perfect ready-to-serve ice cream, which is an even, thick consistency and easy to scoop out. Others produce too solid or sloppier ice cream that requires additional freezing to bring it together.
- Ice cream texture After it's frozen for 24 hours, we conduct a blind taste test with a group of testers. They look for ice cream that's creamy, airy and smooth and mark down ice cream that's crumbly, watery or sloppy.
- Dispersing mix-ins Is chocolate chip your go-to flavour? We score each machine on how well the chocolate chips have spread throughout the ice cream. The best have an even spread and the worst have lots of chocolate chips clumped together or not enough in a serving.
- Ease of use For each of the ice cream makers, we consider how easy they are to operate, assemble and unload ice cream from. The best have intuitive designs with clearly labelled parts and responsive functions. The worst we encounter are overly complicated, messy to scoop the ice cream out of or in the worst case, break.
- Noise The louder the machine the worse it scores. Most make noise due to the built-in freezers and motors, but some are much louder than others.
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Is it worth getting an ice cream maker?
We made (and gladly tasted) countless batches of ice cream during our tests. However, this wasn't without some trial and error.
They can be temperamental appliances and we've discovered lots of useful tips for using them. These should help to make the ice cream making process easier and avoid some of the mistakes we made.
- Don't underestimate the pre-freezing time For freeze-first machines, freeze the bowl for at least 24 hours. The more time the better – some manufacturers even suggest permanently keeping the bowl in the freezer if you have space. If you can hear any liquid moving around in the bowl when you take it out of the freezer, it needs more time.
- Check how the ice-cream mixture needs to be added. Most of those we tested require you to pour the mixture in while the mixing paddle is running. This stops the mixture immediately freezing against the inside wall of the container. If this is the case, it will need to be a pourable, liquid consistency, so don’t over whisk it.
- Don’t use metal utensils Use silicone, plastic or wooden utensils to scoop the ice-cream out of the machine, as metal ones can scratch the bowl.
- Chill the ice cream mixture before you start churning We used cream and milk straight out of the fridge, but if the ingredients have been sitting out for a while, stick the mixture in the fridge for a couple of hours – this will help it to churn to a thick, scoopable texture.
- Make the ice cream ahead of time Most machines make ice cream to a soft serve consistency. For a thicker, scoopable texture, you’ll need to freeze it overnight so it firms up.
- Don’t add mix-ins such as chocolate chips or fruit straight away as they can freeze to the bottom of the machine rather than get stirred in. Add them in the last half of churning so they're evenly mixed into the ice cream.
How to make ice cream with an ice cream maker
- If you're using a freeze-first machine, you'll need to pre-freeze the bowl for the stated time in the instructions (usually a minimum of 12 hours) so it's ready for churning. If you've got a self-freezing maker, you can jump straight into the second step.
- Combine the ingredients – we used a simple base mixture of double cream, condensed milk and vanilla extract, but you can also follow the recipes included with the machine.
- Set the ice cream maker to churn and use a jug to pour ingredients into the mixing bowl. Adding the mixture while the ice cream maker is churning stops the mixture freezing against the inside wall of the bowl. Remember not to fill the bowl right to the top as the mixture will expand as it churns.
- If you're adding mix-ins, such as chocolate chips, add them in the last half of churning.
- If your machine has a timer, you can wait until it goes off. However, it's also worth keeping an eye on your mixture. When it's thickened to a scoopable consistency, you can stop churning. If your machine has a keep-cool function, you can turn this on now to stop it from melting.
- Remove the mixing paddle from the ice cream and scoop the mixture out to serve or into a container to freeze overnight if you want a firmer consistency.
How to make ice cream without an ice cream maker
Although it's easier with a machine, you can make ice cream without one.
No-churn vanilla ice cream
Ingredients
- 198g (about half a 397g can) of sweetened condensed milk
- 600ml double cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Method
- In a large bowl, whisk together the condensed milk, cream and vanilla extract until thick and quite stiff (like clotted cream).
- Scrape the mixture into a freezable container.
- Freeze until solid (for best results leave overnight).
- Defrost for 10 minutes before serving.
Add to your kitchen gadgets with the best hand blenders and best stand mixers
No-churn salted caramel ice cream
Ingredients
- 397g of canned caramel
- 500ml double cream
- Salt to taste
Method
- In a large bowl, whisk together the canned caramel, cream and salt until thick and quite stiff (like clotted cream).
- Scrape the mixture into a freezable container.
- Freeze until solid (for best results leave overnight).
- Defrost for 10 minutes before serving.
Looking for a freezer that will cool your food quickly and is cheap to run? See the reviews of the best freezers for our top picks
What's the difference between the Ninja Creami and an ice cream maker?
The viral Ninja Creami is a freeze-first ice cream maker, but it churns much quicker than most machines of this type.
Most freeze-first machines require you to freeze an empty bowl for at least eight hours before pouring your ice cream mixture in to churn.
With the Ninja Creami (and the Ninja Creami Deluxe), you freeze the mixture and the tub for 24 hours before churning. This makes churning the ice cream a speedy process of around two to five minutes as the ingredients are already frozen. Most freeze-first ice cream makers take around 30 minutes to do this.
Is Ninja Creami better than competition?
From £200, the Ninja Creami is pricey compared to most freeze-first ice cream makers.
Join Which? to read our reviews of the Ninja Creami and Ninja Creami Deluxe and find out if the popular ice cream maker is worth the investment.
An ice cream maker can be a fun gift for a family, which is why we've included it in our guide on the best gifts for kids