How To Clean Igloo Countertop Ice Machine

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This story was updated in August 2021 to ensure all of our top-rated ice cream makers were still stock and to include additional testing notes from our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances Lab and product picks, including the Nostalgia 4-quart ice cream maker.

Nothing's sweeter than whipping up your own ice cream, especially during the peak of summer. And while you can technically make the sweet treat without any fancy machine, an at-home ice cream maker makes the process so much easier since you just have to pour in the ingredients and let the machine do the work. Plus, the results typically taste better than store bought since they're fresher and preservative-free, and you can customize your ice cream any way you choose.

How we test ice cream makers

Over the years, we've put more than 18 different ice cream makers to the test in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances Lab. Each model was used to make both vanilla ice cream and peach sorbet using 52 pounds of peaches, 52 pounds of sugar and 15 quarts of both heavy cream and half and half. Testing protocols are strict (though the process and payoff is fun!) and assess every element of the machine, from ease of setup and use, to noise level during operation, to ease of cleaning and even the company's customer service.

Through these assessments, our experts found that, in general, there is no correlation between price and performance — all makers produced ice cream that was palatable if eaten immediately; sorbet results were more varied. Differences are largely convenience-based, though all required some level of pre-planning. Overall, ice cream makers that used a combination of ice and rock salt to freeze were not as easy to use as ones that use a frozen canister or a compressor and noise levels varied greatly.

Below, you'll find some of our favorite ice cream makers from our Lab tests, along with best-sellers and models from brands we trust. Whether you opt for an electric, manual or traditional hand-crank salt-and-ice machine, you'll want to serve homemade sundaes all the time once you see our picks for the best ice cream makers to buy. (Bonus points if you use one of these cool ice cream tools in the process.)

Best Overall Ice Cream Maker

Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Ice Cream Maker

Cuisinart amazon.com

$89.99

The classic Cuisinart Pure Indulgence makes up to two quarts of perfectly thick, velvety-smooth ice cream or sorbet in as little as 25 minutes. And there's really no manual work required — an integrated motor spins the mixing paddle inside the double-insulated freezer bowl to autonomously create the frozen treat. You can even drop fruit or candy down the extra-large ingredient spout and the machine will mix it all together.

Our Lab pros loved the resulting ice cream and sorbet, too — in tests, it received the highest performance scores, making very thick and delicious vanilla ice cream and smooth, flavorful sorbet. Oh, and the base's cord compartment makes for tidy storage. Just make sure you have enough freezer space, because the large bowl requires pre-freezing prior to use.

Large two-quart capacity
Easy to operate and clean
Large ingredient spout for mix-ins

Loud
Large bowl requires pre-freezing

Best Ice Cream Maker Attachment

Ice Cream Maker Attachment

If you already own a KitchenAid stand mixer, you already have the bones of a great electric ice cream maker on hand. This ice cream-making attachment, comes with a bowl with a large opening, so you can add the mix-ins of your choice. Our recipe testing proved the machine is quick to work (about 25 minutes).

It performs, too: After pre-freezing the bowl for 24 hours, this attachment prepared smooth, super aerated, creamy vanilla ice cream in our Lab tests. The sorbet wasn't as impressive, though: While the texture was very smooth, after freezing the sorbet developed a somewhat grainy texture and the peach flavor was mild. Also to note: Our Lab pros found that some tilt-head models require an adapter ring to fit properly.

Large two-quart capacity
Easy to operate and clean
Large ingredient spout for mix-ins

Large bowl requires pre-freezing
Can be tricky to assemble

Best Compressor-Style Ice Cream Maker

Ice Cream Maker

Whynter amazon.com

$249.50

This all-star machine comes from a brand known for its refrigeration and air conditioning products. It doesn't require any pre-freezing or salt to start making ice cream (a huge convenience, since you can make frozen treats on a whim and make sequential batches of ice cream without any down time between).

Our kitchen appliance pros also love that this model has a quiet compressor, so it does most of the work on its own without excess noise. It comes with multiple modes and an easy-to-read LCD timer to make the process more precise, as well as a Motor Protection Function that shuts off the unit to prevent damage if you step away and the mixture freezes solid.

Doesn't require pre-freezing
Easy to operate
Multiple functions and a timer
Automatic shut-off

Smaller 1.6-quart capacity
Large footprint
Relatively hard to clean

Best Smart Ice Cream Maker

Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker

Breville amazon.com

$499.95

Breville's Smart Scoop is a fully automatic electric machine that's packed with special features, including a backlit LED display and a self-refrigerating compressor that brings the ingredients to a below-freezing temperature (no pre-freezing required!).

Our kitchen pros love that it boasts 12 hardness settings (with presets for sorbet, frozen yogurt, gelato and ice cream) that allow you to make ice cream in a consistency that suits your purpose for the finished product: eating right away, using for molded ice cream cakes or sandwiches, or storing for later. It's no surprise that it's a pricier pick that renders it best for people who are serious about making ice cream.

Doesn't require pre-freezing
Easy to operate
Multiple functions and an LED display

Smaller 1.5-quart capacity
Heavy and large

Best Single-Serving Ice Cream Maker

Ice Cream Maker

This ice cream maker doubles as a cute sundae dish and thanks to the smaller footprint, it's not nearly as cumbersome to store as machines with larger bowls. Use the bowl to create a wide range of treats, including hard ice cream, soft serve, frozen yogurt, gelato and even granitas in 10 to 20 minutes.

Plus, individual serving sizes means the kids can choose their own varieties, flavors and mix-ins! Each bowl even comes with a protective sleeve and a spoon, so you'll truly have everything you need to dig right in. Our kitchen appliance Lab pros suggest keeping it in the freezer so you can make a scoop whenever you're craving a frozen treat

Easy to store, use and clean
Versatile usability

Requires some manual effort
Process can be messy

Best Ice Cream Maker for Kids

Softshell Ice Cream Ball

This innovative ice cream maker is shaped like a ball and meant to be tossed around as part of the churning process! Once you've made the ice cream base of your choice and added any mix-ins, challenge the kids to 25 minutes of playtime. The reward is sweet: A pint of ice cream that's ready to eat when they're done. Don't worry: It's soft-sided, so it won't hurt the kiddos or your furniture and it seals up nice and tight so you won't end up with a stained rug!

After dessert, toss the whole thing in the dishwasher for easy cleanup. Just don't expect the ice cream to compare to anything you'd buy at the store — Lab pros say this ball is more for fun than it is for creating a culinary delight.

Novelty kickball makes ice cream
Dishwasher-safe

Requires a lot of manual effort
Small one-pint capacity

Most Versatile Ice Cream Maker

Sweet Spot Instant Ice Cream Maker

Our kitchen appliance pros recommend the Chef'n Sweet Spot for those who want dessert ready ASAP. To prep, just pop the shallow, wide bowl in the freezer overnight, then freeze your base for approximately 15 minutes before pouring it onto the surface, working the mixture until ice cream forms. Because the metal surface is so cold, you'll see your cream begin to freeze instantly.

Depending on what frozen treat you're going for —rolled ice cream, regular ice cream with mix-ins, frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelato, slushies or even frozen margaritas— you may have to do a decent amount of manipulating with the paddles, which can be a bit tedious, but is largely worth the effort.

Easy to use and clean
Versatile

A bit cumbersome to store in the freezer
Requires manual effort

Best Ice Cream Maker for Vegan Ice Cream

Fruit Soft Serve Maker

Though the name may lead you to believe this machine is only for banana "nice cream," it makes creamy soft serve out of just about any fruit — frozen mangos, strawberries and, yes, bananas — in seconds. Simply push the frozen fruit through the chute (pro tip: thaw fruit ever-so-slightly first) and it'll churn out rich, smooth vegan-friendly soft serve so delicious you won't believe you didn't add any sugar or heavy cream. Just note: Like traditional frozen yogurt, mix-ins — cacao nibs, almond butter or coconut, for example — have to be added after the fact.

While the resulting product is definitely delicious, our lab experts also love how easy cleanup Is: The chute, plunger and blade are all top-rack dishwasher safe.

Easy to use
Dishwasher=safe
Small and lightweight

Limited run time
Loud, weak motor

Best Portable Ice Cream Maker

4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker

Nostalgia amazon.com

$69.98

Ice cream is surely one of the biggest delights of summer, but so is picnicking — and this portable ice cream maker allows you to take your creation on the go.The four-quart ice cream maker holds plenty for your whole crew and has a convenient carry handle for toting anywhere.

The machine is powered by an electric motor that does all the churning for you. And whether you make traditional ice cream, frozen yogurt or gelato, our recipe testers say there's no manual effort required. Just peek through the see-through lid to monitor consistency. Cleanup is a breeze too: simply wipe down the plastic bucket.

Easy to use and clean
Portable
Large four-quart capacity

Requires pre-freezing
Relatively weak motor

Betty Gold, Good Housekeeping Institute Senior Editor & Product Analyst, Kitchen Appliances & Technology Lab Betty Gold is the former Senior Editor & Product Analyst of the Kitchen Appliances Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluated and wrote about every type of cooking tool and food-related item on the market.

Brigitt Earley Brigitt Earley Bio: Brigitt Earley is a freelance writer and editor based in NJ.

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