Rank: | Photo: | Model: | Rating: | More Info: |
#1 |  | BEST OVERALL Lello 4080 Musso Lusino | ||
#2 |  | LelloMusso Pola | ||
#3 |  | Cuisinart ICE-100 | ||
#4 |  | Breville BCI600XL | ||
#5 |  | Whynter ICM-201SB |
Those who say the best things in life are free have obviously never tasted gourmet ice cream before.
While there’s no need to spend big each week at the supermarket just to get the premium taste, you can splash a little cash to invest in a premium ice cream market and reap all of the delicious rewards.
What are the best ice cream makers on the market?
A premium ice cream maker should have features like a compressor, large capacity bowl, compact size, and automatic functions. Extras like programmable settings, LCD screen, and removable parts
A premium ice cream maker can transform the way you eat dessert and give you more options than ever for how to enjoy this delicious treat.
We’ve hand-picked some of our favorites to show you what the modern ice cream maker is all about and why you need to get your hands on one today.
Best Premium Ice Cream Makers – Reviews & Buying Guide For 2021
Our Picks For The Best Premium Ice Cream Makers
If you’ve been in the market for a way to make better desserts at home, you won’t want to miss our list of the top 5 ice cream makers.
These premium products are at the top of ice cream markers reviews constantly and step the game up when it comes to creating delicious treats at home.
WINNER: LELLO 4080 MUSSO LUSINO
- Size: 1.5 quart
- Voltage: 200W
- Programmable: No
Famous Italian manufacturer of ice cream machines Lello has created our top pick for best ice cream maker on the market with the Lello 4080 Musso Lusino.
This stainless steel machine comes with a 1.5-quart bowl and measures 17.72 x 11.81 in size so it’s compact enough for your kitchen counter.
You set the timer, pour your ingredients into a bowl, and press two buttons to get three quarts of ice cream made per hour, so it’s never been easier.
A huge bonus of making ice cream with the Musso Lusino is that there’s no need to pre-cool the bowl or machine as it works automatically. This means you can start making ice cream immediately and then be able to eat it even sooner, so there’s no waiting around like other makers.
The Musso Lusino from Lello is easy to clean and customers loved how low-maintenance it was, including the actual making of the ice cream itself.
The bowl, housing compartment, and paddle are all made of stainless steel so they can take a beating and there’s no need to worry about finicky parts with this ice cream maker.
One letdown with this is that it doesn’t have a range of functions or can’t be programmed and left.
You can set the timer to suit whatever type of ice cream treat you’re making, but if you’re looking for something that gives you the freedom to set and forget your ice cream making with a range of programmable functions, you’ll have to spend more.
Another potential drawback is the price, and although it might seem excessive for its size and for home use, the quality of the ice cream is what makes it worth it.
However, it’s reasonable to think that many people couldn’t afford this just to make themselves ice cream now and then, so you’ll want to make sure you’re getting good use of it.
The Lello 4080 Musso Lusino is one of the best ice cream makers for home use and our favorite find on the market today. It’s available online at Amazon and comes with a one-year warranty against defects, as well as a recipe book and manual so you can make the most out of your new dessert machine.
RUNNER UP: LELLOMUSSO POLA
- Size: 2 quart
- Voltage: 250 W
- Programable: No
It’s no surprise to find another entry from famous Italian ice cream machine makers Lello, with their Musso Pola being one of the biggest and best ice cream makers on the market with a two-quart bowl and mechanical timer to create whatever you dream up.
The Musso Pola features a compressor, measures 20 x 14 x 12.25 inches, and weighs almost 70lbs thanks to its serious stainless steelconstruction that allows you to make ice cream whenever you want at home.
The speed was a huge bonus of this machine and people were thrilled to find they could make up to six quarts of ice cream or frozen desserts in just one hour. With no need to pre-chill and no tricky settings, you’ll be able to enjoy a bowl of homemade goodness whenever you feel a craving coming on.
Another advantage of this ice cream maker is the final consistency that it gives the ice cream, a texture that many people had never experienced when making their own.
If you want a premium level machine that will deliver ice cream that’s decadent and tastes expensive, it’s worth investing in something like the LelloMusso Pola.
On the downside though, it’s an expensive buy, and when you consider how much you’re spending on it, it’s only covered by a one-year warranty.
You’ll need to do your best to take care of it and keep all of the parts cleaned and maintained, otherwise you could be forking out another big sum of money for a new one.
Some customers also noted that a few parts had issues with fitting on at first, and it required a bit of hard work to get them on.
If you need replacement parts it can be hard to find, because Lello is an Italian brand, so this is another thing potential negative to keep in mind.
If you want premium level ice cream in a home machine, the LelloMusso Pola is worth your consideration.
With a one year warranty and included manual and recipe guide, you’ve got everything you need to start creating, and since it only takes an hour maximum to make your ice cream, you can have delicious treats on tap.
It’s no surprise to find another entry from famous Italian ice cream machine makers Lello, with their Musso Pola being one of the biggest and best ice cream makers on the market with a two-quart bowl and mechanical timer to create whatever you dream up.
The Musso Pola features a compressor, measures 20 x 14 x 12.25 inches, and weighs almost 70lbs thanks to its serious stainless steelconstruction that allows you to make ice cream whenever you want at home.
The speed was a huge bonus of this machine and people were thrilled to find they could make up to six quarts of ice cream or frozen desserts in just one hour. With no need to pre-chill and no tricky settings, you’ll be able to enjoy a bowl of homemade goodness whenever you feel a craving coming on.
Another advantage of this ice cream maker is the final consistency that it gives the ice cream, a texture that many people had never experienced when making their own.
If you want a premium level machine that will deliver ice cream that’s decadent and tastes expensive, it’s worth investing in something like the LelloMusso Pola.
On the downside though, it’s an expensive buy, and when you consider how much you’re spending on it, it’s only covered by a one-year warranty.
You’ll need to do your best to take care of it and keep all of the parts cleaned and maintained, otherwise you could be forking out another big sum of money for a new one.
Some customers also noted that a few parts had issues with fitting on at first, and it required a bit of hard work to get them on.
If you need replacement parts it can be hard to find, because Lello is an Italian brand, so this is another thing potential negative to keep in mind.
If you want premium level ice cream in a home machine, the LelloMusso Pola is worth your consideration.
ALTERNATIVE: CUISINART ICE-100
- Size: 1.5 quart
- Voltage: 120 W
- Programmable: No
If you want first-class ice cream without the price tag, the Cuisinart ICE-100 is on the lower end of the scale for premium machines.
Their range delivers good ice cream makers with this 1.5 quart being the most popular, and it comes with two paddles, a countdown timer, LCD screen, and BPA-free parts for your peace of mind.
One of the coolest features of this ice cream maker is the additional gelato paddle that comes with it, so you can make two types of desserts with one machine. The gelato is more for ice-based treats whereas the ice cream paddle delivers creamy results, and customers loved having two to choose from.
The price is another advantage of going with Cuisinart and you’ll get premium tasting ice cream without having to blow your budget.
There’s no lack of features either, just because you’re spending less, and it’s become one of the most popular home ice cream makers in distribution today because of it.
There are some minor issues worth mentioning, though, including variance in wait times for the ice cream to set.
Even after following recommendations, some users found they had to wait longer than advertised for their ice cream to set in the ICE-100, and this figure changed depending on what they were making.
Another downside to consider is the ice cream sometimes spills over the top and inside the machine when it gets close to freezing.
This means extra cleaning for you and a slightly longer process, but some people are happy to put up with this annoyance because of the money they save.
The Cuisinart ICE-100 comes with a massive three-year warranty which speaks volumes for its craftsmanship, and it’s available for the best price online when you shop at Amazon.
If you want a first-class ice cream maker without the crazy cost, you’ll love what the ICE-100 is capable of.
ALTERNATIVE: BREVILLE BCI600XL
- Size: 1.5 quart
- Voltage: 165 W
- Programmable: Yes
Breville has created one of the most popular home ice cream makers with their Smart Scoop, featuring as stainless steel construction, 165 watts of power, child lock, and programmable settings.
These ice cream makers take it to the next level and operate like a commercial device, but is made with BPA-free materials and is easy to clean and maintain.
The biggest bonus of this ice cream maker is that it’s programmable, and that’s not a feature you find in machines in this price range.
You can choose between 12 hardness settings that will deliver you the perfect sorbet, ice cream, gelato, and even yogurt, so there’s zero guesswork on your behalf. When it’s done, it plays a musical tune to alert you, and you get to choose your favorite between three fun options.
Another cool feature is the compressor which means it refrigerates itself and can keep cool for up to three hours. If you plan on making ice cream but won’t be home in the afternoon when it’s done, you can set it and forget it.
The Smart Scoop is one of the best ice cream makers with compressor for this purpose, and one of the longest in terms of refrigeration.
The biggest hindrance of this machine is that it has to be pre-cooled which adds further waiting time to the process and means you won’t just be making ice cream on a whim.
Others we’ve reviewed at this price do not need to be cooled before the ice cream churning and freezing could begin, so it was a letdown to see that the Smart Scoop did.
In addition to this, some customers found the Breville Smart Scoop wasn’t designed as well because there were issues with spilling and leakage in some parts.
For the cost of this machine, it’s not something you want to worry about, so you’ll need to be extra careful when filling and making ice cream, especially when you just get it and you’re testing it out.
The Breville Smart Scoop is a best seller in the home ice cream machine market and it’s easy to see why.
You can get your hands on one online at Amazon, but unfortunately, they’re only covered by a one year manufacturer’s warranty, which is a little risky.
If delicious and premium home ice cream is your goal and you want to make it with ease, the Smart Scoop is the way to go.
ALTERNATIVE: WHYNTER ICM-201SB
- Size: 2.1 quart
- Voltage: 180 W
- Programable: No
The Whynter Upright Automatic Ice Cream Maker is a dessert lover’s dream come true. This machine is reasonably priced, comes with a two quart capacity, motor protection, and BPA-free stainless steel parts.
You can make everything from frozen yogurt to ice cream with one device and with a fully automatic function that takes the guesswork out of the process.
The ease of use is one of the major selling points of this machine and it means even if you’ve never attempted to make frozen desserts before, you’ll get it right.
The Whynter delivers consistently good ice cream and without needing to do much, thanks to all of its automatic functions.
Customers also loved the BPA-free stainless steel mixing bowl that could be removed, and the churn blade as well.
With some other ice cream makers featuring blades that were fastened on, this means easy cleaning and maintenance, which is always a bonus with appliances.
As one of the cheaper options we’ve reviewed, though, the overall construction doesn’t feel the most durable as compared to others.
Those who have had issues with the machine breaking or needing replacement parts noted that it happened after the warranty period, but if you’re looking for longevity in an ice cream maker you might want to spend more.
Another negative we’ve found is that removing the bowl once the ice cream is made takes some work. The bowl tends to freeze to the rest of the machine and you’ll need to give it a few minutes before you can take it off.
This sometimes means the ice cream starts to melt, so it’s a feature that needs to be rectified in future models.
Overall, the Whynter Upright Ice Cream Maker is fantastic value for money and delivers consistently delicious frozen desserts.
It comes with a one-year warranty, is available for a great price online at Amazon, and can be shipped for free to your door. For an ice cream machine that ticks all of the boxes and doesn’t break the bank, Whynter makes one of our favorites.
Premium Ice Cream Makers FAQ
Today’s ice cream makers have evolved a lot since the appliance was first released and there have never been more options for what you can do with them. If you’re still unsure about investing in this treat maker, check out some FAQs that can give you a nudge in the right direction.
ARE ICE CREAM MAKERS WORTH IT?
Modern ice cream makers are a lot easier to maintain, clean, and use than those of the past.
If you want to experiment with different flavors and recipes or have dietary requirements that limit what you can eat, investing in an ice cream maker is a great way to save money and treat yourself.
IS MAKING ICE CREAM CHEAPER THAN BUYING IT?
The cost of purchasing ice cream at the store versus making your own depends on the ice cream you usually buy and the ingredients you use in a machine.
There are ways to ensure your homemade version comes out cheaper than the alternative, especially if you plan on using it a lot, as well as options to splurge and make a first-rate ice cream batch.
WHAT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ICE CREAM BRAND?
To find the most expensive ice cream in the world, you’ll need to head to Dubai and check out Scoopi Café for its famous recipe.
Their Black Diamond ice cream costs just under $200 a serve and is made with particles of sheer yellow metal to give it the appearance of gold flecks.
WHAT ARE THE TOP 5 ICE CREAM FLAVORS?
According to a study published by YouGov, the five most popular ice cream flavors in the US are chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, mint chocolate chip, and butter pecan. Other top contenders that also ranked highly include cookies and cream, chocolate chip cookie dough, and pistachio.
Treat Yourself To The Best
Having ice cream on tap might sound like a dangerous prospect but with today’s ice cream makers and a wealth of recipes and tips available online, it doesn’t always have to be an unhealthy treat.
The key is finding an ice cream maker that can handle all of your requests, which only comes with the best of the best, so consider adding one of our recommendations to your home kitchen.
