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10 Best Small Ice Cream Maker in 2024 - The Top Reviews

Jimmy Smith
  Apr 18, 2024 2:10 PM

In the heat of summer, there's nothing quite like a cold bowl of ice cream to cool you down. Unfortunately, most commercial ice cream is packed with artificial ingredients and excess sugar.

But with a small ice cream maker, you can make your own delicious and healthy ice cream at home. Check out our list of the 9 best small ice cream makers to find the perfect one for you!


Top picks

Best for home: Cuisinart ICE-21P1

Delicious frozen treats in minutes! The Cuisinart ICE-21P1 Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker is our new patent-pending mixing paddle makes frozen treats in 20 minutes or less. With a double-insulated freezer bowl, there is no need for ice.

The freezer bowl holds up to 1-½ quarts of your favorite ice cream, frozen yogurt, or sorbet. The easy lock transparent lid with large spout makes adding ingredients simple and mess free.

And cleanup is easy with the removable mixing paddle and bowl. New and improved for 2018, the Cuisinart ICE-21P1 Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker comes with a limited 3-year warranty. 

Cuisinart ICE-70P1 Cool Creations 2-Quart Soft Service, Brushed Chrome, Ice Cream Maker with Countdown Timer

Best for small apartments: Ninja NC301

With the Ninja NC301 CREAMi Ice Cream Maker, you can easily transform everyday ingredients into delicious frozen treats like ice cream, gelato, smoothie bowls, milkshakes and more. With seven one-touch programs, it’s easy to make a wide variety of healthy or indulgent desserts that fit your lifestyle.

The compact size is perfect for small apartments or homes with limited countertop space. Plus, it comes with two pint-sized containers and lids, so you can make enough to share with family and friends.

Best durable: COSTWAY Ice Cream Maker

COSTWAY Ice Cream Maker, 2.1-Quart Automatic Countertop Ice Cream Machine with LCD Digital Display, Built-in Compressor, Timer Control, Mixing Bowl, Electric Fruit Yogurt Machine

The COSTWAY Automatic Countertop Ice Cream Machine is your answer to homemade ice cream perfection! With a large capacity of up to 2.1 quarts and multiple functions including ice cream making, gelato making and yogurt making this machine does it all! The LCD digital display makes operation a breeze while the built-in compressor ensures that you never have to wait long for your next frozen treat.

Perfect choice: Ivation IVAICECREM36

The Ivation Automatic Ice Cream Maker Machine eliminates the need to pre-freeze ingredients by featuring a built-in compressor. This stainless steel gelato maker has an LCD screen, digital timer, and removable bowl.

The clear lid allows you to monitor the progress of your ice cream. Simply touch the buttons on the LCD panel to make ice cream (up to 60 minutes), mix only, or keep cool.

Best energy saving: Lello musso-mini-4080

The Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker, Stainless - 110/120V 60 HZ is a high quality and durable option for those who want to make their own ice cream at home. The large 1.5-quart capacity bowl freezes up to three quarts of ice cream per hour, making it easy to make large quantities at once.

Additionally, the fully automatic machine requires no manual labor - just pour in the ingredients and press two buttons! The timer also allows you to control the length of time for different frozen confections, so you can have homemade ice cream whenever you please. Plus, the housing, bowl, and paddle are all made of stainless steel for easy cleaning. 


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Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

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What to look for

What to look for in the best small ice cream maker? 

When choosing a small ice cream maker, it is important to consider the following factors: capacity, type of freezer, ease of use, and price.

1. Capacity

Capacity is an important factor to consider when choosing a small ice cream maker. Most small ice cream makers have a one quart capacity, which is enough for two to four people. If you have a larger family or entertain often, you may want to consider a model with a higher capacity.

2. Type of freezer

The type of freezer is another important factor to consider when choosing a small ice cream maker. There are two types of freezers: air-cooled and water-cooled.

Air-cooled models use a cooling fan to circulate air around the freezer, while water-cooled models use a water jacket to keep the freezer cold. Water-cooled models are more expensive, but they are more energy efficient and will keep your ice cream colder for a longer period of time.

3. Ease of use

Ease of use is another factor to consider when choosing a small ice cream maker. Some models are very easy to use, while others require some assembly and knowledge of ice cream making. If you are new to making ice cream, you may want to choose a model that is easier to use.

4. Budget

Price is another factor to consider when choosing a small ice cream maker. Small ice cream makers range in price from around $30 to $300. If you are on a budget, you may want to consider a less expensive model.

However, if you entertain often or have a large family, you may want to invest in a more expensive model.

Ninja NC301 CREAMi Ice Cream Maker, for Gelato, Mix-ins, Milkshakes, Sorbet, Smoothie Bowls & More, 7 One-Touch Programs, with (2) Pint Containers & Lids, Compact Size, Perfect for Kids, Silver

Standout features of the best small ice cream maker

There are a few key features that make a small ice cream maker stand out from the rest. Here are some of the most important ones to look for:

1. Compact size - A good small ice cream maker should be compact enough to fit on your countertop or in your freezer without taking up too much space.

2. Quick freezing - A good small ice cream maker will freeze your ice cream quickly and evenly, so that it's ready to eat in no time.

3. High capacity - A small ice cream maker should have a high capacity, so that you can make enough ice cream for your family or a party.

4. Affordable - A small ice cream maker should be affordable, so that you can enjoy delicious homemade ice cream without breaking the bank.

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Final thoughts

The best small ice cream maker is the one that can make a variety of flavors, has an easy cleanup process, and doesn’t take up a lot of counter space. We’ve gathered the top nine best small ice cream makers on the market and reviewed them for you.

If you’re in the market for a new small ice cream maker, be sure to read our reviews before making your purchase. Have you tried any of these machines? Let us know in the comments which one is your favorite.