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Buying guide

Ice cream makers: churn it today, eat it today

A compressor ice cream maker has its own built-in freezer, so there’s no 24-hour wait and no bowl to pre-freeze. Pour in your mix and you’re scooping fresh gelato within the hour.

First things first

Three ways to make ice cream

Each type suits a different way of cooking. Here’s the quick version.

TypeHow it worksPlan ahead?Best for
CompressorBuilt-in freezer chills and churns your mixNo, same dayClassic churned ice cream & gelato, back-to-back batches
Ninja CREAMiShaves and whips a pre-frozen baseFreeze base 24hProtein & low-sugar recipes, single tubs, milkshakes
Freezer bowlPre-frozen bowl chills the mix as it churnsFreeze bowl ~16hOccasional use on a budget, KitchenAid owners
Our picks

The best premium ice cream makers

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Best churn-and-serve

Sage · BCI600UK

Sage the Smart Scoop

Best for: Same-day ice cream without pre-freezing anything

A compressor ice cream maker with brains. Choose sorbet, frozen yoghurt, gelato or ice cream and a hardness setting, and it senses when your mix is ready, then keeps it cold for up to three hours.

  • Built-in compressor, so there’s no bowl to pre-freeze
  • 12 hardness settings across sorbet, frozen yoghurt, gelato & ice cream
  • 1L capacity
  • Keep Cool for up to 3 hours, plus a mix-in alert

Why we like it

  • Fresh-churned ice cream the same day
  • Auto-sensing takes out the guesswork
  • Plays an ice-cream-van tune when it’s done

Bear in mind

  • Heavy, and it lives on the worktop
  • Smaller 1L batches
  • Premium price
££££ Check price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab, affiliate link)
Best for big batches

Cuisinart · ICE100BCU

Cuisinart Ice Cream & Gelato Professional

Best for: Back-to-back batches of gelato and sorbet

A no-fuss compressor machine with a generous 1.5L bowl and two paddles: one for airy ice cream, one for dense gelato and sorbet. Make batch after batch without re-freezing anything.

  • 1.5L capacity with a built-in compressor
  • Separate ice cream and gelato paddles
  • Batches in around 40 minutes
  • Keep Cool function

Why we like it

  • Back-to-back batches for parties
  • Gelato paddle gives a properly dense texture
  • Simple, no-nonsense controls

Bear in mind

  • Bulky at around 10kg
  • Fewer smart features than the Sage
  • Needs a permanent spot on the worktop
££££ Check price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab, affiliate link)
Best splurge

Magimix · 11680

Magimix Gelato Expert

Best for: Gelato obsessives who want capacity and build quality

A serious machine for serious ice cream lovers. The Gelato Expert has a powerful built-in compressor, a 2L capacity and two stainless steel bowls, so you can churn two batches back to back.

  • 2 × 2L stainless steel bowls included
  • Built-in compressor, so nothing to pre-freeze
  • Makes ice cream, gelato, sorbet, granita & frozen yoghurt
  • Switches to storage mode automatically when done

Why we like it

  • Largest capacity in our line-up
  • Two bowls for back-to-back batches
  • Built to last

Bear in mind

  • Expensive
  • Big and heavy
  • More than most small households need
££££ Check price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab, affiliate link)
2L for less

Unold · 48872

Unold Exklusiv Ice Cream Maker

Best for: Big compressor capacity without the Magimix price

A compressor ice cream maker from German brand Unold, with a 2L removable stainless steel bowl. A lot of capacity for the money.

  • 2L removable stainless steel bowl
  • 180W compressor, so there’s no pre-freezing
  • Ice cream, gelato, sorbet & frozen yoghurt in about 30 minutes

Why we like it

  • 2L capacity for well under Magimix money
  • Removable bowl is easy to clean
  • Fully automatic cooling

Bear in mind

  • Fewer programs than the Sage
  • Less well known in the UK
  • Bulky
££££ Check price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab, affiliate link)
For KitchenAid owners

KitchenAid · 5KSMICM

KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment

Best for: Anyone who already owns a KitchenAid stand mixer

Already own a KitchenAid stand mixer? This 1.9L freezer bowl attachment turns it into an ice cream maker for a fraction of the cost of a standalone machine.

  • 1.9L freezer bowl attachment
  • Churns ice cream, gelato or sorbet in under 30 minutes
  • Freeze the bowl for at least 16 hours first
  • Fits most KitchenAid tilt-head and bowl-lift mixers. Check the listing for compatibility.

Why we like it

  • Uses the mixer you already own
  • Big 1.9L capacity
  • No extra appliance on the worktop

Bear in mind

  • Bowl must be frozen overnight
  • Needs a compatible KitchenAid mixer
  • One batch per freeze
££££ Check price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab, affiliate link)
Side by side

Ice cream makers compared

MachineTypeCapacityStand-out featurePrice bandLink
Sage Smart ScoopCompressor1L12 hardness settings, auto-sensing, keep cool 3h££££View on Amazon
Cuisinart ICE100BCUCompressor1.5LSeparate ice cream & gelato paddles££££View on Amazon
Magimix Gelato ExpertCompressor2 × 2L bowlsTwo bowls, auto storage mode££££View on Amazon
Unold ExklusivCompressor2LBig capacity for the money££££View on Amazon
KitchenAid 5KSMICMFreezer bowl1.9LUses your KitchenAid mixer££££View on Amazon
Get better results

Tips for silky homemade ice cream

  • Chill your base first. A mix that’s been in the fridge for a few hours churns faster and smoother.
  • Let a compressor machine settle. After delivery or moving it, leave it upright for the time the manual recommends before switching on.
  • Add mix-ins late. Chocolate chips, biscuit and fruit go in for the last few minutes of churning.
  • Firm it up. Churned ice cream comes out soft-scoop. An hour or two in the freezer firms it up.

Gelato vs ice cream

Gelato usually uses more milk and less cream than ice cream, and it’s churned more slowly so less air gets in. The result is denser, silkier and more intensely flavoured, and it’s served slightly warmer.

Machines with a dedicated gelato paddle or setting, like the Cuisinart and Sage, make it easy to get that texture at home.

FAQ

Ice cream maker questions

Compressor ice cream maker or Ninja CREAMi?

A compressor machine churns a liquid mix into ice cream the same day, just like a gelateria. The CREAMi needs you to freeze a base for 24 hours first, but it’s better for single portions and high-protein or low-sugar recipes. Plenty of people end up owning both.

How long does a compressor machine take?

Typically 30 to 60 minutes per batch, depending on the machine, the recipe and how cold the mix is to start with.

Can I make dairy-free or vegan ice cream?

Yes. Oat, coconut and nut milks all work in compressor machines and the CREAMi. Coconut milk and cashew bases give the creamiest results.

Are they easy to clean?

Models with a removable bowl, like the Cuisinart, Magimix, Sage and Unold, are much easier to clean than fixed-bowl machines.