For those who love a perfect frozen treat without waiting for an ice cream van or settling for supermarket flavours, the latest tests from Good Housekeeping Institute reveal which home ice cream makers deliver the best homemade delights.
- FreezeWand Ice Cream Maker beats Ninja CREAMi with a 95/100 score
- Machines tested for texture, mix-ins, sorbets, gelato, and cleaning ease
- Extra features include smoothie bowls, milkshakes, and slushies
What happened
The Good Housekeeping Institute conducted hands-on testing of leading ice cream makers to find the best at making creamy vanilla ice cream, sorbets, gelatos, and mixed-in treats. They evaluated each machine on several criteria including churning time, texture quality, ease of use, and how well they handled ingredients like chocolate chips.
One standout was the innovative Cuisinart FreezeWand Ice Cream Maker, which uses a unique wand-based design with multiple settings. It produced smooth, scoopable ice cream faster than many competitors and evenly mixed in chocolate chips without damaging them. Although it required a 24-hour freeze of its base, its intuitive controls and quality results helped it top the list.
Why it feels good
Making ice cream at home allows complete freedom to customize flavors to your taste, avoiding artificial ingredients and limited supermarket selections. Testing confirmed these modern machines produce rich, creamy ice cream without graininess or excessive ice crystals, rivaling professional desserts.
These devices also bring versatility with features for making sorbets, gelatos, milkshakes, and slushies, expanding frozen treat options beyond ordinary ice cream. The ease of use, clear instructions, and straightforward cleaning processes mean you can enjoy delightful treats quickly and often without hassle.
What to enjoy or watch next
Explore recipes for classic vanilla, chocolate chip, fresh fruit sorbets, and creamy gelatos customized to your preferences using your new ice cream maker. Experimenting with mix-ins and new textures can take your homemade desserts to the next level.
Keep an eye on emerging kitchen gadgets that combine convenience and functionality, such as improvements on the FreezeWand or Ninja CREAMi models. These innovations will continue to inspire creative, delicious frozen treats perfect for home and family life.