Written by Sara Ibrahim. Sara researches home and kitchen products for Cupindy.
Published October 2026 · Last reviewed October 29, 2026 · Cupindy is not affiliated with any brand on this page.
The short answer
For most kitchens, the best ice cream maker is a freezer-bowl machine such as the Cuisinart ICE-21P1: one switch, and a bowl that sits in your freezer for 16 to 24 hours before you churn. If you don't want to pre-freeze anything, a compressor machine like the Whynter ICM-201SB cools its own stainless steel bowl. Of the five machines here, only Whynter and Nostalgia name, on their own sites, the metal that touches the ice cream.
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Our quick pick for most kitchens
Cuisinart ICE-21P1, 1.5 quarts
A freezer-bowl machine with one on/off switch, a clear lid with a spout for mix-ins and a 3-year warranty. Cuisinart's booklet gives the clearest care rules of the five machines on this page.
See the Cuisinart ICE-21P1 on AmazonThe drawback: the bowl needs 16 to 24 hours in the freezer before you can churn, so a craving tonight means a batch tomorrow.
Every ice cream maker puts three things against your mix: a bowl, a paddle and a lid. What those parts are made of, and how you are allowed to wash them, changes from machine to machine. Sometimes a maker's booklet and its own Amazon listing don't agree. Below is what Cuisinart, Whynter, Ninja, Nostalgia and KitchenAid say, part by part, and which machine suits which kitchen. (If you want a machine that makes ice cubes, that's our countertop ice maker guide.)
Ice cream maker parts: what can go in the dishwasher
| Part | Dishwasher? | Who says so |
|---|---|---|
| Cuisinart freezer bowl (ICE-21, ICE-30) | No. Warm soapy water, no abrasives | Cuisinart booklets |
| Cuisinart lid and paddle | The booklet says warm soapy water; the listings say top rack in one place and hand wash in another | Cuisinart booklet, Amazon listings |
| Whynter bowl, blade, lid, measuring cup, scoop | No. Hand wash only | Whynter manual |
| Ninja CREAMi pint, lids, paddle | Yes, top rack only, parts separated | Ninja owner's guide |
| Nostalgia canister, lid, dasher, bucket | No. Hand wash only | Nostalgia manual |
| KitchenAid attachment bowl | Hand wash in warm soapy water once it reaches room temperature | KitchenAid listing |
| Any motor base | No. Wipe it; never put it in water | Cuisinart, Whynter, Nostalgia |
What is the bowl made of? What each maker says
This is the question the makers answer least clearly. Here is what their own documents and listings state, and where we found nothing.
| Machine | Bowl or canister | Paddle and lid |
|---|---|---|
| Cuisinart ICE-21P1 | Cooling liquid sealed between double walls. The booklet names no material; the listing's material field says plastic | Not named |
| Cuisinart ICE-30BCP1 | The listing's material field says stainless steel. The booklets name no bowl material | Not named |
| Whynter ICM-201SB | Removable stainless steel bowl, per Whynter | Blade: BPA-free plastic. Lid: transparent, material not named |
| Ninja CREAMi NC299AMZ | Pint: not named. The guide says the attachments are BPA free | Not named; the listing's material field says plastic and metal |
| Nostalgia 4-quart | Aluminum canister; Nostalgia's page calls the bucket liner plastic | Not named |
| KitchenAid KSMICM | The listing's material field says stainless steel | Not named |
Three things stood out when we lined the documents up:
- The Cuisinart ICE-21P1 listing calls the bowl BPA-free and lists the material as plastic, while Cuisinart's booklet says only what is inside the walls.
- Both Cuisinart listings say the lid and paddle can go on the top rack, then describe washing all three parts by hand. The booklet gives no dishwasher rule for them at all.
- The Nostalgia is sold under a wood-bucket name, but the part that holds the ice and salt is a plastic liner, and the part that holds your mix is aluminum.
Our rule when a document is unclear: wash that part by hand. Every maker here allows it. If plastic grades are the worry, our guide to plastic grades explains the numbers.
Bowl, paddle, lid and base. Only the base never touches water.
Freezer bowl, compressor or pint: which type of ice cream maker?
Freezer bowl. The bowl is the cold part. You freeze it for a day, then the motor turns the bowl while the paddle mixes the base, as Cuisinart describes it. It is the simplest design.
Compressor. A built-in refrigeration unit cools the bowl while it churns, so there is nothing to freeze ahead. Whynter lists a cooling range of -0.4 to -31°F for the ICM-201SB. They are heavy: the Whynter's listing gives 24.3 pounds.
Pint machine. You freeze a base in a pint container for at least 24 hours, then the machine works a paddle down through the frozen block. Ninja's listing describes it as finely shaving through the pint.
Old-fashioned bucket. An aluminum canister sits in a bucket of ice and salt while a motor turns it. Bigger batches, and more to clean up.
Cuisinart ice cream maker: ICE-21P1 or ICE-30BCP1?
Both use the same idea: a double-walled bowl with cooling liquid inside, frozen ahead. The difference is size. Cuisinart's ICE-21 booklet keeps a batch to 1.5 quarts or less. The ICE-30BCP1 listing advertises up to 2 quarts a batch and calls its motor heavy duty.
Look after the bowl and it lasts. The ICE-21 booklet says to wash it in warm soapy water, keep it out of the dishwasher, skip abrasive cleaners, and never use sharp objects inside it. A rubber spatula or a wooden spoon is fine, but only with the machine switched off. Don't leave finished ice cream in the bowl in the freezer for more than 30 minutes at a time; move it to an airtight container.
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If this is your first ice cream maker
Cuisinart ICE-21P1 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker
Cuisinart's listing describes a single switch, a clear lid with an ingredient spout, BPA-free parts and a 3-year warranty, with ice cream ready in about 20 minutes from a frozen bowl. It is small enough to keep on a shelf: 11.25 inches tall, per the listing.
Good for: A pint or two at a time, first-time buyers, small kitchens
The drawback: The bowl needs 16 to 24 hours in the freezer before every churn, so you plan a day ahead.
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If you make ice cream for a table
Cuisinart ICE-30BCP1 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker
The same freezer-bowl design with a 2-quart bowl. The listing puts churning at about 25 to 35 minutes and says its food-contact materials are BPA free.
Good for: Families, gatherings, gelato and frozen drinks, per the listing
The drawback: A 2-quart bowl takes real freezer space. The listing itself tells you to check that your freezer has room before you buy.
See the ICE-30BCP1 on AmazonHow long do you freeze an ice cream maker bowl?
Cuisinart's booklet says freezing generally takes 16 to 24 hours, and the ICE-30BCP1 listing says to allow about 24. Wash and dry the bowl before it goes in; the booklet says never to freeze it wet. Cuisinart's ICE-30 booklet adds two tips: stand the bowl upright on a flat surface at the back of the freezer, where it is coldest, and wrap it in a plastic bag to stop freezer burn.
You can also leave the bowl in the freezer between batches. Cuisinart's booklet says you may, which turns the 24-hour wait into a one-time thing.
Compressor ice cream maker: no pre-freezing
If you make ice cream often, the wait for a frozen bowl is the first thing you will want gone. The Whynter ICM-201SB cools its own bowl, and the listing says a second batch can follow the first the same afternoon.
Cleaning is all by hand. Whynter's manual lists the bowl, churn blade, lid, measuring cup and scoop as the parts that touch the ice cream, and says none of them go in the dishwasher. Fill the bowl to no more than 60 percent, and dry the outside of it before it goes back into the machine. For what stainless steel grades mean, see our stainless steel food containers guide.
A stainless bowl and a plastic scoop. Whynter warns against metal scoops.
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If you want ice cream without planning ahead
Whynter ICM-201SB 2.1-Quart Compressor Ice Cream Maker
A removable stainless steel mixing bowl, a BPA-free churn blade, an LCD timer and three modes: ice cream, cooling only and mixing only, per Whynter. Whynter says one 2.1-quart batch serves 8 to 10.
Good for: Frequent batches, back-to-back flavors, gelato and sorbet
The drawback: Every part that touches the ice cream is hand-wash only, and at 24.3 pounds per the listing, it lives on the counter.
See the Whynter on AmazonCan you use a metal spoon or scoop in an ice cream maker?
Not in the bowl. Cuisinart's booklet says no sharp objects or utensils inside the freezer bowl and allows a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon with the machine off. Whynter's manual tells you to use the plastic scoop, because a metal scoop can scratch the bowl. Once the ice cream is out of the machine and in a container, scoop it however you like.
Pint-style ice cream makers like the Ninja CREAMi
A pint machine flips the usual order. You freeze the base first, in the pint, for at least 24 hours, then the machine processes it in minutes. Ninja's guide says not to fill past the max fill line, and to check the paddle for damage before each use.
It is also the only machine here with a full dishwasher rule. Ninja's guide says the attachments are BPA free and top-rack dishwasher safe, with the parts separated first, and SharkNinja's cleaning page says to keep them out of the bottom rack. The NC299AMZ takes NC299 and NC300 series pints only, according to the listing, so check before you buy extra pints.
The base freezes in the pint for a day. The machine does the rest in minutes.
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If you want one pint at a time
Ninja CREAMi NC299AMZ Ice Cream Maker
Seven one-touch programs, including ice cream, gelato, sorbet, milkshakes and a mix-in setting, and one 16-ounce pint with a storage lid, per the listing.
Good for: Single servings, flavors that change every week, sorbet from frozen fruit
The drawback: You have to freeze each base for 24 hours before you can use it, and Ninja's guide does not say what the pint or paddle are made of.
See the Ninja CREAMi on AmazonOld-fashioned electric ice cream maker: ice, salt and an aluminum canister
This is the porch-party design with a motor doing the cranking. You pour the mix into the aluminum canister, set it in the bucket, then layer ice and salt around it. Nostalgia's manual says regular table salt or kosher salt both work, and says to fill the canister no more than two thirds, because the mix expands as it freezes.
Two steps matter for what ends up in the bowl. Before you take the cover off, the manual says to wipe the salt and water off the top of the canister. Afterwards, everything is hand wash only, and the bucket needs a good wash to get the salt water out. Unlike the Cuisinart, Nostalgia includes a lid and lid cap so you can store the canister in the freezer.
A bucket machine and its aluminum canister. Wipe the salt off before you open it.
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If you are feeding a crowd
Nostalgia 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker
Up to 4 quarts of ice cream, frozen yogurt or gelato a batch, a locking motor mount and a see-through lid for storing leftovers, per Nostalgia.
Good for: Summer parties, family reunions, people who like the ritual
The drawback: You need ice and salt for every batch, and the clean-up is all by hand.
See the Nostalgia on AmazonCan you use a KitchenAid stand mixer to make ice cream?
Yes, with KitchenAid's ice cream maker attachment, a freezer bowl that fits onto the mixer. The listing says it fits most tilt-head mixers of 4.5 quarts and up and most bowl-lift mixers of 6 quarts and up, with named exceptions such as the Artisan Mini and some 5 and 6-quart bowl-lift models. Check your mixer's model number against the list on the listing before you order.
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If you already own a KitchenAid stand mixer
KitchenAid KSMICM Ice Cream Maker Attachment
A 2-quart bowl, a dasher and a hub assembly with a 1-year warranty, per the listing, which says it makes ice cream, gelato or sorbet in under 30 minutes after prep. Wash the bowl in warm soapy water once it reaches room temperature.
Good for: KitchenAid owners with no room for another appliance
The drawback: It only works with select KitchenAid mixers, and the mixer is sold separately.
See the KitchenAid attachment on AmazonSmall and single-serve ice cream makers
Mug-style machines that make a half pint at a time are easy to find. We did not link one, because we did not find a maker document that answered this page's questions about parts and washing. If small batches are the goal, the Ninja pint machine above is the one whose documents we read.
Can an ice cream maker make gelato, frozen yogurt and sorbet?
All of these can. The ICE-21P1 listing names ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet; the ICE-30BCP1 adds gelato and frozen drinks; Whynter's listing names gelato and sorbet; Ninja has gelato and sorbet programs; Nostalgia names frozen yogurt and gelato. None of the documents says one design does any of them better. For the record, the FDA defines ice cream in 21 CFR 135.110, with at least 10 percent milkfat, and that rule says nothing about gelato.
Which ice cream maker for which job?
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| Job and our pick | Why this one | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
|
First machine, small batches Cuisinart ICE-21P1 |
One switch; clear care rules in the booklet | See it |
|
Bigger batches Cuisinart ICE-30BCP1 |
Up to 2 quarts per the listing; check freezer room | See it |
|
No pre-freezing Whynter ICM-201SB |
Cools its own stainless bowl; hand wash only | See it |
|
One pint at a time Ninja CREAMi NC299AMZ |
Freeze the base, process in minutes; top-rack dishwasher | See it |
|
A crowd, the old way Nostalgia 4-quart |
4 quarts; ice and salt around an aluminum canister | See it |
|
You own a KitchenAid KitchenAid KSMICM |
Uses your mixer; fits select models | See it |
Questions people ask
How do you use a freezer-bowl ice cream maker?
Freeze the clean, dry bowl for 16 to 24 hours. Set it on the base, rest the paddle inside, lock the lid, and switch the machine on. Pour the chilled mix in through the spout straight away and let it thicken; Cuisinart's recipes say about 15 to 20 minutes. For firmer ice cream, move it to an airtight container and freeze it for two hours or more. These steps follow Cuisinart's ICE-21 booklet; other machines have their own.
Can you put an ice cream maker bowl in the dishwasher?
Not a Cuisinart freezer bowl: the booklet says no, and its safety section warns that a dishwasher may cause a risk of fire, electric shock or injury. Whynter and Nostalgia say hand wash only. Ninja says its parts go on the top rack.
How long does an ice cream maker take?
From a frozen bowl, about 20 minutes for the ICE-21P1 and 25 to 35 for the ICE-30BCP1, per the listings. KitchenAid lists under 30 minutes after prep. The Ninja processes a pre-frozen pint in minutes, but the pint needs 24 hours in the freezer first.
Can you store ice cream in the freezer bowl?
Not for long. Cuisinart's booklet says no more than 30 minutes at a time, then move it to an airtight container. The Nostalgia is different: it comes with a lid and cap for storing the canister in the freezer.
What is the best brand of ice cream maker?
There isn't one best brand, because each brand here makes a different design. Cuisinart makes the freezer-bowl machines, Whynter the compressor machine, Ninja the pint machine and Nostalgia the bucket machine. Choose the design first, then the brand.
Is an ice cream maker worth it over a no-churn recipe?
Cuisinart's listing says churning folds air into the base as it freezes, and that no-churn recipes lean on whipped cream and condensed milk to copy the texture. That is the maker's view, not our test. A no-churn recipe needs no machine at all.
Are ice cream makers BPA free?
These are the makers' own claims: Whynter says its churn blade is BPA free, the Cuisinart listings say their parts or food-contact materials are BPA free, and Ninja's guide says its attachments are. None of the documents lists every material, so we don't draw a conclusion beyond that.
How much does an ice cream maker cost?
We don't quote prices because they change often; the buttons show today's price on Amazon. Compare machines of the same design first: freezer bowl with freezer bowl, compressor with compressor.
How we put this together
On October 29, 2026 we read Cuisinart's ICE-21 and ICE-30 instruction booklets, Whynter's ICM-201SB manual and product page, Ninja's CREAMi owner's guide and SharkNinja's cleaning page, Nostalgia's product page and manual, and the Amazon listing for each machine, including the KitchenAid attachment. Where a listing and a booklet disagree, we say so rather than pick one. The Cuisinart ICE-21P1 is our quick pick because it is the simplest machine with the clearest care rules. All six products showed In Stock in Amazon's product data on the same day. We did not test these machines or make ice cream in them for this page, and no brand saw it before it went up.
Sources (opened October 29, 2026). Product facts come from each Amazon listing on the same date; Ninja facts also from the CREAMi NC300 Series owner's guide.
- Cuisinart: ICE-21 instruction booklet
- Cuisinart: ICE30BCU (ICE-30 series) instruction booklet
- Whynter: ICM-201SB owner's manual
- Whynter: ICM-201SB product page
- SharkNinja: How to clean your Ninja CREAMi
- Nostalgia: 4-Quart Electric Wood Bucket Ice Cream Maker (WICM4L)
- Nostalgia: 4-Quart Electric Ice Cream Maker manual (NWICM4LB, same 4-quart family)
- U.S. FDA: 21 CFR 135.110, ice cream and frozen custard
Cuisinart, Whynter, Ninja, CREAMi, Nostalgia and KitchenAid are trademarks of their owners and are named here only to identify their products. Listings change; check the listing before you buy.
