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An ice cream maker is an appliance that is easy to overlook until you have a party or live with a cramped freezer. While many refrigerators have a built-in ice maker, many do not, so a standalone model can’t hurt. While ice can be used to cool any drink, it is also a crucial ingredient in many smoothie and frozen cocktail recipes. Knowing that you can have a kilo of ice cream ready in an hour without having to run to the store can come in handy more often than you might think. I chose the GoveeLife smart countertop ice maker as our top pick, but read on for more options to suit your beverage preferences.
How we chose the best ice cream makers
Our ice maker recommendations are based on a combination of field testing and extensive research. We made sure that our recommendations could make enough ice in a relatively short time, focusing on the shape and size of the ice and the capacity of the water tank. We also took price into account, which is a concern with any device purchase.
The best ice cream makers: reviews and recommendations
Whether you’re a cocktail-slinging home bartender or don’t want to leave the house to get a bag of ice to fill the cooler during the summer, these ice makers have your back, and we’re happy to share our nuggets of wisdom and water.
The ice cubes produced by Oramio’s ice cream maker impressed us in two ways. The first was the uniformity of their size; each nugget was almost identical to all the others. These nuggets were also solid, which is very different from the hollow, bullet-shaped ice cubes of most machines. We also liked how quietly this ice cream maker operated—you can hear the compressor working, but it’s not a loud whirring noise—so we could work in the same room as the machine without distractions. We understand that the Oramio ice cream maker is an investment, but it’s worth it if you need to make a lot of ice quickly.
Best Countertop: GoveeLife smart countertop ice maker
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Specifications
- Mate: 12.32 x 8.74 x 12.6 inches
- Speed: 6 minutes per batch
- Price: $159.99
Positives
- Multiple ice cube size settings
- Alexa and Google Home support
- App control
Disadvantages
- The ice basket was a little difficult to remove
The Smart Countertop Ice Maker from GoveeLife has many benefits, and our tests have proven that it warrants a place on your countertop. The all silver aluminum frame looks beautiful in person and it only took a few minutes to set up. You can run the machine by pressing clearly labeled buttons on the top, which allow you to turn it on, select the desired ice cube size and run the cleaning cycle, or by using Govee’s iOS or Android app. You can even connect it to use voice commands Alexa from Amazon or Google Assistant. In our testing we stuck to using the manual controls, which worked very well.
In our tests, this ice cream maker produced ice about every eight minutes, which is a little longer than Govee says, but not by much. We observed a noticeable difference between small, medium and large cubes, which was mainly related to their thickness. The ice cream maker produces hollow, ball-shaped cubes instead of solid ice cubes, so be careful if you are picky about your ice molds. GoveeLife says its ice maker can be used with non-pulp drinks if you want to make sturdy cubes of different drinks that won’t dilute your drink when they melt.
We didn’t encounter any major technical issues during our time with this ice cream maker, but did notice that it could be a little difficult to find the basket handles once the machine had run a few cycles. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it is something to be aware of when picking up the ice cream maker.
Best Portable: WANAI ice makers portable countertop ice maker
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Specifications
- Mate: 12.6 x 8.8 x 11.6 inches
- Speed: 8 minutes per cycle
- Price: $99.99
Positives
- Built-in handle
- Multiple ice cube size settings
- Two buttons for easy operation
Disadvantages
If you want an ice maker that you can easily take with you in your kitchen and entertainment areas, or even inside and outside your home, then this model from WANAI is the right choice. It has a handle in the center of the machine, making it easy to grab and carry. When you’re not taking it with you, the ice maker handle can be folded down so it isn’t distracting or in the way.
Other than the handle, this is a pretty standard ice cream maker. It can make its first batch of ice cubes in less than 10 minutes, you can switch between small and large ice cubes, and it only has two control buttons on the top. The indicator lights will flash when the ice maker is in cleaning mode, when more water is needed in the ice maker, or when the ice chamber is full. You won’t find any bells and whistles with this ice maker, but that’s fine if you just want a quick way to make ice cubes in a few different places depending on where the party you’re hosting is taking place.
Dear smart: GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra
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Specifications
- Mate: 17.5 x 13.43 x 16.5 inches
- Speed: 10 minutes per cycle
- Price: $629
Positives
- WiFi and voice control
- Side tank is easier to fill
- Stainless steel construction
Disadvantages
If you’ve been wanting to create a completely comprehensive smart home, GE’s Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra is the ice maker for you. It’s the ultimate tool for making ice cream at home, and while the $629 price is high, it’s completely justified. The fit and finish of the Opal 2.0 Ultra is immediately noticeable – it is a large and heavy device – and matches the GE Indoor Smoker and Standing mixer.
Once you’ve connected it to your home WiFi network, you can enable all of the ice cream maker’s controls, and even schedule it to turn on at a specific time, via the Opal Profile app on iOS and Android. You also have the option to connect it to Alexa or Google Assistant so you can operate it completely hands-free.
What sets the Opal 2.0 apart from other ice makers with similar features is its design. The stainless steel construction is top class and little touches like a water tank that detaches from the side of the machine for easier refilling make a big difference in how easy it is to use. Additionally, the Opal 2.0 makes nugget-shaped ice instead of hollowed out bullet-shaped cubes.
If the GE Profile Opal 2.0 didn’t have smart features, it would still be one of the most premium ice cream makers we could recommend. These extra features push the machine over the top, making it an indispensable gadget in any smart kitchen.
Best budget: EUHOMY Ice machine for the counter
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Specifications
- Mate: 11.57 x 11.42 x 8.74 inches
- Speed: 6 minutes per cycle
- Price: $76.49
Positives
- More compact size
- Built-in handle
- Price
Disadvantages
If you need a cheap, compact ice cream maker that is easy to move, then this model from EUHOMY is the right choice for you. It’s smaller than all our other ice maker recommendations, and while that means it can hold less ice, the tradeoff is worth it considering the sub-$80 price tag. In fact, EUHOMY says the machine can make ice in six minutes, meaning it’s faster than any other ice cream maker in our guide.
The machine has only one button, which turns it on and off. There are no options to change the size of the cubes, but the button can be used to enable the ice maker’s cleaning mode. While it doesn’t have any bells and whistles, this ice cream maker does have a built-in handle for easy transportation, and it can be detached when not in use. LEDs turn on when you need to add water to the ice maker tank and if the chamber is too full, which are handy visual indicators that it’s time to address a problem.
If you’re curious about ice cream makers but don’t want to spend a lot of money to see if they’re a worthwhile investment, then this is the best option for you.
There are many factors to consider when purchasing an ice cream maker. These are the ones we thought were most important when choosing the best machines to keep enough water frozen so that your good times keep flowing:
Mate
When picking up a countertop appliance, it’s important to make sure you have enough space to accommodate it, whether it’s a permanent piece of furniture or an occasionally-used tool. All of our ice cream makers take up more space than a typical blender, but much less space than a smart oven. If you have enough counter space for a stand mixer, you can also fit an ice maker in it.
Speed
The main purpose of using an ice maker over ice cube trays is the ability to get ice into your glass much faster. Our recommendations vary in speed, but they all start producing usable ice within 10 minutes. If they run for 24 hours (you have to continually refill their water tank and keep the ice from overfilling the inner chamber), you can get a few pounds of ice.
Costs
We are aware that an ice maker, like any countertop appliance, can become very expensive. We have done our best to meet the broadest possible cost spectrum.
Frequently asked questions
Using an ice cream maker will produce identical results, but you can increase the quality of your ice cream by using purified water, which may have a more neutral taste.
No. Ice makers require about the same amount of power as similarly sized countertop appliances. Their energy consumption depends on how often you use them and for how long.
Not necessarily. You have control over how much water you store in their tank, so consider their capacity when deciding which one to get.
This depends on the size and speed. Our recommendations range in price between $76 and $500.
Final thoughts on the best ice cream makers
An ice maker may not be the most essential countertop appliance, but it is one that does its job flawlessly. Once you have access to fresh ice on demand, you can optimize your freezer space and throw away ice bins, which are much less efficient. It’s worth buying an ice cream maker even if you only need it a few times a year when organizing a party, but it’s essential if you buy bags of ice weekly or bimonthly.