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Cuisinart

Cuisinart Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker: the downsides first

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#4 of 8
$$Freezer bowlScore 3.5/5
5%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)4% 1-star + 1% 2-star of about 43,318 ratings. This listing shows the same pooled reviews as the ICE-21, so the figure is not specific to the ICE-30.

Food & Wine's best canister model and a Serious Eats pick for bigger batches (up to 2 quarts). Wirecutter found it icier, louder and slower than the ICE-21, and Serious Eats' unit whined loudly and left icy buildup on the bowl.

Top complaints

  • Loud whine, slower than the ICE-21

    Serious Eats' unit made a loud, wheezing whine that grew louder as it churned. Wirecutter found it louder and slower than the ICE-21.

    Source: Serious Eats, Wirecutter
  • Icy buildup and less-smooth sorbet

    Serious Eats saw icy buildup on the bowl walls that took effort to scrape, and a lid that wouldn't fully lock. Wirecutter found its treats icier than its picks, and Food & Wine's sorbet was less smooth than from machines with sorbet settings.

    Source: Serious Eats, Wirecutter, Food & Wine
  • Pre-freezing and a real limit below 2 quarts

    The bowl must be frozen ahead (6 to 22 hours per Serious Eats' spec box). Food & Wine says to stay below the 1.5-quart line for base plus mix-ins to avoid overflow.

    Source: Serious Eats, Food & Wine

What owners love

  • Larger 2-quart bowl

    It holds up to 2 quarts of churned base, half a quart more than the ICE-21 (Serious Eats, Food & Wine).

    Source: Serious Eats, Food & Wine
  • Smooth results with minimal iciness

    Serious Eats got smoothly textured ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet in under 30 minutes. Food & Wine calls it small but mighty and says it's faster than compressor models.

    Source: Serious Eats, Food & Wine
  • Four pieces and one switch

    Easy to assemble and run with a single on/off switch, plus a chute for mix-ins (Food & Wine, Serious Eats).

    Source: Food & Wine, Serious Eats
Good for
  • Bigger batches without paying for a compressor
  • Simple on/off operation
  • Small kitchens

Scores (tap for why)

  • Texture3.5
    Why 3.5?Smooth with minimal iciness per Serious Eats and quality ice cream per Food & Wine, but Wirecutter found it icier and Food & Wine's sorbet was less smooth. Lowest overrun (16%) in Serious Eats' test, so it's denser.
    Source: Serious Eats, Food & Wine, Wirecutter
  • Speed & batch size3.5
    Why 3.5?About 28 minutes for ice cream (Serious Eats) with up to 2 quarts per batch, but one batch per frozen bowl.
    Source: Serious Eats, Food & Wine
  • Ease of use & prep4.0
    Why 4.0?A cinch to assemble and run with one switch (Serious Eats, Food & Wine); the bowl must be frozen ahead and the lid didn't always lock.
    Source: Serious Eats, Food & Wine
  • Cleaning & noise3.0
    Why 3.0?Open paddle is easy to scrape, but icy wall buildup takes effort and the motor whines loudly (Serious Eats); not dishwasher-safe (Food & Wine).
    Source: Serious Eats, Food & Wine

What experts say

  • Food & Wine: Best canister ice cream maker (updated 2026-09-01): an excellent value and beginner option; limited features and the bowl must be pre-frozen.
  • Serious Eats: Best with a two-quart freezer canister (updated 2026-07-21): smooth results, but a loud whine and icy wall buildup.
  • Wirecutter (NYT): Not recommended: icier treats than its picks, louder and slower than the ICE-21; it suggests the ICE-70 for more capacity.
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

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The top pick at both Wirecutter and Serious Eats: cheap, simple and among the fastest churners tested. You must freeze the bowl for about a day first, it makes only 1.5 quarts per frozen bowl, and many owners find it loud.

Its catch: bowl must be frozen for about a day

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