(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample: about 1,055 ratings (5% 1-star + 1% 2-star).
The best ice cream in both Wirecutter's and Serious Eats' tests: fast, gelato-like and ice-free, with a nearly all-metal build. It costs about $800, weighs about 40 pounds, has a built-in bowl that is a chore to clean, and comes with only a 1-year warranty.
Top complaints
- Hard to clean built-in bowl
The bowl isn't removable, so you sponge it out repeatedly (Serious Eats, Wirecutter). Serious Eats also found oil on the paddle shaft. About 42 of 144 Amazon cleaning mentions are negative.
- Expensive, with a short warranty
About $800 with a one-year warranty that Wirecutter calls wimpy; repairs mean buying parts and fixing it yourself or finding a repairperson. Amazon owners disagree on whether it's worth it.
- Very heavy and bulky; some motor noise
About 40 pounds and 12 x 18 x 12 inches (Wirecutter, Serious Eats). Some Amazon owners report rattling or grinding motor sounds.
What owners love
- Best texture tested
Wirecutter says it has made the best ice cream in its tests since 2015; Serious Eats found it the creamiest, with no iciness even after several days frozen.
Source: Wirecutter, Serious Eats - Fastest compressor tested
Ice cream in about 24-25 minutes and sorbet in 21 (Serious Eats, Wirecutter).
Source: Serious Eats, Wirecutter - Built to last
Nearly all stainless steel, with the only metal dasher Wirecutter tested. Amazon durability mentions are mostly positive (about 60 vs 19), with one owner citing 8 years of use.
- You'll store it in a cabinet (about 40 lb)
- You want a removable, easy-wash bowl
- You make ice cream only occasionally
- Serious hobbyists who want the best texture
- Gelato-style, dense ice cream
- Leaving a machine out on the counter
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Upgrade pick (updated 2026-06-12): flawless, gelato-like ice cream; bulky, hard to clean, and a weak one-year warranty.
- Serious Eats: Best for gelato-style ice cream (updated 2026-07-21): the creamiest desserts it tried; extraordinarily pricey, heavy and hard to clean.