Ice Cream Maker Buying Guide: Bowl, Compressor or Soft Serve?
Quick answer: choose a pre-freeze bowl machine (around £25 to £45) if you make ice cream now and then, a compressor machine (from about £150) if you want to make batch after batch without planning ahead, and a soft serve or pint-style machine if you love whipped, scoopable desserts and frozen drinks.
Home-made ice cream lets you control the sugar, the cream and the flavours, and it is a great treat for family weekends and birthdays. The main choice is how the machine gets cold, because that decides how much planning you need and how many batches you can make in a day.
The three main types
| Type | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-freeze bowl | You freeze the bowl for 12 to 24 hours, then the paddle churns the mix in about 20 to 30 minutes | Occasional use, small kitchens, tight budgets |
| Compressor | A built-in freezer unit chills the bowl, so there is no pre-freezing | Regular use, several flavours in one day, gelato fans |
| Soft serve and pint machines | Freeze a base in a tub or chill it in the machine, then spin or dispense it | Whipped soft serve, sorbet, frozen drinks and protein desserts |
What to look for
- Capacity: 1 to 1.5 litres makes 4 to 6 servings, which suits most families.
- Freezer space: a pre-freeze bowl needs a flat spot in the freezer about the size of a small saucepan.
- Counter space and weight: compressor machines are heavier and bigger, so measure your worktop first.
- Keep-cool mode: some compressor models keep the ice cream chilled after churning, handy if you get distracted.
- Easy cleaning: a removable bowl and paddle make washing up much simpler.
Ice cream makers to compare
- Giles and Posner Sorbet Ice Cream Maker, 0.5L Electric, Blue (from £26.44): small 0.5 litre maker for one or two people.
- Andrew James 1.5L Ice Cream Maker, Gelato, Sorbet and Frozen Yoghurt Machine, Ready in 20 Minutes, White (from £40.24): 1.5 litre pre-freeze bowl machine for family batches.
- Cuisinart Deluxe Ice Cream Maker, Frozen Yoghurt and Sorbet Maker, Ready in 25 Minutes, 2L, Silver ICE30BCU (from £115.00): larger pre-freeze model with a sturdy build.
- Acmeenjoy 2L Ice Cream Machine with Compressor, No Pre-Freezing Needed (from £153.99): 2 litre compressor machine, no pre-freezing needed.
- Cuisinart Ice Cream and Gelato Maker with Compressor, No Pre-Freezing, 1.5L, Stainless Steel ICE100BCU (from £263.99): compressor machine with separate ice cream and gelato paddles.
- Ninja Swirl by Creami 13-in-1 Soft Serve & Ice Cream Maker NC701UK – Custom Frozen Dessert Machine (from £388.99): pint-style machine that also makes soft serve.
- KitchenAid 5KSMICM Ice Cream Maker Attachment in White – Batch Frozen Desserts Made Simple (from £136.99): bowl attachment if you already own a KitchenAid stand mixer.
Tips for smoother ice cream
- Chill your mix in the fridge for a few hours before churning.
- Do not overfill the bowl; the mix grows as air is churned in.
- Add chocolate chips or fruit pieces in the last few minutes.
- Store finished ice cream in a shallow, lidded tub so it freezes evenly.
FAQs
Are compressor ice cream makers worth the extra cost?
Yes, if you make ice cream often. You can make several batches in a row and you never need to plan a day ahead.
Can I make sorbet and frozen yoghurt?
Yes. All the machines above make sorbet and frozen yoghurt as well as ice cream.
How long does home-made ice cream keep?
It is best within one to two weeks. Let it soften for a few minutes before scooping.
See the full range of ice cream makers.
Prices shown were correct when this guide was updated on 14 November 2026 and may change. Check the product page for the latest price.
