Whynter ICR-300SS 0.5-Quart Stainless Steel Rolled Ice Cream Maker With Compressor

After doing quite a bit of research, we finally found the right ice cream maker for us. We wanted something simple—no dealing with ice, pre-freezing bowls, or extra drink-making features we’d never use. (although this unit will make chilled drinks if you want) Just a straightforward, reliable, and easy-to-use machine. And this one fit the bill perfectly.The compact size is a big plus—it sits nicely in the corner of our countertop without taking up too much space. We also appreciate the lower profile (compared to another version of this unit), which makes it easy to leave it tucked under a cabinet and still access it to add or check ingredients. The unit is made up of just three main parts: the lid, stirrer, and bowl. It’s labeled as not dishwasher safe, though we think the plastic parts should be fine on the top rack.As others have noted, the included scoop is the weakest part—not very useful, but understandable given the price point. We can see how a metal scoop might scratch the inside of the bowl, but with a bit of care, a regular scoop or spatula should work fine. We didn’t come across many plastic scoops that were actually usable.Also worth mentioning: the gears that connect the bowl to the machine are plastic rather than metal. Not a huge concern, just something to be aware of.There are no measurement markings inside the bowl, so we filled it with water to just below the mixing blade, then poured that into a measuring cup. That came out to about 6 cups of mixture.The machine defaults to a 60-minute timer, but we discovered that our first half-batch set up in about 30 minutes—so thick the motor actually stopped. Lesson learned for next time!We love ice cream and feel this was a worthwhile investment. Spending a little more upfront got us a better-quality unit. We're really happy with the purchase and excited to try out new recipes. With how expensive store-bought ice cream has gotten, we figure this will pay for itself in one summer!

We can't happier with our purchase of this wonderful ice cream maker. The instructions are super easy to make (even though we also bought the Ben & Jerries recipe book) and it's become a weekly activity in our house. Not only can you easily make all your favorite types of ice cream (this week was Heath Bar Coffee) but this allows you to control your ingredients and portions of add in items. It takes less than an hour and we've enjoyed it so much, it's going to be a gift items for some family members later this year. You won't be disappointed if you love ice cream.

This is a fairly expensive appliance. You can make ice cream more cheaply than this. I have the kind that requires you to freeze the bowl. It sort of works. Usually. I have one that uses a semiconductor called a Peltier element to provide its own cooling. It's ok, and if you can't fit this one into your budget, that one is a whole lot better than the frozen bowl method. Then I got this one.There are other compressor models on Amazon that are cheaper. I honestly can't tell you anything about them. They may be every bit as good as this one; I simply don't know.What I can tell you about this one without reservation or hesitation is that, based on my experience, this ice cream maker is worth every. single. penny. This ice cream maker is amazing. It will make 2.1 quarts at a time although I'm experimenting with different recipes so I haven't gone for volume yet. I get a quart of ice cream in about 45 minutes and frozen yogurt in about 35 minutes.The machine can detect when the mixture is too thick to churn and then goes into a cooling-only mode. This feature is invaluable. From everything I've read, all of the ice cream makers produce a mixture that is in a "soft serve" state. You can certainly eat it at that point, but if you want it firmer than that you need your freezer to take it the rest of the way. This phase is critical to the texture and finish of the end product. The ice cream already has tiny little ice crystals in it, and if they stay tiny, it's great. You keep them tiny by dropping the temperature as quickly as possible; a slow drop allows them to grow. At best you would wind up with a grainy texture and at worst you end up with a block of flavored ice. That means you have to get the ice cream from the churning bucket into the coldest part of your freezer (at the bottom in the back) as quickly as you can.The Whynter's cool-only mode buys you time. Time to transfer the mixture from the churning bucket into its container - and for the love of Mike don't use cardboard! You still have to work fast, but at least what's in the bucket isn't warming to room temperature.Beyond that, this unit is very solidly made. It has real buttons as opposed to membrane, there's nothing flimsy on it - even the clear plastic cover is sturdy - and both the compressor and churning motor sound like they're working well within their design limits. I know that last may sound a little odd, but you know how some things that you buy have a whiny or hollow sound and you really wonder if it's going to last? This doesn't have that; it just _sounds_ well made. And on that topic I was a little surprised at how quiet it is. Since the churning blade is plastic (actually it's probably some sort of nylon affair but I don't know) I'd ordered an extra one of those. It arrived before the machine did, but once I had it in my hands I was fairly certain that the original would never need to be replaced; it's very sturdy as well.The frozen bowl method is a novel idea but is an iffy process at best. After it failed on me a couple of times, I was very frustrated. The semiconductor machine was a nice little stop-off, and I was familiar with the technology so I was willing to give it a go. It may be exactly what you're looking for, but it still just wasn't what I was looking for. I normally kind of stick to the middle of the road, but I was at the point that I was finished with the nonsense and wanted results. I looked at reviews, looked at the Whynter website, decided they know a thing or two about making things cold, and went for it. Again, I can't tell you about other brands, but I am highly impressed with this machine.In two weeks I've produced over two gallons of ice cream a quart at a time and this machine performed flawlessly each time. I'm not a cook, so while mixing some cream and sugar together is well within my wheelhouse, making a custard for a French style ice cream most definitely is NOT. Having confidence that my stress-laden concoction isn't going to be biffed at the end is quite valuable to me. That's why I can tell you that this device is worth it. Every. single. penny.

I mixed up the custard base last night, let it sit in the refrigerator overnight and put it into the canister this morning - in 60 minutes we had delicious ice cream. Very easy to make and the clean up is quick. I plan on storing it in an easy to access spot so this can become a regular dessert in our household. We have food allergies in our family and this is proving to be a fantastic special treat doll that everyone can enjoy.

Makes great ice cream. Beater a little hard to get ice cream off of easily. A bit noisy. Yogurt function temp is not adjustable, so only 110 degrees for fermenting. Makes both ice cream and yogurt very easily. I also used my homemade yogurt to make frozen yogurt.The did send the wrong book in the box, and initially told me to print a new one myself. After a bit of back and forth, they said they will mail me the correct book.Overall, I would recommend this machine for those wanting delicious and easy yogurt and ice cream.