Side by Side Comparison of: Cuisinart vs Workman Publishing Company vs Race Point Publishing vs Clarkson Potter vs Tovolo

Got mine this week and tried it out for the first time for a gathering of friends. I used two of the gelato recipes right out of the manual and it worked to perfection. I followed the directions and refrigerated the mixture for two hours and made both batches right after each other. I can't wait to try other recipes. Two batches (different flavors) was enough for 13 people to have a scoop of each. This will pay for itself in no time! Highly recommended!

LOVE this machine. I've made two ice creams so far, and it's very easy and fool-proof. I make coconut milk ice cream, and find that rather than the 40-50 minutes recommended, it's more like 35. But it's easy to test it part way through. This machine is perfect if you want to eat dairy-free ice cream without emulsifiers and binders.

My wife and I just love this ice cream maker. We eat a lot of ice cream and this machine has made it so easy to fix. We have varied the vanilla recipe a few times but have now settled on the one in the instruction booklet. Yesterday my wife tried making strawberry ice cream using the recipe in the instruction booklet and we will be trying it out for quality in a couple of hours..It is so easy for we old people to now make ice cream.Just wish we had bought this machine a long time ago. As others have warned however, read the instructions and don't put more ingredients into the freezer to freeze then the instructions say or you will end up with a mess to deal with. Also with the freezer weighing what it does, I would plan on leaving it in a set location if possible.

This makes the best homemade ice cream. I found a Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla copycat recipe online (we were going through severe withdrawal since the Blue Bell ice cream recall :) and made a few batches in this machine. It turned out awesome!! Nice and creamy. I did chill the base for a couple of hours before churning and once the machine had done it's job I froze the ice cream overnight. Perfectly scoopable, creamy ice cream!! This machine will only hold about 4 cups at a time, so I did have to make several batches from the one recipe. Don't do like I did and try to squeeze in more because once the ice cream starts freezing it expands and I had an overspill mess! But, I learned my lesson and it's been smooth sailing since. I do highly recommend this machine for ice cream lovers! I would definitely buy it again!UPDATE: Long story...I ordered this machine on Amazon, ICE-100. Love it. Decided to order an additional bowl so I wouldn't have to wash between ice cream batches. I ordered the bowl that they claim goes with this machine, part no. 100BL online from cuisinartwebstore.com. The bowl arrived and it looked identical to the original bowl. HOWEVER, it did not fit!!! It would not slide all the way down into the machine. (See pics) When I measured it I found that the new bowl (100BL) is 1/8" larger in circumference than the original bowl. Called the company. They kept saying that was the correct part for my machine. Finally after talking to about 4 different people, they gave me another phone number to call. This person asked for the serial number shown on the bottom of the machine (hard to see as it is in black raised numbers on a black background). After getting the serial number, she said that I needed part no. 100NBL for this machine. I don't know if there were some defective bowls made that were labeled as 100BL and they had to make new ones and assigned them the number 100NBL or what the deal is, but I DO know that bowl 100BL does not fit this machine as of 02/15/2016. I have not received the other bowl yet. I will update regarding the fit as soon as it arrives.

I am ashamed to say that I never write reviews. But, this product is so terrific that I was compelled to write. I've wanted one of these ice cream makers for a long time but was afraid I'd use it like crazy for a week or two and then I'd donate it to Goodwill! Well that's not gonna happen! This baby makes the smoothest, creamiest, best ice cream ever. Tastes nothing like the stuff you buy at the grocery store...even the most expensive premium brands can't beat this confection. It's super fast, super easy, and cleans up in an absolute snap. Don't be put off by the advice to chill your mixture for a couple of hours before pouring into the machine. That admonition is probably true for custard-style ice cream but for simple ice cream it's so not necessary...be sure your milk and cream are super cold though. I don't even take the milk and cream out of the fridge 'til I've set up the machine and gathered all other ingredients. Anyway, get this wonderful invention. You will love it,,,promise.

This machine is amazing! I bought it about 5 months ago. I make gelato for my restaurant and for friends at the hospital where I also work. I often make 3-4 batches at a time. I create my own recipes. To streamline the churning process, I went to another website and purchased an additional bowl, gelato blade, and lid. This way, as soon as the first batch finishes churning, I can put the second batch in to churn without waiting on the clean up. There have been no issues with overheating. It's not loud nor is it very heavy. Clean up is easy. When I finish the final batch, I carry it over to the sink to clean the rim and inner part if any gelato dripped in there. It sits on top of my compact refrigerator, when in use or not In use. In other words, it does not run hot during operation. If you want to make your own frozen desserts, I highly recommend this machine.

Would rate as 3.5. Feel like there's always a mad scramble to scoop the ice cream out of the freezing bowl so than I can put it in the freezer to harden even more but it's hard to get the ice cream out of the plastic scraper with its many grooves. There's also a significant amount of ice cream that gets frozen to the side walls due to the gap between the scraper and the surface of the bowl, although I hear that this is a common issue among ice cream makers.Makes really good tasting ice cream, although I have a feeling that the ice cream recipe and technique you use might have more to do with this.

The machine works good. I've made maybe 10 batches by now. But it has a major flaw and that is it'll over flow the bucket as the gelato expands. It gets in-between bucket area and the body of the machine. I've been using a tooth pick and paper towels to try clean in that seam. I combat that problem by ending the sequence earlier. Instead of ending it after 50 minutes of turning I stop it at 40 mins. It'll just start touching the lid by that time. It doesn't seem to have any effect on the quality of the gelato.I would give it 5 stars except for the above design flaw.

Works fast and no problem with freezing. I like it because I can make up low fat ice creams. In just 30 minutes it is ready. Use almond milk and bananas, or vanilla almond with rum flavoring, etc.Did not like having to keep a cylinder frozen, like with other models. The refrigeration unit works well. Gave it 4 stars only because the door on the plastic lid dropped out and broke. Still works but may try to replace the door flap on the lid.

I like it, but the Ice Cream is usually a little too soft and runny. When I'm in the mood for this it's great, because I just pour in a few ingredients and wait 40 minutes. Freezing your ice-cream is not the solution, because part of what makes icecream smooth when frozen is the size of the ice crystals. Freezing Ice Cream from this machine takes too long, and consequently it'll be a little grainy after it's frozen.Unless you have a blast chiller than can freeze your ice cream very quickly, I recommend not making more than you and your friends intend to eat, which shouldn't be an issue since it also doesn't make that much ice cream (seems like about 1.5 - 2 quarts).Inexpensive little unit for experimenting with flavors, but you probably won't use it as much as you think. I generally (95%) still buy haagen dazs rather than using this.

Just got this Gelato maker two months ago. It does a great job. The only comment I'd make is that the mixing bowl gets VERY cold by the time your batch is done .... makes sense that it does, but as you're trying to clean the Gelato off of the mixer paddles, your fingers can get a bit chilled. This maker is definitely a bit messier than just going into the Gelato shop .... but .... I like having the ability to control the ingredients .... like limiting that amount of Sugar that is used or partially mixing with low carb. or sugar free ingredients .... I don't get that option at the Gelato shop.All in all a good quality machine that works well. Not as convenient as buying Gelato at a store (what homemade stuff is??), but if you like homemade Gelato or Ice cream this is a good way to make it.

Makes great ice cream. I use use the Jeni's recipes and they come out SOOOOPER! The machine make a loud screeching noise which is VERY irritating. It didn't do this the first few times then suddenly started. The colder the machine gets the louder the noise becomes. If you can tolerate the noise it is a good maker. Don't use this maker if the baby is sleeping.

The first one stopped working not long after I received it... My kids love it, only reason I rated a 3 stars.

Great piece of equipment when it works. I purchased it in April 2015 and used it 2-3 times a month to make ice cream. The recipe book is excellent, instructions clear, and the machine worked flawlessly . . . until May 2016 -- just after the return period ended. We made ice cream mixture, put it into the maker as usual, turned it on, set the time, told it to START . . . and nothing. It sat there and got cold but the paddles would not turn to stir the ice cream.I decided to fiddle around with it. On the bottom is a black plastic piece held in place with three #15 Torx screws and two tabs. Remove the three Torx screws, press the tabs, and take out the plastic piece, which reveals the drive train. The drive train consists of a small plastic wheel that drives a rubber belt that drives a train of three plastic gears. None of the gears would turn. I squeezed the belt together and felt something pop. A very small piece of hard crap fell out and suddenly the gear train was free . . . I could turn it by hand. I put everything back together and it worked fine for a month or so then I had to repeat the performance. Unplug it, turn it over, remove the bottom plate, fiddle around with the rubber belt and gears until they turn freely, put it back together. All in all, I've "repaired" it five times, tonight being the fifth. I have no idea what causes the drive train to hang up . . . there's no hardened grease or any other foreign objects in the gear compartment. The little piece of crap that fell out the first time appeared to be a piece of dry, hardened ice cream but I could not find any way it could have gotten into the drive train. If I can find a parts list I'll order the entire drive train. Until then, I just keep my #15 Torx screwdriver handy.

My wife likes it OK. She made many great ice cream and sorbets. The kids love it.Wife wishes the bucket were larger. Ice ream expands while churning and if it reaches the edge it will be difficult to clean up.Also if you do multiple batches back to back the bucket can get stuck in the machine (pour some water in the bucket to melt the ice that formed between the bucket and the cooling element.)

For the price and commercial quality, I was disappointed. It took twice as long for the ice cream to freeze and the taste and texture of the ice cream was no better or smoother than my lower priced ice cream maker. I expected the ice cream to have a better flavor and smoothness. I am going to return this and purchase a few more ice cream freezer bowls.

Quality ice cream maker, but I found it at another website costing much, much less, even with the clipped coupon discount ($20). Do not think Amazon matches prices or not, but shop around for the best deal.

Awfully loud. Good consisten results.

Where do I begin? I purchased this because the price was really good ($239), and my experiences with Cuisinart products were mostly positive.The first thing I noticed after unpacking the ice cream freezer was that the directions were sadly lacking in detail. For instance, how do you tell when the ice cream is "ready" to go into containers? They fail to tell you that the dasher will literally stop turning, and then the freezer goes into its "Keep Cool" function.Filling the freezer to just shy of covering the top dasher (as recommended) virtually guarantees a mess, as the ice cream expands in volume. A better idea would be to fill it to the bottom of the top dasher.The machine's ability to blend the ice cream mix is only fair. And when making a sorbet, the mix froze around the edges, but the center stayed liquid after an hour in the machine.All of this could have been things for which I could have found a work around. But on the 4th batch, the motor began squealing: a high pitched squeal that could be heard OUTSIDE the house. It was suggested that this meant the ice cream was nearly frozen. Nope. I had just begun the batch. Another person suggested using a bit of vegetable oil to lubricate the inside of the dasher. No joy. As a last test, I disassembled everything, cleaned and dried the parts, reassembled, and turned the machine on with no mix in the bucket. The squeal was still there, loud and ear splitting.I packaged it up and returned it to Amazon today (inside the 30 day return period). And I ordered the Whynter ICM-200LS. With any luck, that one will do a better job.If you have good luck with your Cuisinart, I am very happy for you. I had expected to love this machine. It just didn't work out that way.

Its small capacity means that for most recipes you have to make 2 batches, the small parts are hard to clean, and it is a bit noisy.For nearly the same price you will be happier with the Whynter ICM-200LS

I wanted to move up to an ice cream maker with a compressor. I wanted to be able to make more than 1 batch without waiting for the container to freeze again. I used recipes that I have used in the Cuisinart ICE-20 Automatic 1-1/2-Quart Ice Cream Maker, which makes good ice cream in about 25 min. The Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream Maker at 45 min was still very soupy. At 1 hour it was barely soft serve. I made several different batches and let some run 80 min. I never got more than a very loose, soft serve consistency. (it wouldn't stand up on a cone) I get a more solid ice cream with the ICE-20. I like the idea of the two paddles for ice cream and gelato. I also liked the removable container and better motor. If it would get colder and make a more solid ice cream in less than and hour I would have kept it and rated it better. I sent it back. If you want very soft ice cream then it is ok.

Machine is fine but the plastic lid cracked and the manufacture has been terrible and unresponsive to warranty it out.

Had to return this item. Very loud and the paddle rubbed the side of the tub to the point that it removed the finish on one side during the first use.

While this product does make frozen treats, it is horribly LOUD. Even in the next room with the door closed it is not pleasant; it putters like a factory compressor and it is very harsh on the ears. I can't see making ice cream or sorbet on a whim with company over or with family -- as it's an industrial task (ear protection recommended).

Stopped working after 6 uses.

I followed the directions precisely and although it's turning and making an appropriate sound with the buttons working properly, there is no ice cream being made and no cooling effect. It's just as liquid and same temperature as when I first added the mixture. What a disappointment! My poor children were so excited!

Received and would not cool. Set it out for 24 hours as recommended and ran for about 90 minutes (one cycle, rest, then again). Not even a little cold, in fact, lukewarm - warmer than when the liquid was cooled in the fridge. Returning and ordering a second one. In between ordering and replacing price dropped $10. Will update review if the second one works.

Followed instructions exactly. Tried twice to make ice cream. The mixture would not freeze on both attempts.

Piece of utter crap so far. Set the machine out upright for 24 hours and I've tried 3 recipes since then to the T and the machine isn't properly freezing the Ice cream the consistency that goes in is what comes out. Not sure if it's even reaching freezing tempatures. Would not recommend. Plan on returning very soon.

Made a loud grinding noise about half way through the cycle. Checked and the ice cream bowl was warm and ice cream mixture was liquid. Smelled like burning electrical components. I was able to send it back for a refund but I am going to purchase the Breville Compressor Ice Cream maker from Williams Sonoma. It's more expensive but if there's a problem I can return it locally.