Picking an ice cream maker can be tough. If you've narrowed it down to the Cuisinart and the Whynter, the choice mostly comes down to what you need.
We've reviewed the Whynter Ice Cream Maker and the Cuisinart ICE-100 individually. Here's how they stack up side by side.
The Cuisinart ICE-100 Ice Cream and Gelato Maker
See the Cuisinart ICE-100 in the Video Review Below
The Cuisinart is a great ice-cream and gelato maker for quick batches. With its built-in compressor, you don't have to pre-freeze the bowl, and your ice cream is ready to eat (soft-serve style) right out of the machine.
The Whynter ICM-200LS Ice Cream and Gelato Maker
The Whynter is a workhorse, and it has its own compressor too. Let's see how these two compare.
How they compare on Price
These two usually sell for about the same price, and which one costs less changes with Amazon's sales. When we last checked, the Whynter was actually a bit cheaper, even though it makes more per batch.
Either way, you're getting a machine with its own compressor that makes ice cream in under an hour, and that's a bargain for the convenience.
The Cuisinart is a little more compact and comes with a separate gelato paddle. The Whynter's control panel is a bit nicer, but that's mostly a matter of taste.
The biggest real difference is the next item...
How the machines compare on Capacity
The Whynter ICM-200LS has quite a bit more capacity than the Cuisinart.
The Cuisinart makes up to 1.5 quarts of ice cream or gelato per batch, while the Whynter makes a whopping 2.1 quarts.
So which one should you get? That depends on how much you like ice cream...
Seriously though, if you're planning on having parties or have a large family, the Whynter is definitely the way to go since you can make more ice cream in each batch.
If you're mostly making ice cream for yourself and one other person, the Cuisinart is a great choice.
How they compare on Quality
Both are built to last with an elegant design. You won't be disappointed.
The Cuisinart and the Whynter both have plastic mixing blades which work just fine for the quantity of ice cream they produce. For its size, the Cuisinart does put out a good deal of noise, but hey, noise vs ice-cream in under an hour, I'll take the ice cream.
Which One Fits Your Kitchen?
Here's how we'd pick in a few everyday situations:
- A pint or two on a weeknight: the Cuisinart. It's easy to pull out, and you won't have a big batch taking over the freezer.
- Birthday parties and summer cookouts: the Whynter. Its extra 0.6 quart works out to about five more half-cup servings per batch.
- Gelato fans: the Cuisinart. Its separate gelato paddle whips in less air, so the gelato comes out denser.
- Two flavors in one afternoon: either one. Neither needs a pre-frozen bowl, so you can empty the first batch into a container and start the next.
A few ideas to try in either machine: a no-cook strawberry ice cream with fresh berries, a lemon sorbet for a hot day, or coffee ice cream made with cold brew. Add mix-ins like chocolate chips or crushed cookies in the last few minutes of churning so they don't get ground up.
What customers are Saying
About the Whynter
"This is major improvement over my existing ice cream maker with an internal refrigeration unit. It is quieter (the main noise comes from the gearbox driving the dasher). The capacity is greater (2.1 quarts / 1 liter vs. about 1.25 quarts for the old unit). It freezes really FAST."
"The unit is quieter than I expected, but certainly isn't silent. You can hear the motor turning the bowl and there's also a "white" noise that comes from the compressor"
"The best Ice Cream Maker for the home you can buy"
About the Cuisinart ICE-100
"Cuisinart has taken the ICE-50BC and improved upon its design shortcomings. The biggest improvement is moving the drive system from the overhead arm to underneath the bowl. This system now resembles the much more expensive Lello unit but with a removable bowl. This unit also has a newly redesigned Ice Cream Paddle and includes a Gelato Paddle as well."
"Really like it. Slightly noisy but quality of ice cream is delicious."
Where to Find Them
The Cuisinart ICE-100 has nearly 3,000 ratings on Amazon, and the Whynter has over 3,200.
You can find both on Amazon with the links below:
See the Cuisinart ICE-100 on Amazon
