Whynter Ice Cream Maker Machine Automatic 2.1 Qt. with Built-In Compressor, LCD Digital Display & Timer, No Pre-Freezing, ICM-200LS, Stainless Steel

Pros1. Very reliable ice cream maker2. Easy to use3. Makes great sorbet and ice creamCons1. A little loud (doesn’t bother me though)2. A little pricey (but worth every penny)

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.

This is great machine. Made fresh ice cream in one hour. Not that noisy. It’s same as our bread machine. Ice cream came out perfect. Easy to clean

This ice cream maker is great. The machine is very sturdy and looks good too. Made the vanilla ice cream from the recipe book included and it was the best I've ever tasted, very creamy, smooth, and delicious. Directions were easy to follow - the unit is really easy to use. We love it.

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.

The media could not be loaded. I recently purchased the Whynter ICM-200LS ice cream maker after growing tired of the expense and limited options of high-quality organic ice cream with clean ingredients. The lack of flavor variety and availability in stores pushed me to explore making ice cream at home, and I'm so glad I did!The built-in compressor is fantastic, especially for someone new to homemade ice cream like me. There's no need to pre-freeze bowls or plan ahead - I can make ice cream on a whim. We tried it out with a chocolate recipe, and I was blown away by the results. It far surpassed even the best commercial ice creams I've tried, both in texture and flavor.While we've only made chocolate so far, I'm excited about the possibilities this machine opens up. We're looking forward to experimenting with different ingredients and creating a variety of flavors that aren't readily available commercially. The control over ingredients is a huge plus, allowing us to keep everything organic and tailored to our preferences.The 2.1-quart capacity is perfect for us. We're only two people, but it certainly makes enough for us with plenty of leftovers. The LCD display and controls are straightforward, making the process easy even for a novice like me. Clean-up is also a breeze, which I really appreciate.One thing to note: when the ice cream is first done, it has more of a soft-serve texture. To get that true ice cream consistency, we put it in Anchor Hocking Glass 2 Cup Round Food Storage Containers and freeze it overnight. This extra step really perfects the texture.While some might consider the price a bit high, I see it as an investment in quality and health. We're actually saving money in the long run by making our own organic ice cream instead of buying the expensive store-bought versions. Plus, the joy of creating our own flavors and knowing exactly what goes into our desserts is priceless.If you're frustrated with the cost and limited options of high-quality, organic ice cream, I highly recommend giving this Whynter model a try. It's opened up a whole new world of dessert possibilities for us, and I'm excited to keep experimenting with new flavors and ingredients.A couple of small nitpicks: I do wish the paddle was metal instead of the current material. It would be a nice upgrade for durability and performance. Also our unit did not include an ice cream scoop. Despite these minor points, I'm still thoroughly impressed with this machine.In short, this ice cream maker has been a fantastic addition to our kitchen. It's perfect for health-conscious individuals or anyone looking to have more control over their ice cream ingredients without sacrificing taste or texture. Happy ice cream making!