The best ice creamras
Refrigerator – Buying Guide, Opinions and Analysis
Having a refrigerator at home would help you prepare delicious desserts in a simple way to serve your little ones and guests. Plus, some models will let you make more than ice cream, so they might be more useful than you think. If you are interested in some recommendations, first of all we have for you the H.Koenig 80114 model, an ice cream maker made of stainless steel with a capacity of 1.5 liters so that you can prepare ice cream for everyone with a single load. In second place is the Musso Pola Estrella model. It is a professional type equipment also made of stainless steel and capable of preparing up to 1.5 kilograms of ice cream in less than 30 minutes.
The 8 Best Refrigerators – Opinions 2022
In order for you to find the best fridge for you, we have selected some striking models that have their own advantages and disadvantages. Likewise, you will be able to learn more about them with a small punctual analysis that, possibly, will help you choose which one to buy.
refrigerator with compressor
1. H.Koenig Homemade Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker
If you are looking for a refrigerator with a compressor to save you work, this H.Koenig model could interest you. With this equipment you can prepare enough ice cream to serve up to 8 people at the same time thanks to its 1.5 liter capacity.
In addition to this, it uses a power of 150W with which you can have your dessert ready in just about half an hour, so that you can prepare different flavors in a short time.
As for its design, this refrigerator has dimensions of 44 x 36 x 36 centimeters and its weight is 11 kilograms, so it will take up considerable space in your counter. However, it stands out that it is made of stainless steel so you don’t even have to worry about wear or oxidation and, at the same time, it will be very easy to keep clean and free of bad odors.
Since this model could be the best refrigerator of the moment, it is recommended that you take into account all possible aspects and details:
Pros
Power: The power of this ice cream maker allows you to have the ice cream ready between 30 and 35 minutes, preventing you from having to wait too long for your dessert.
Capacity: Its 1.5 liter capacity is enough to make ice cream for up to 8 people.
Materials: The stainless steel casing gives the refrigerator resistance and durability in general.
Functions: It has a touchpad panel so you can choose between its two functions: prepare ice cream or keep it cold.
Cons
Instructions: The instruction manual is in French, which might confuse those who haven’t used an ice cream maker before.
professional ice cream maker
2. Musso Pola Estrella Chef Model Professional Stainless Steel Ice Cream Maker
Being, possibly, among the best ice cream makers of 2022, the Mussa Pola Estrella team is a professional ice cream maker with which you can make 1.5 kilograms of ice cream thanks to its packaging.
On the other hand, the equipment incorporates a compressor, which is why it uses a power of 300W with which it will be able to have the ice cream ready to eat in just 20 minutes, being one of the fastest among those mentioned. It also has an autonomous freezing unit to save you both work and time and to facilitate the cleaning of the equipment in general.
Regarding its size, this Musso refrigerator measures 51 x 35 x 31 centimeters with a weight of 31 kilograms and is made of stainless steel with various ventilation grilles through its casing in charge of maintaining air circulation to avoid equipment overheating.
If you want to buy a good quality refrigerator, you must first be aware of its pros and cons, as we will indicate below:
Pros
Multifunctional: With this equipment you can prepare ice cream, yogurt, sorbets and other types of cold desserts.
Timer: It has a built-in 60-minute timer so you can make all the recipes as indicated.
Quick: If you just want to make regular ice cream, you can have it ready in as little as 20 minutes.
Casing: Its casing is made of stainless steel and is designed to keep the interior ventilated, in addition to having a safety switch.
Cons
Size: It is one of the largest models on the list, a detail that you must take into account when considering the available space.
Taurus fridge
3. Taurus Tasty NCream Fridge 12W
Within the Taurus refrigerator category, the Tasty NCream model stands out for its ease of use, as well as its practical and spacious design. It has dimensions of 29.3 x 22.3 x 22.3 centimeters and offers a capacity of 1.5 liters to make ice cream for up to 8 people at once.
It is made of plastic, so it has a light weight of just 2.7 liters compared to others and, in addition, its design is practical, since it allows the container to be removed from the equipment to be able to wash it separately. In this way, deep cleaning is guaranteed to avoid bad odors and accumulated dirt.
Another aspect to highlight regarding this equipment is that your purchase includes a recipe book in which you will find the instructions to prepare 8 different types of ice cream at home with ease, so you can entertain and serve both your children and your guests.
Taurus may become the best refrigerator brand on the market and therefore you should know everything you could do with this product:
Pros
Capacity: This ice cream maker has a 1.5-liter capacity bowl, enough to make several servings of dessert.
Disassembled: The bowl can be easily removed from the refrigerator so you can wash it comfortably.
Mouth: The lid of the refrigerator has an entrance mouth so that you can add ingredients during the mixing process.
Consumption: It has an A++ energy consumption category, being an economical device to use.
Cons
Preparation: The bowl must be put in the freezer for 8 hours, prior to preparation. A very important aspect that you must respect to achieve the expected results.
electric refrigerator
4. Aicok Ice Cream Machine With Timer
Aicok has an ice cream maker in its catalog that might interest you: the ICE-BL1500C model. This equipment has an attractive, modern and elegant design so you can place it on your kitchen counter. Its size is 17.5 x 16 x 24.5 centimeters and it weighs 1.45 kilograms so you can place it in a corner and move it easily when you need it.
On the other hand, it stands out that it is an electric refrigerator that works with 250W of power, which is why you can have the ice cream ready in a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes. Likewise, this is useful if you take into account its 1.5-liter capacity to prepare enough for several people at the same time and, if you wish, also make other flavors, with fruits, essences or any ingredient of your choice.
If you still don’t know which refrigerator to buy, you could consider the advantages offered by this Aicok brand model:
Pros
Multifunctional: Aicok’s equipment allows you to make ice creams, yogurt and granitas of the flavors you want.
Materials: It is made of BPA-free plastic so that your food is not at risk of contamination.
Recipe book: A recipe book is included so you can take your first steps in making homemade ice cream.
Removable: Several of its parts can be removed from the main equipment for a more thorough cleaning.
Cons
Paddles: Mixing paddles should be reinforced, as they freeze and jam if the mix is too cold.
Zoku fridge
5. Zoku ZK113-RD Refrigerator
Zoku has a model for you that, for some users, could be the best value for money ice cream maker, since it is designed for personal use and allows you to prepare slushies in just 7 minutes according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
This Zoku ice cream maker has a capacity of 260 milliliters, which is enough for a smoothie for an adult person. In addition, this influences its dimensions, offering you a product with compact dimensions that you could take with you if you need it. Its size is 9.9 x 17 x 9.9 centimeters and it weighs just 499 grams, looking like a common glass.
To prepare the ice cream, the equipment must be placed in the freezer for 8 hours and reach the required temperature. Afterwards, the previously cooled mixture is poured and the rest will be done automatically so that you can enjoy milkshakes, slushies and ice creams.
This Zoku product could be the best fridge for 20 euros, in case you don’t want to spend too much money:
Pros
Materials: The product is made of freeze-proof glass and is BPA-free for your safety.
Uses: You can use it to make ice creams, milkshakes and granitas of different flavors or with various ingredients.
Portability: It has a compact size that will allow you to take it with you if you wish.
Cleaning: It is easily cleaned thanks to its design similar to that of a common glass.
Cons
Capacity: Do not overlook that it is a refrigerator for personal consumption, so you will have to prepare the core several times if you want to offer dessert to several people.
Other products
6. Duronic IM540 1.5 L Ice Cream Maker
A good alternative in multifunctional appliances within this category could be that of Duronic, which also stands out for being one of the cheapest among those mentioned in case you do not want to invest a lot of money.
With it you can make ice cream, sorbets and yogurt quickly and easily. It is even indicated that the equipment can have the desserts ready between 15 and 30 minutes after its start-up, leaving you time to prepare them based on various flavors or extra ingredients.
It is made of BPA-free plastics to avoid contaminating agents in your ice cream and is easy to clean, so you can get rid of any leftovers left in the fridge.
As for its capacity, the bowl can hold 1.5 liters of ice cream mix, which is enough for you to serve dessert to your children’s friends after an afternoon of games, for example.
The IM540 is among one of the cheapest refrigerators on this list, so we advise you to evaluate its pros and cons:
Pros
Design: This refrigerator has an attractive and practical design, since several of its parts can be removed for cleaning.
Materials: It is made of plastic and these have been treated to rid them of BPA, a contaminating agent.
Time: You can have the dessert of your choice ready to serve in just 15 to 30 minutes depending on the texture and added ingredients.
Recipe book: The purchase of the equipment includes a recipe book in case you do not know what to use to prepare your mixtures.
Cons
Frozen: After you’re done using the ice cream maker, you’ll need to take the mixture back into the freezer before you can eat it.
7. Klarstein Sweet Dreams Fridge Ice Cream Machine Yoghurt Maker
Sweet Dreams from the Klarstein brand could be the answer if you don’t know which is the best ice cream maker for you. This model has a configurable timer of a minimum of 10 minutes and a maximum of 60 minutes, which will allow you to adequately control the final texture of your dessert. In addition, it has a digital screen where you can see the remaining preparation time.
It has a capacity of 1.5 liters and you do not need to cool the bowl beforehand thanks to its internal cooling system and its power is 150W, enough to meet the needs of regular domestic use.
On the other hand, the refrigerator has an attractive design with brushed steel finishes and black details, which makes it have a modern and resistant appearance. Its dimensions are 37 x 29 x 32 centimeters and it weighs 10 kilograms, staying within the margins of refrigerators with this capacity.
If you have been interested in the Sweet Dreams refrigerator model, here we present its positive and negative aspects so that you can decide if it is worth it or not:
Pros
Desserts: With this ice cream maker you can also make homemade yogurts to the delight of your friends and family.
Power: Use a power of 150W for the cooling and mixing system of your ice cream.
Cleaning: It is easily cleaned thanks to the fact that its parts are removable.
Accessories: Purchase includes a Scoop Scoop to help you serve ice cream.
Cons
Freezing: You must be careful not to allow the mixture to freeze, as it could jam the popsicle.
8. Ariete 638 Gran Gelato Refrigerator 800W
To find out if you are choosing the best ice cream maker to meet your needs, one of the aspects you should consider is its capacity and, in this case, we have a model with which you can make up to 1 liter of ice cream at one time.
It has a size of 28 x 26 x 28 centimeters and a weight of just 3 kilograms, so you can easily move it when you want to use it. The refrigerant cup where you will place the mixture, meanwhile, measures 24 x 15 centimeters and can be easily removed from the refrigerator to wash it.
On the other hand, its power is 6W and it works with a cooling container next to which you can enjoy a delicious homemade ice cream just 30 minutes after pouring the mixture. Likewise, it has an attractive white design with orange details and even some areas are transparent, allowing you to see the process of making the ice cream.
To choose intelligently which refrigerator to buy, you must first thoroughly understand everything that the model of your choice is capable of doing:
Pros
Power: This ice cream maker has a power of 6W and is capable of bringing the ice cream mixture to the desired texture in 30 minutes.
Cooling: The bowl does not need to be frozen beforehand so you can make ice cream whenever you want.
Desserts: Just as it is capable of making ice cream, the machine can also prepare sorbets.
Cleaning: The parts of this refrigerator are removable to ensure thorough cleaning of all parts.
Cons
Materials: The equipment is made of plastic, but it has good manufacturing finishes for a long useful life.
Refrigerator Accessories
Ice cream recipe with ice cream maker
Sandra Mangas Popsicles and ice creams Gastronomy
Not everyone knows good ice cream recipes with an ice cream maker and if this is your case, we advise you to consider purchasing the book by the author Sandra Mangas entitled “Polos y Helados”.
In this book you will find a total of 50 recipes to prepare all kinds of ice creams and popsicles from the comfort of your home, so that you can get the most out of your refrigerator, as well as enjoy a variety of desserts every day if you wish.
In addition to this, you will find several reference images that will help you give you decoration ideas. It is sold in a hardcover version, so it will not wear out easily and its readers indicate that the instructions are simple and some can even be prepared without an ice cream maker.
Shopping guide
Reviewing a comparison of refrigerators to choose which one to buy without having an idea about the subject, can lead you to waste your money. For this reason, we have created a guide where we will indicate the most important features that you should check before choosing your refrigerator. This way you will be able to obtain a practical, easy-to-use piece of equipment that will let you enjoy delicious desserts.
team design
One of the first aspects that we will analyze in this guide to buying the best refrigerator is its design itself. These appliances can vary in size, weight and shape depending on their manufacturer, since, working with a cold-based system, each brand can decide how their particular refrigerator will look.
In this category, it might be good to assess your physical appearance in details such as your size and weight. This is relevant given that some models can become considerably large depending on their capacity and we do not believe that you want to have an uncomfortable to use refrigerator in your counter.
On the other hand, you may also want to be able to combine it with your other appliances, so it is an advantage that the market for refrigerators is quite large so that you can take your time in choosing the one that best meets your needs.
Materials used in its elaboration
One of the questions that some users are most interested in knowing is how much does a refrigerator cost in order to find an alternative that is good and economical. For this reason, you should evaluate the construction materials of the equipment, since, on many occasions, this influences its sale price as it is decisive in terms of the durability and resistance of the equipment.
Generally, affordable coolers can be found made of plastic. This material does not wear out due to contact with moisture and is usually very easy to clean, in addition to making the refrigerator lighter than if it were made of, for example, stainless steel.
However, stainless steel guarantees a much higher level of sturdiness and also resistance to wear and tear, which could increase the lifespan of your fridge considerably.
Refrigerator capacity
The next characteristic that you could consider before choosing your refrigerator is the capacity of its deposit. As you already know, this equipment works with liquids, which is why knowing the capacity of the container beforehand will help you determine the number of liters of ice cream you can prepare at one time.
These details can be reviewed in the technical section of the specifications of the model of your interest. In case you want an ice cream maker to prepare different desserts from time to time, an equipment with a capacity of 1 or 2 liters is more than enough, but if you need a professional ice cream maker, this number can be significantly increased by looking carefully.
Additional uses
Some refrigerator alternatives have the capacity or special functions to be able to make use of their cooling system in order to produce other types of desserts. If it is in your interest to invest in a multifunctional appliance, the additional uses of the refrigerator is another feature that we advise you to analyze.
To mention some of the most popular, since ice cream and yogurt mixes are similar, there are models that allow you to prepare frozen yogurt with your equipment. In addition to this, if the structural design allows it, you could also add fruit ingredients such as banana, apple, blueberries or any of your preference.
However, in order to take better advantage of the multifunctional use that a certain refrigerator can offer you, you cannot ignore that it has the right system, tools and accessories. With this you will avoid spending extra money to be able to get more out of your initial investment.
Care and maintenance
Now, we will focus on one of the aspects that some buyers forget to take into account when buying a refrigerator, and for this reason, they will probably find themselves inconvenienced when cleaning it.
The maintenance of a refrigerator must be carried out carefully and thoroughly, especially if milk is used in the recipes to be prepared, since this, when damaged, can produce strong and unpleasant odours. Therefore, when looking for a refrigerator for your regular use, do not forget to check that it can be easily cleaned, either by presenting a practical or removable design, for example.
At the same time, if you want to avoid the work of having to wash the fridge after each use, you also have the option of choosing a model that works with dishwasher-safe components. So you won’t have to worry about cleaning small parts or large containers after enjoying a delicious ice cream.
Frequently asked questions
Q1: How to use an ice cream maker?
In order to prepare homemade ice cream, you must first do some things in advance. The first is to place the equipment container in the freezer for 12 to 24 hours according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Then, prepare in a bowl the ingredients that you are going to use to prepare your ice cream. It can be based on milk and fruit, with essences, artificial flavors or as you wish. This mixture should also be cooled for at least 4 hours to obtain a better result in the creaminess of the ice cream.
When the established times have passed and you have everything ready, connect your ice cream maker, place the container inside and pour the ice cream mix. Press the start button on your computer and activate the timer if it has one. It will take about 1 hour to be ready, and if you like, you can put the mixture back in the fridge afterward to further solidify and make it easier to handle.
Q2: How to make ice cream without an ice cream maker?
Ice cream makers basically work because they are able to cool down the mixture and, at the same time, prevent ice crystals from forming by keeping it in constant motion. This same process is what you can apply to prepare ice cream without the need for an ice cream maker.
Pour the ingredients into a container based on recipes that use milk, eggs or their derivatives, since these must be carefully mixed with the other flavor additives, be they fruits, sweets or flavorings. Take a tray, preferably metal and pour the mixture and then take it to the freezer. Every 20 minutes you should mix it gently until it reaches the desired point and voila, you will have your homemade ice cream to enjoy.
Q3: Why does the refrigerator not get cold?
If you have begun to notice that your refrigerator does not cool as before, this may be due to various causes. First of all, we advise you to make sure that you have met the cooling period of the ice cream container before using it in the equipment, as this could delay the process and even affect the components of the ice cream maker itself.
Also, remember that the mixture to make the ice cream must also be previously semi-frozen so that it can acquire the right consistency without forcing the machine.
Secondly, it is likely that the refrigerator has been damaged internally and in these cases, it is best to take it to an appliance technician who can give you a reliable diagnosis and recommendations, whether to repair or replace your refrigerator.
Q4: How many watts does a refrigerator consume?
The watts consumed by a refrigerator vary depending on its model and capacity. In general, equipment designed for domestic use works with powers that range from 100W to 500W approximately, so you should consider the time that you are going to keep the refrigerator on and multiply it by the hourly consumption of the equipment. This way you will know how many watts are consumed when preparing a batch of ice cream.
Q5: How does a refrigerator work?
An ice cream maker automatically churns the mixture while it cools along with the container inside the refrigerator. This combination of regular movements prevents the formation of ice crystals that would otherwise freeze the mixture and spoil your dessert.
On the other hand, the machine, by maintaining the shake at intervals for a certain time, allows you to obtain a creamy and cold mixture, just as a regular ice cream should be.
Q6: Which is better, a refrigerator with a compressor or without a compressor?
The answer to this question could depend on how much you can afford to spend on a fridge and how much space you have in your kitchen, since compressor models are larger and more expensive.
The difference between the two is that the compressor ice cream maker does not require prior or subsequent refrigeration of the containers or mixtures, facilitating the preparation of large quantities of ice cream in a short time. Meanwhile, the models without a compressor are the ones that make use of the technique of freezing both the container and the mixture to create a certain degree of creaminess before freezing it again to obtain the ice cream.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to how much you plan to use your fridge and whether you have space in your kitchen for an appliance that could be quite large.
Q7: How to clean a refrigerator?
To clean your refrigerator, the first thing you should do is disconnect it from the power supply and with a damp cloth remove stains and remains of ice cream from the outside of the equipment. Then take out the container together with the mixing paddles and wash them under running water or put them in the dishwasher. Make sure there are no ice cream residues in any holes to avoid bad odours.
