Summer is coming and with it the desire for delicious ice cream. With an ice cream machine you can easily make it yourself and be creative with the ice cream flavors. Stiftung Warentest has tested models with compressors and cold packs. The results are disappointing: only seven out of 20 devices achieve "good" grades. We show the test winners.
Overview
If you make your own ice cream at home, you don't have to stand in long lines, you have full control over the ingredients and you also save money: a scoop of homemade ice cream is cheaper than in the ice cream parlour . For the "test" issue 05/2021, Stiftung Warentest therefore examined 20 ice cream machines. It turns out that ice makers with cold packs are clearly inferior to models with compressors: none of these models is "good". We show the results of the ice machine test.
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DISPLAY Test winner ice cream machine from MedionTest winner ice cream machine from MedionStiftung Warentest: This is how it was tested
For its test, Stiftung Warentest examined ten ice machines with compressors and ten with ice packs. In particular, the preparation of ice cream, sorbet and frozen yoghurt was tested. But handling, noise and environmental characteristics were also taken into account in the ice machine test.
The results of the ice machine test at a glance
The test results are mixed: While the ice machines with compressors mostly do "good", all ten models with cold packs are only "satisfactory". This is due to the often more cumbersome handling and the significantly higher expenditure of time.
The clear test winner among the ice machines with compressor is the MD 18387 from Medion with the "test" quality rating "good (1.9)". Behind them are models from the well-known kitchen appliance manufacturers Sage, Springlane, Unold and Severin.
When it comes to ice makers with cold packs, the 3-in-1 mini kitchen from WMF comes out on top with the overall grade "satisfactory (2.6)". Devices from other manufacturers such as Klarstein, Krups or Unold perform somewhat worse in the ice machine test.
The test winner: ice cream machine from Medion
ADVERTISEMENTMedion Ice Maker & Yoghurt Maker MD 18387195.00The test result: The ice cream maker MD 18387 from Medion is the test winner in the ice cream machine test with the overall grade "good (1.9)". The Stiftung Warentest praises her preparation and the excellent price-performance ratio.
Product details: The Medion ice cream machine prepares ice cream, frozen yoghurt and sorbet at the touch of a button in a maximum of 60 minutes. Your ice cream container has a capacity of 1.5 liters and can therefore produce a lot of ice cream. The compressor and the stirrer are operated with 150 watts of power to achieve a creamy consistency. Operation is particularly easy thanks to a rotary control and a temperature display. Additional ingredients such as nuts or fruit can be added to the ice cream mass through the practical opening in the lid. The ice cream container has a non-stick coating and is therefore easy to clean, as are the lid and stirrer.
Ice machine in second place: The Smart Scoop by Sage
ADVERTISEMENTSage ice cream machine The Smart Scoop SCI600325,99419,9022325,99325,99The test result: With the overall grade "good (2.0)", the Sage ice cream machine came in second. It prepares ice cream just as well as the test winner, but has a slightly smaller capacity and, according to the testers, is a bit more difficult to handle.
Product details: The ice cream container of the Sage ice cream machine has a capacity of one liter for the preparation of ice cream, sorbet or frozen yoghurt. With up to 200 watts of power, the ice cream is stirred and cooled in the machine with a compressor to produce perfect ice cream. There are four automatic or one manual program and twelve hardness settings available. There is also a practical pre-cooling function that brings your ice cream mass to the optimum temperature, as well as a chilling function that keeps the finished ice cream cold for up to three hours. Clearly labeled buttons, a rotary control and an LCD display ensure easy operation.
Tied third: Springlane's Ice Machine
DISPLAYSpringlane ice machine Emma219,00229,00229,00The test result: Together with an ice maker from Unold, the Springlane ice machine Emma came third with the grade "good (2.1)". The Stiftung Warentest found the preparation time particularly positive, which is even better than the test winner.
Product details: The ice cream container of this ice cream machine has a capacity of 1.5 liters. In this way, a particularly large amount of ice cream, sorbet, frozen yoghurt or even soft ice cream can be prepared. For this, the device needs about 40 minutes at 150 watts of power. Pre-cooling of the ice mass is not necessary thanks to the compressor. Thanks to the practical lid opening, additional ingredients such as nuts or chocolate chips can be added when making ice cream. Another advantage is the easy operation with only four buttons and the LCD display.
This ice cream machine has already convinced us in practice: You can read more about the Emma from Springlane in the t-online ice cream machine test.
The best ice machine without a compressor: ice maker from WMF
DISPLAYWMF Kitchen Minis Ice Cream Maker 3-in-153,8969,992354,9069,992257,9979,992857,9979,9928The test result: The small ice maker from WMF was the test winner among ice machines with cold packs the "test" quality rating "satisfactory (2.6)". Above all, it prepares classic ice cream well and is otherwise notable for its small capacity.
Product details: As a mini kitchen, the WMF machine only prepares 300 milliliters of frozen yoghurt, sorbet or ice cream. The ice cream container is encased in an ice pack and must be pre-cooled in the freezer for at least twelve hours before the ice cream is made. The ice mass should also be cooled before it is processed into ice within just 30 minutes with twelve watts of power. The operation is very simple: you set the desired preparation time, which is shown on the small display, and press start. Cleaning is particularly easy with this ice cream maker, as some parts are dishwasher safe.
Our conclusion on the ice cream machine test
With an ice cream machine, you can easily prepare your favorite types of ice cream at home and also take allergies and intolerances into account. Ice making is quick and easy, especially with a machine with a compressor, as the ice machine test by Stiftung Warentest shows.
The test winner was particularly impressive: the Medion MD 18387 ice cream machine prepared the best ice cream in the test and offered excellent value for money. If you have little space, only want to make ice cream yourself occasionally and therefore want to spend less money, you can also use the best ice maker with a cold pack, the WMF Küchenminis 3-in-1 ice cream maker.
DISPLAY Medion test winner ice cream machine Medion test winner ice cream machineIf you want to buy an ice cream machine, you should pay attention to the following factors in addition to the price:
What distinguishes a compressor ice machine?
Ice machines with a compressor are always ready for use and easy to operate: you only need to prepare the ice cream, fill it in and press start. The preparation time is usually less than an hour. This makes these devices ideal for frequent use.
The ice cream is cooled by the motor and stirred to a creamy consistency. This is how ice cream or sorbet succeed exactly to taste. Some ice cream machines with a compressor can also prepare frozen yoghurt, soft ice cream and other specialties.
They have a relatively large capacity, which means that a lot of ice can be made. The disadvantage of this: The models take up a lot of space, they are about the size of a microwave and also quite heavy. Another shortcoming: the acquisition costs are relatively high.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of an ice pack maker?
Ice machines with cold packs are particularly suitable for occasional ice cream production. This is because the ice pack has to be pre-cooled in the freezer for several hours. This has two disadvantages: on the one hand, you need the space in the freezer, on the other hand, the preparation time is quite long. In addition, the ice mass must also be pre-cooled. Spontaneous enjoyment of ice cream is therefore not possible with these devices.
But they cost significantly less than machines with compressors. They also take up significantly less space in the kitchen and can be easily stowed away when not in use. As a result, they usually have a smaller capacity, which can be problematic for families in particular.
Edible ice cream and sorbet can also be made with these ice cream machines, but you have to do without additional functions. The advantage of this is that it is very easy to use.
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