Cuisinart 1.5 Qt Ice Cream Maker (ICE-21) Review: Would Owners Buy It Again?
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through links on this page we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this review was made: We did not test this machine in person. This verdict is based on our analysis of expert reviews and owner themes, all listed at the end of this article. The ICE-21 family has several variants, and some sources cover older versions or call the model discontinued, so we treat the evidence as applying to the family. Our method.
Great for occasional homemade ice cream, if you plan ahead
The ICE-21 is a basic freezer-bowl machine with one switch, a 1.5-quart bowl and no salt or ice needed. Reviewers praise smooth results in under 20 minutes, ease of use and strong value, and a long-running tester ranks its ice cream very highly. The catch is planning: the bowl needs 16 to 24 hours in the freezer, some owners report longer, and it makes one small batch at a time. It is also loud. If you can plan ahead, it is a great fit.
Check current price on Amazon → Prices and availability change often, so we don't list them here.Buy it again if you…
- make ice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt a few times a month
- have freezer space for a bowl and can plan a day ahead
- want a simple, fully automatic machine with few parts
Skip it if you…
- want back-to-back batches without waiting
- need to serve a crowd from one batch
- are sensitive to noise during churning
The Cuisinart ICE-21 is a countertop ice cream maker with a double-insulated freezer bowl that you pre-freeze. A motor turns a paddle (the dasher) while the mix chills. There is no compressor, so it is compact.
It has been sold in several variants, so we looked at expert tests, owner discussions and a retailer-style ratings summary and note where they differ.
What owners say, at a glance
Bars show our editorial summary of how consistently owners praise or complain about each area across all sources — not a lab measurement.
The key specs
| Capacity | 1.5 quarts |
|---|---|
| Type | Freezer bowl, no compressor, no ice or salt |
| Motor | 50 watt (per Foodal) |
| Bowl freeze time | 16 to 24 hours, solid with no sloshing |
| Churn time | Under 20 minutes |
| Warranty | Three years (per Foodal) |
What owners love
What owners complain about
How it holds up over time
Long-term evidence is thin. The owner summary found no reports of the unit failing, though one reviewer called the plastic cheap-feeling and another said the motor sometimes sounded strained. Foodal and Dream Scoops describe it as simple and reliable. If the bowl stops freezing solid, that is a sign it may need replacing.
Tips from owners
- Freeze the bowl for at least 24 hours, in the coldest part of the freezer, upright.
- Shake the bowl: if you hear no sloshing, it is ready.
- Chill the mix first, for a couple of hours in the fridge.
- Harden the result in the freezer for a few hours for scoopable ice cream.
Pros and cons
What owners love
- Smooth ice cream in under 20 minutes
- Simple, fully automatic operation
- No salt or ice needed
- Compact, with few parts
- Strong value versus compressor machines
What owners complain about
- Bowl needs 16 to 24 hours or more in the freezer
- One small batch at a time
- Can be loud
- Soft-serve consistency until hardened
Other options owners compare
These are the ice cream makers most often compared with the ICE-21.
| Model | Style | Consider it if… | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisinart ICE-21 (this review) | Freezer-bowl, automatic | You want simple, smooth ice cream and can plan ahead | See on Amazon |
| Hamilton Beach automatic electric ice cream maker | Electric, uses ice and salt | You want a larger batch and do not mind ice and salt | See on Amazon |
| Ninja Creami NC301 Read our review | Freeze-and-spin pints | You want single pints and varied treats | See on Amazon |
Want to make ice cream at home with minimal fuss?
Check the current price and variants on Amazon.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I freeze the bowl?
Foodal says usually 16 to 24 hours, and it is ready when shaking it makes no sloshing sound.
How long does it take to make a batch?
Reviewers report under 20 minutes of churning.
Is the ice cream ready to scoop right away?
No. It comes out soft-serve and firms up after a few hours in the freezer.
Can it make back-to-back batches?
A second batch is possible on a still-cold bowl but comes out softer, so most people refreeze the bowl.
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Sources we analyzed
- Foodal: Get the scoop on the Cuisinart ICE-21 — specs, freezing, churn time, pros and cons
- Dream Scoops: Cuisinart ICE-21 and ICE-30 — texture, simplicity, bowl details, alternatives
- Top Ten Reviews: Cuisinart ICE-21P1 — noise, cleaning, owner rating comment
- ProductReview.com.au: Cuisinart ICE-21 — owner themes on bowl freezing and texture
Figures reflect each source as of October 18, 2026 and may change. We summarize owner feedback in our own words and do not reproduce retailer reviews.