An affordable ice cream maker that works as well as pricier counterparts
The Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt and Sorbet Maker may not have all the bells and whistles that more expensive ice cream makers do, but it still makes rich, creamy ice cream that rivals anything you’d buy at the store.
It is a traditional electric ice cream maker with a double-walled bowl with coolant inside. Once the bowl is frozen, the ingredients poured inside are chilled and churned to create ice cream. The lid also has a large opening, so mix-ins like chocolate chips and nuts are easy to add and distribute evenly throughout the ice cream.
To see how well it really performs, the BestReviews Testing Lab tested the Cuisinart ICE021 by making several different ice cream and sorbet flavors. After assessing each recipe’s overall texture and flavor, we came away impressed by the delicious results, which were similar to what higher-end ice cream makers can provide.
What is the Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt and Sorbet Maker?
If you want to make back-to-back batches, you can purchase an additional freezer bowl for the Cuisinart ICE021.
Product specifications
Churning Time: 25 to 30 min | Maximum Yield: 1.5 qt | Dimensions: 9.5” L x 9” W x 11.25” H | Weight: 10.12 lb | Ease of Cleaning: The lid and mixing arm are dishwasher-safe, but the freezer bowl requires hand-washing
The Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt and Sorbet Maker is a countertop ice cream maker that can produce up to 1.5 quarts per batch. Similar electric ice cream makers often make 2 to 4 quarts at a time, so the ICE021 may not be the best fit for families and entertaining. Plus, its freezer bowl must chill in the freezer for at least 16 hours before preparing a batch, so it requires some planning. The machine doesn’t take up much counter space, but the bowl needs quite a bit of space in the freezer when chilling it.
It’s one of the easiest home ice cream makers to use because it has only a single on/off switch. You only have to turn the machine on, pour your ingredients into the freezer bowl and let the ICE021 do all the work. It doesn’t have dessert-specific settings, but it can prepare ice cream, sorbet and frozen yogurt, depending on the ingredients you add. The Cuisinart ICE021 can prepare all desserts in 30 minutes or less, though, so you don’t have to wait too long to enjoy your favorite frozen treat.
To see how it compares to other products in its space, check out our reviews for the best ice cream makers.
Price and where to buy
The Cuisinart ICE-21 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt & Sorbet Maker typically retails for $69.95. You can find it at Amazon and Best Buy.
Why we like it
Ease of use
It’s hard to find an ice cream maker that’s easier to use than the Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt & Sorbet Maker. With just a single on/off button, there’s no confusing interface or display to deal with. We only had to turn the machine on, pour in our ice cream base and wait for the ICE021 to finish churning.
Excellent texture and flavor
All the recipes we prepared in the ICE021 had excellent flavor and a creamy texture. The ice cream was similar in texture to soft serve right after churning, but it became firm enough to scoop with just an hour in the freezer.
Compact design
The ICE021 didn’t take up much countertop space in our testing area, so it would fit easily in most kitchens. It’s also lightweight enough to easily take it in and out of a cabinet if you don't want to leave it out.
Affordable
The Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt & Sorbet Maker is one of the most affordable ice cream makers we tested. That makes it an excellent option for those who only make ice cream occasionally since you don’t have to invest too much in the machine. However, it makes ice cream that’s similar in flavor and texture to more expensive models, so those who regularly make ice cream and other frozen treats won’t be disappointed either.
What we don’t like
Prep time
Like other ice cream makers with a freezer bowl, the Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt & Sorbet Maker requires chilling its bowl for 16 to 24 hours before making ice cream. That means you must plan ahead or store the bowl in your freezer so it’s always ready.
Smaller capacity
The ICE021 is one of the smallest ice cream makers we tested, producing just 1.5 quarts per batch. Other similar ice cream makers usually make at least 2 quarts. If you’re making ice cream for a family or entertaining, this model may not be the best option.
Overflow tendency
The ICE021’s smaller capacity also came into play during testing because it tended to overflow and get messy. The ice cream came up over the lid’s interior edge, settling into the grooves where it was more challenging to clean.
Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt and Sorbet Maker setup
The Cuisinart ICE021’s freezer bowl isn’t dishwasher-safe, but the mixing paddle and lid are.
Setting up the Cuisinart ICE021 was incredibly easy. Once we opened the box, we only had to wash the components and place the bowl in the freezer for at least 16 hours. We typically chilled it overnight, so it froze for about 20 hours. When it was fully chilled, we placed it on the base and set the mixing paddle inside the bowl. Next, we set the lid on the base, rotating it until it locked into place. We then plugged in the machine and were then ready to make ice cream.
Assembling the ice cream maker to ready it to make ice cream took less than three minutes.
Prep time
Always dry the bowl for the Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt & Sorbet Maker thoroughly before putting it in the freezer to ensure it freezes properly.
The Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt and Sorbet Maker has a bowl that must be frozen before it can make ice cream. Cuisinart recommends chilling the bowl in the freezer for at least 16 hours, though more time may be necessary depending on the freezer. Our testing area had an upright freestanding freezer with few items inside, so it was at about -2 degrees. We froze the bowl for approximately 20 to 24 hours each time we made ice cream, and it was fully frozen every time. We didn’t have any issues with the ice cream not freezing or freezing unevenly during testing.
The ICE021's requirement for at least 16 hours of prep time before making ice cream isn’t unique. Most ice cream makers we tested required either freezing a bowl or the ingredients for at least 16 hours beforehand. Only models with a built-in compressor that can chill the ingredients as it churns them eliminate the need for any pre-freezing, but those models are usually very pricey.
Still, the ICE021 doesn’t allow you to make ice cream whenever the mood strikes unless you store the bowl in your freezer. However, if you have limited freezer space, you may not have room to store it there permanently; you’ll have to remember to freeze it the day before you want to make ice cream.
Churning time
The testing team found the Cuisinart ICE021 to be as quick and efficient as the average ice cream maker.
The Cuisinart ICE021 was as efficient as any of the traditional bowl-style ice cream makers we tested. It took 19 minutes to churn lemon sorbet, 21 minutes for chocolate ice cream and 26 minutes for vanilla ice cream. Similar machines we tested typically needed between 20 and 30 minutes to produce a soft-serve texture, so the ICE021 was on par with those models.
Flavor and texture
You can use lower-fat cream and milk in your ice cream recipes in the Cuisinart ICE021, but the final result may not be as rich and creamy as those made with full-fat creams.
We prepared lemon sorbet, chocolate ice cream and vanilla ice cream in the Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt & Sorbet Maker.
First, the lemon sorbet had a wonderful flavor that perfectly balanced the sweetness and tartness. The texture was smooth and creamy but a bit lighter and icier than the ice cream we made. Next up was the vanilla ice cream, which tasted deliciously simple and sweet and had a smooth, creamy texture. It was similar to soft serve, though, so we couldn’t scoop it right after churning. Finally, the chocolate ice cream had a wonderfully rich flavor and was slightly firmer than the vanilla but still not scoopable straight after churning. None of our recipes had any chunks or noticeable ice crystals.
After making each flavor, we transferred them to the freezer for about an hour. They all firmed up nicely, allowing us to scoop them into bowls or cones easily. We had similar experiences with most of the other ice cream makers we tested, so we weren’t surprised that the ICE021’s ice cream was more like soft serve right after churning.
Easy-lock lid
The lid’s spout made it easy to add mix-ins.
The Cuisinart ICE021’s easy-lock lid is designed to keep the ice cream from overflowing while the machine churns it. It twists into place to lock, so it won’t come off as the bowl spins. It stayed in place during our testing, but we experienced some issues with the ice cream overflowing. When we made chocolate ice cream, it came up over the lid’s inner edge and settled into some of the grooves, so cleanup took a little longer.
The lid’s spout made it easy to add mix-ins, though. The opening was large, so we could add chopped chocolate and nuts and ensure they were evenly mixed throughout the ice cream. The mix-ins didn’t go flying when we poured them in, either.
How does it compare to other ice cream makers we’ve tested?
The Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt and Sorbet Maker is one of the smallest capacity ice cream makers we tested. The Cuisinart Pure Indulgence and the KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment also have freezer bowls, but they can make 2 quarts per batch compared to the ICE021’s 1.5 quarts. However, all three models require freezing their bowls for at least 16 hours before you can make ice cream, so they all need some prep time.
When it comes to the flavor and texture of the ice cream, the ICE021 was similar to both the Cuisinart Pure Indulgence and the KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment. They all produce ice cream with a soft-serve texture. Only the Ninja Creami Deluxe made firmer ice cream straight from the machine, but it calls for freezing your ingredients, not a bowl, before churning.
The ICE021 also compares favorably to other ice cream machines in terms of price. It costs under $70, while the Cuisinart Pure Indulgence and KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment both cost close to $100. It was certainly cheaper than the high-end models we tested, including the Ninja Creami Deluxe and Breville Smart Scoop, which both cost over $200.
Testing the Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt and Sorbet Maker
The testing team timed how long it took to set up the machine and make ice cream.
To test the Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt & Sorbet Maker, we made lemon sorbet, vanilla ice cream and chocolate ice cream. We recorded the churning time for each recipe and noted the consistency and flavor straight from the machine. We then transferred each dessert to the freezer for at least one to two hours and noted any changes in their texture.
We also tested the ICE021’s overall usability by noting how long it took to set up, how much counter space it required in our testing area and how easy it was to use. After making ice cream, we also cleaned all the ICE021’s components by hand and recorded how long it took.
Should you get the Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt and Sorbet Maker?
The Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt & Sorbet Maker makes delicious ice cream for a price that won’t break the bank.
The Cuisinart ICE021 Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt & Sorbet Maker is one of the most affordable electric ice cream makers on the market, but it still produces delicious, creamy ice cream similar to the desserts in higher-end models. It’s an ideal option for those who make ice cream only occasionally and want an easy-to-use machine.
However, its limited capacity makes it a poor choice for families or people who entertain regularly. A larger model like the Cuisinart Pure Indulgence can make bigger batches, so it may be a better option if you need to make enough ice cream for a group.
Ease of use: 5
It couldn’t be easier to use because you only have to turn on the machine and add your ingredients.
Performance: 4
It produced consistent results for all the recipes we made, but the ice cream was slightly softer than soft serve.
Cleaning and Maintenance: 4
It’s pretty easy to clean but can sometimes overflow during churning, so ice cream gets into the lid’s inner edge, where it’s hard to clean.
Texture and taste: 4
The ice cream and sorbet we made were delicious, but they weren’t firm enough for scooping unless we put them in the freezer.
Build Quality: 4
All its components are made of plastic, which seems durable enough, but we hadsome concerns about the thinner pieces, like the lid and mixing paddle, cracking over time.
