Whynter Ice Cream Maker Machine Automatic 2.1 Qt. Upright with Built-In Compressor, LCD Digital Display & Timer, No Pre-Freezing, ICM-201SB, Stainless Steel

I've wanted an ice cream machine for a very long time, not one that uses ice and salt, not one that uses a surround that requires freezing, but an ice cream machine that has a built in freezer and actually works. I found it in the Whynter ICM-201SB. I selected the upright model for it's smaller footprint and it is perfect for the counterspace I have available. I started out simple and tested a basic ice cream base with 1-1/2 cups each whipping cream and whole milk, 3/4ths cup of sugar, and a Tbs. of high quality vanilla extract. If you want quality tasting ice cream, regardless of churning method, select the best possible ingredients. I didn't want to heat up the milk and cream to dissolve the sugar, so I gave it a spin in my food processor to turn it into extra fine sugar. Then added it in to the mixture and mixed thoroughly. Because the base was already cold, it only took 30 minutes to churn into ice cream and ended up at -17F. The ice cream was a little firmer than soft serve directly out of the machine, very creamy and delicious. I packed most of it in 6oz reusable containers and my wife and I ate the rest right then and there. The next batch, I made the custard base from the instruction manual, but I used 5 egg yolks instead of 4. Since the custard had to be brought to temperature, I didn't grind the sugar this time. I let the mixture come to room temperature, added 2 Tbs. of the same vanilla extract and then refrigerated it overnight. In the morning, I poured just one cup of the mixture to see how well a small batch would turn out. It was ready in about 15 minutes, a little softer than the previous batch, but even more delicious. I ate a bowl with chocolate sauce and put the rest in a container and into the freezer. Cleaning the machine was ridiculously simple; just take out the inner bowl, the beater, and the lid and wash them in warm water with dish soap, dry and replace. Wipe up any spilled mix from the top and outside of the machine and you are ready for your next batch. There is no need to wait between batches, the machine can go all day, batch after batch. Now that I knew how long batches take, I started adding ingredients to the mixes. About 5 minutes before I know the batch is finished, I add things like cherries, Oreos, chocolate, strawberries, etc. Do add delicate things too early or they will get broken up. This will be great for parties and is small enough to take to niece's and nephew's houses for birthday and fourth of July cook outs!

Ordered July 24, arrived July 25. Well packed and everything looks great. High quality, solid and feels like a commercial machine. July 26, followed all instructions, let sit overnight, cleaned everything as suggested. Turned it on and all controls work, very crisp, nice beep. It just feels good. Prepared my first batch using the exact same recipe I used in a freezer bowl style maker so I could compare. I let the compressor run for about 10 minutes to cool the bowl before adding the blended mixture. I liked the temperature readout; it is a good sign that it's working. Then the magic began avter about 10 minutes it starte to freeze and withing 35 minutes it was almost done. A little sample told me it was delicious and another 5 minutes it was the perfect consistancy. I transfered the ice cream into a container with lid and put it in the freezer, putting the remainer into a bowl whicih I also put in the freezer for testing. This machine, based on my first use is everything I expected. It is a quality build, easy to use and very easy to clean. It is not as heavy as some suggest and it is very quiet, just a low hum if even that, not enough to affect anything. The instruction booklet is very clear and precise and the recipe book, although basic is a good place for beginners. I have an excellant recipe book from which I plan to make the Tiramisu Ice Cream very soon. Definitely recommend this is you want to make several batches for friends or a party. In fact, if you invite people over you can provide a few recipes, have the ingredients for them, and you can make their favorites to order. Quicker than cooking burgers and hot dogs almost. Have fun, and with my grandchildren it will be a fun activity for dinner, or lunch or even breakfast.

I’ve had the Whynter 2.1 Quart Ice Cream Maker (ICM-201SB) for about while now, and I can confidently say it’s one of the best kitchen appliances I’ve ever purchased. If you’re even slightly serious about making your own ice cream, gelato, or sorbet at home, this machine is a game-changer. It’s not just good—it’s dependable, efficient, and turns out consistently excellent results every single time. Setup and First Impressions Unboxing the machine, you immediately get the sense that this is a quality appliance. It’s built solidly with a clean, modern look that actually feels at home on the counter. The footprint isn’t small, but for what it does—and the fact that it has a built-in compressor—it’s surprisingly space-efficient and upright in design. Setup is minimal: take it out of the box, plug it in, and you’re ready to go. No need to pre-freeze a bowl 24 hours in advance like you have to do with cheaper models. That alone makes it worth the price for me. Being able to decide on a whim to make ice cream and have it ready in under an hour? That’s a luxury I didn’t know I needed until I had it. Performance and Use This machine delivers. The built-in compressor chills quickly and keeps the mixture cold throughout the process, which makes a big difference in the final texture. I’ve made traditional vanilla custard bases, fruit-forward sorbets, dairy-free chocolate, and even experimental flavors like Earl Grey and honey-lavender. Every single batch has come out smooth, dense, and creamy—never icy or gritty. You pour in your chilled base, set the timer (usually 45–60 minutes depending on the recipe), and let the machine do its thing. It’s quiet enough not to be annoying, and the motor is clearly strong—no straining, even when the mixture starts to firm up toward the end of the cycle. The 2.1-quart capacity is more than enough for most needs. I typically make about 1.5 quarts per batch and still have room to spare. Cleanup is simple, too: the bowl, mixing paddle, and lid all come out and are easy to wash by hand. Extras and Thoughtful Features There’s a “keep cool” function that kicks in after churning to hold your ice cream at serving temperature if you’re not ready to scoop it right away. It’s surprisingly handy, especially when multitasking in the kitchen. There’s also a well-timed beep alert when the cycle is done. It doesn’t overdo it, just a friendly reminder that your frozen treat is ready. And the included recipe booklet, while basic, is a decent starting point if you’re new to making ice cream at home. ⸻ Pros: • Built-in compressor means no pre-freezing—make ice cream on demand • Consistently smooth, creamy texture with every batch • Generous 2.1-quart capacity is great for families or entertaining • Upright design saves counter space • “Keep cool” function is genuinely useful • Easy to clean with removable parts • Strong, reliable motor handles thick mixtures without issue • Works well for all types of frozen desserts (ice cream, gelato, sorbet, frozen yogurt) Cons: • Takes up some counter space and is a bit heavy (not a problem if you leave it out) • Slightly loud during operation—not obnoxious, but noticeable • No pre-cool function (though the compressor kicks in fast) ⸻ Final Thoughts If you’re on the fence about getting a compressor-based ice cream maker, don’t be. The Whynter ICM-201SB takes all the inconvenience out of homemade frozen desserts. It lets you focus on flavor and creativity without having to plan 24 hours ahead or fuss with freezer bowls. I’ve used it for everything from indulgent party desserts to dairy-free weekday treats, and I’ve yet to find something it doesn’t handle beautifully. It’s a reliable, well-built machine that does exactly what it promises—and it makes some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had, hands down. Highly recommended.

It took me a couple of years to decide on buying the machine and I wish I hadn't hesitated for so long. I've made multiple batches of ice cream since receiving it and they've all been delicious and creamy. Everything from standard chocolate gelato to vanilla, banana butter pecan, peach and pistachio. I'm looking forward to summer for cantaloupe or lemon sorbet. More flavors to follow I'm sure. I'm allergic to soy and almost all commercial ice cream makers use gums derived from soy or guar gum which is a close relative of soy and can cause digestive issues. Now that I have my own machine I have total control over the ingredients so I can safely eat ice cream made with fresh organic ingredients , soy and gum free. My family has been thrilled with the ice cream too. The machine is small enough to store in the pantry and move to the counter when needed, it runs quietly and finishes in an hour or less. On top of that it's very easy to clean, I can't ask for more. I found Wynter's customer service to be excellent. When I first got the machine I had a small issue. I contacted the company asking for advice and spoke with a very nice and knowledgeable woman who resolved my issue immediately. No fuss no muss.

Machine has worked perfectly for the past couple of weeks, including back to back batches of ice cream when the kids came home. Good base recipes, but decided to go off script and learned quickly fruits have a higher water content & freeze differently- faster and less creamy/fluid (stresses the motor). The best part is making 1/2 batches of different flavors, replacing pints of Ben & Jerry’s with less processed/fewer lab-chemical versions. Freezing time for a full batch (base still warm from pan) is just under an hour.

We had a "freezer bowl" style ice cream maker for 10 - 15 years. We used it a lot. We did the whole "science it" thing to determine exactly what ice cream base we thought was best. We had fun riffing off of flavor combos that we liked (coconut chocolate chip and peppermint candy cane chocolate chip being our favorites). We enjoyed it so much that after a while I got it in my head that I wanted to upgrade. Why? Sometimes, we forgot to put the bowl in the freezer. Or I wanted to make more batches at a time (note: you can always buy a 2nd freezer bowl, if you have the space in the freezer). In the end, we enjoyed making it enough that we thought it was worth the splurge on the chance that the quality of ice cream will be better. So, I sat on this idea for about a year. It is just the way we work - we are not impulsive. I did my research, learned about compressor models, and focused on this one. Then I pulled the trigger a few weeks ago. Enough background, here are my thoughts: 1. Using the exact same recipes, the ice cream is an upgrade. It isn't night and day or anything. But it is definitely there. The ice cream is just ... creamier. Say like a 10 – 20% improvement. 2. The thing is stupid easy to use, at least for ice cream (I haven't tried the other features yet). Make your mix, dump it in, press start. That is it. 3. Cleaning is relatively easy. The parts are not dishwasher safe, which is a bummer. And when you hand wash you cannot just rinse things off - the fat content won't let you get away with that. But everything comes out pretty easily and it isn't too much of a chore to get them cleaned up. Oh, and it is possible to overfill the bowl, in which case the mixture runs down into the freezer chamber in which the bowl sits. Not a big deal, but you do have to wait until the freezer chamber warms up to clean it properly. 4. Coming from a freezer bowl model, the bowl looks very small at first. I did worry that there was no way that thing was going to hold a full batch. But relax, it still makes the same amount of ice cream. 5. I find the timer kind of strange. I mean, it is really easy to read - it starts at 60 minutes and counts down. Simple. But I haven't figured out why it counts down from 60 minutes. The ice cream is usually ready w/in say 35 – 40 minutes. I guess the extra time is so that it can firm up a little bit more (even after the dasher stops moving, the machine keeps freezing the ice cream). 6. There is also not any sort of indicator that the ice cream is ready for mix-ins (nuts or chips or whatever). And if you put it in too early, it falls to the bottom and jams up the dasher. I have figured out – wait until between the 30 – 35 minute mark. At that point the mixture will look like ice cream. Do not put in mix ins until the ice cream looks like that. Also, do not wait too long because when the ice cream starts to get too stiff the dasher will stop turning. At that point, you will have to put in the mix ins manually when you move the ice cream to its container. Not the end of the world, but not as easy as letting the machine do it either. 7. I do find the clear lid kind of finicky to close. You have to put it on and twist it but it usually takes me several tries to get it lined up correctly. Maybe there is a trick I haven’t figured out yet. 8. If you let the machine run to the end of the 60 minute timer, the ice cream is firmer than it is as the end of a cycle in a freezer bowl machine. It is still soft – I wouldn’t immediately scoop it and put it on a cone – but it is firmer. But the question is: since a freezer bowl machine is done in about 30ish minutes, would that ice cream be just as firm after 30 minutes in the freezer? I am not sure. Bottom line: Do I like it? Yes. Do I regret buying it? Nope. Do I think it is for everybody? Nope. You have to really enjoy making ice cream to spring this much on a machine and have one of these things on your countertop. If you are just dipping your toes in or think you will just make it once every few months, go for a freezer bowl machine. If you fall in love with it like we did, you can save up and buy one of these.

Following the instructions and recipes yielded GREAT results. Very happy with this machine, it is fairly quiet and unobtrusive when running. Clean-up is easy. It is big so you will need to find a good home to store it, but it is worth it!

Original review was one star and: Not only is it NOT freezing to make ice cream, it's actually warming the mixture. It started at 64* -- obviously well above freezing, and is now sitting at 66*. It should be COOLING and FREEZING the mixture - not WARMING it. What a waste. Customer service is non-responsive. Would not recommend. Update: I had spent about 45 minutes on the online chat feature waiting...the chat said my wait time was 'under a minute' - but it was HOURS before they responded and I was already gone. I contacted them via email and they responded immediately. Their said that their chat feature was down and they had no way to respond. After receiving my email, they asked for the proof of purchase and serial number and included some troubleshooting steps. I wrote back with the POP and photo of serial number and gave them a play-by-play of all steps I had already taken and instead of making me return the unit for repair (brand new unit - why would I have to wait for it to be 'repaired'?), they sent me a new machine directly from them. And? Told me to keep the original machine to use for parts (if needed). I truly appreciate their efforts to make things right. The new machine arrived in a few days and I am so very happy to report that this unit works properly and is everything I had hoped for: easy to use, no pre-prep, and ice cream in 30 minutes. Prior to this machine, I had the Kitchen Aid stand mixer ice cream attachment and it was awkward to use and the ice cream churning bowl needed to be kept in the freezer for at least 24 hours. So I either had to remember to put the bowl in the freezer a day ahead of time or keep it in there all the time (which takes up way too much space in my freezer). This machine is fantastic! I mixed a few ingredients together, churned in the machine, and in thirty minutes, I had homemade coconut ice cream. I can not wait to use this machine over and over again. Their recipe book has everything from basic vanilla to Chicken Soup & Dill Sorbet (not appealing to me but I give them credit for providing a wide variety!). Update #2: I took a video of the machine in action. I am obsessed with peanut butter ice cream and adding in chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, cookie dough (not all of them at once, lol).

Me encanta mi nueva maquina para hacer helados! es facil de usar y no es necesario congelar el contenedor antes de utilizarla. super recomendada, ya le conte a toda mi familia tambien :P

Have had this for two years now and it rocks. Highly recommended.

Cannot say good enough things about this unit. As with all Whynter products I've bought (Have a portable dual hose AC unit ARC-14S) it's all about the build: No fancy crap internet connected doodads and thingamagigs. Rock solid and made to last. A couple suggestions: First make sure to fill it WELL BELOW the top paddle... I did it and since it expands as it freezes it tends to start popping the lid which disengages the paddle and "jumps". Second: For those complaining about the paddles and how convoluted they are, I use a chopstick or small silicone spatula to clean it off nor prob. Ya'd think they're expecting the machine to feed it to them? Seriously? :-) All in all TOP NOTCH and well worth the price. And just to be clear: The machine churns about 16oz and anyone says it makes 1qt is talking about the RECIPE (I do vanilla). The machine CANNOT freeze 32oz in one go. With the Vanilla (which I might add is a process LoL!) it takes 2 runs to do the entirety of it.

Comes with US plug and US voltage but this information is nowhere written

First time running for around 30 second than burning smell started with white smoke. Can not able to return as it's purchase in KSA, and use in Pakistan. Will try to repair the motor if possible otherwise wast of my money. Please never purchase again it's China made poor quality machine. I lost total amount as as feeling bad why I purchased Chinese machine. Once again I am informing all interested Think twice before you purchase poor quality Chinese ice cream machine, I was thinking it was American manufacturers but it's cheaper and cheating by manufacturer. Company website never mentioned that it's China made poor quality machine. I did mistake please don't purchase any Chinese manufacturers ice cream maker machine with American big brands.its cheating with your trust.