Making frozen custard/ice cream is kinda my thing. I created a good vanilla ice cream base (find it here) and kind of went from there creating various versions from pistachio, cinnamon olive oil, to a dairy free and even a no-churn version. With all but the last recipe, I have used my KitchenAid Mixer Ice Cream Bowl attachment to churn up these great treats. Despite being happy with my final products, I always wondered about that competitor ice cream maker, the Cuisinart! I just happened to catch the last generation of the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker on sale for $45 bucks on Amazon. I quickly put it to use so now I am here to break down the KitchenAid Ice Cream Attachment vs. Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker !
KitchenAid Ice Cream Attachment
My most coveted kitchen appliance, the KitchenAid Mixer, came in to my life some years ago. Everyone buys this thing and talks about all of the attachments you can get. I would bet money that most folks never get those attachments and my only one thus far has been the ice cream bowl and not gonna lie, I do love it! Here are of the highlights of the KitchenAid Ice Cream Attachment.
- The KitchenAid attachment is basically the ice cream freezer bowl with an additional agitator that clips on to your mixer.
- The freezer bowl holds about 2 quarts which is bigger than some of the older versions of the Cuisinart. Depending on how much ice cream you are trying to make and the number of people in your house this can be a positive or a negative.
- If you invested in this mixer like I did and need to justify it’s purpose then go ahead then grabbing the attachment may be the best route! A brand new attachment will run about $70-80. You can find the refurbished ones for a bit cheaper too.
- A note about this attachment is I am currently on my second freezer bowl :(. Overtime the bowl will start to leak and it will be pretty obvious once you see blue stuff everywhere. A quick online search showed that I was not the only one with this issue. My new one has not had that issue just yet, but this definitely is a point in the negative column for the KitchenAid.
Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker
Okay so keep in mind that I went with the old version because it is on SUPER sale right now on Amazon. I did inspect the latest version at my local Bed Bath and Beyond this weekend and that baby is SLEEK. It will set you back over $100 dollars though so if you are looking for the cheaper alternative, go with the old version which is perfectly fine and about $45 on Amazon. *Update it’s now $70 on Amazon :(.
- The Cuisinart Ice Cream Makers, old and new models, are stand alone ice cream makers which also feature a freezer bowl. The rest of the machine circulates the bowl and agitator. It also has one simple on/off button operates it. The freezer bowl detaches and must be frozen ahead of time like the KitchenAid attachment.
- The simple operation of the Cuisinart probably makes it easier for children to use. I do not have any kids, but I can tell you I would not let them operate my KitchenAid mixer, but they could press the button on the Cuisinart.
- If you do not already have a KitchenAid mixer, then Cuisinart is your best bet. There is absolutely no need to invest in a $200+ mixer just to make ice cream. Go with the stand alone ice cream maker.
- The ice cream bowl for the old Cuisinart only holds 1.5 Quarts. The new one holds 2 quarts. All and all the bowl is much smaller than the KitchenAid Mixer bowl. Yes it will make less ice cream, but when you have to find room for that thing in your freezer, you will appreciate the smaller version.
The Takeaway
The key thing here is that both of the machines produce good ice cream and are not too complicated to use. Your pocketbook and lifestyle will determine which machine works best for you!
Do you have an ice cream maker? If so which brand? Comment below!
I have tried both of these ice cream makers. The KitchenAid attachment makes a way smoother ice cream than the CuisinArt but the CuisinArt takes it to ice cream consistency faster than the KitchenAid. I prefer the smoother consistency but I am afriad of what seems to be inevitable oozing blue gel that a lot of people are experiencing.
I agree. I think the KitchenAid ice cream comes out much smoother. It seems icier with the Cuisinart.
Thanks for the review and thanks for the tip to watch for the blue oozing stuff. Can’t wait to try my KitchenAid out.
Well, shoot. I have the cuisinart oldie model (had it for at least 15 years now) and it is awesome. It is super loud, though, and I have to plug it in in another room. I just found the Kitchenaid bowl on sale today at Crate and Barrel outlet for 41, so thought I would switch it out for the cuisinart….but now that you are telling me about some blue gel, I am not so sure I am sold on making the swap. Thanks for posting this!
My Cuisinart ice cream maker came with 2 bowls. Early on, one bowl started oozing blue liquid, so the oozing problem can happen with Cuisinart also. My Cuisinart ice cream maker is now over 10 years old and getting noisy. My handy husband took it apart and said the plastic gears are wearing out, but to keep on using it as long as it lasts. I hope to replace it with a KitchenAid bowl, since I already have the mixer.
Thanks for reviewing both ice cream makers. And thanks for the base recipe, also.
Thanks for the review. It was very helpful in making my decision. I already have a kitchenaid, so I will pick up the ice-cream maker attachment. Cant wait to churn out my own ice cream creations.
This review was super helpful. Thank you!