Cuisinart ICE-21PKP1 Ice Cream Machine: Full Review

The Cuisinart ICE-21PKP1 is an automatic frozen yogurt, ice cream, and sorbet maker that aims to make homemade frozen desserts fast and easy. Part of Cuisinart's Ice Cream line, this compact appliance features a motorized 1.5 quart freezer bowl to churn out frozen treats in as little as 20 minutes. With a sleek brushed stainless steel housing and commercial style paddle, it promises professional results in a countertop package. The ICE-21PKP1 provides the convenience of an electric ice cream maker without taking up too much space in your kitchen. Overall, it's designed to deliver delicious frozen yogurt, ice cream, sorbet, and gelato with minimal effort required. Keep reading to learn more about the features and performance of the Cuisinart ICE-21PKP1 ice cream maker.

Design

The Cuisinart ICE-21PKP1 ice cream maker has a sleek and modern stainless steel finish that will look great on any kitchen countertop. It measures 10.8 x 15.5 x 15.2 inches so it has a relatively compact footprint without taking up too much space. The stainless steel finish gives it a nice premium look and feel. The ice cream maker drum has a double insulated wall to help keep the contents cool while churning your frozen dessert. The motor and housing are designed for quiet operation as not to disturb others while making ice cream. Overall the design is aesthetically pleasing while also being functional for making homemade ice cream and gelato. In comparison, the KUMIO ICE-1032Y offers similar features but boasts an innovative cooling system that allows for faster freezing times, ensuring your ice cream is ready in no time. With a user-friendly interface and a variety of preset functions, it simplifies the process of making not just ice cream but also sorbets and frozen yogurts, catering to different tastes and preferences.

Capacity

The Cuisinart ICE-21PKP1 can make up to 1.5 quarts of frozen dessert in one batch. This is enough to serve approximately 6-8 people depending on portion sizes. The large capacity bowl allows you to make a decent amount of ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet or gelato in one go. You don't have to make multiple smaller batches if you're serving a group.

The 1.5 quart capacity is also nice for larger families. You can make enough sweet treat in one batch for the whole family to enjoy. Making consecutive batches is fast and efficient if you need more than 1.5 quarts. Overall, the capacity is sufficient for most home needs and entertaining.

In comparison, the Secura BL300 offers a slightly larger capacity, enabling it to churn out 2 quarts of ice cream at once. This is perfect for gatherings or larger households, ensuring that your family and friends can enjoy your delicious homemade desserts without needing to wait for successive batches. The Secura BL300 also features a built-in compressor, allowing for continuous operation, which means you can prepare multiple flavors back-to-back without downtime. This convenience makes it a fantastic addition for those who love to entertain.

Ease of Use

The Cuisinart ICE-21PKP1 ice cream maker is designed to be very easy to use. There are just a few simple steps to follow to make homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet or gelato in around 20-40 minutes.

First, you'll want to prepare your ice cream mixture and refrigerate it until chilled. Next, turn on the machine so the freezer bowl can pre-freeze. Once it's ready, pour your chilled mixture into the freezer bowl and let it start churning. Set the timer for however long the recipe suggests.

The entire process is straightforward and doesn't require any special skills. The machine does all the hard work for you. You don't have to stir, monitor temperature, or anything like that. Just pour in the mixture, let it churn, and enjoy homemade ice cream in no time.

The difficulty level is very beginner-friendly. As long as you can follow a basic recipe and operate the machine, anyone can make delicious ice cream at home. Kids can even help out since it's so easy. There's no complex techniques involved. The Cuisinart ice cream maker is designed for convenient, hassle-free use.

Features

The Cuisinart ICE-21P1 features a sleek, stainless steel exterior with an LED display that allows you to control the entire ice cream making process. It has an integrated motor and compressor so no pre-freezing of the bowl is required.

Some key features include:

• Large 1.5 quart capacity, enough to make ice cream for 6 people
• Automatic mixing and cooling - no ice or salt needed
• Timer function allows you to preset freezing times from 10-40 minutes
• Keep Cool feature holds the temperature for up to 10 minutes before auto shutoff kicks in
• Double insulated freezer bowl ensures optimal freezing temperatures
• User-friendly control panel with LCD display and touchpad
• Recipe book included with dozens of ice cream, yogurt, sorbet and gelato recipes

The automatic mixing, cooling, and timer functions make this a very hands-off and easy-to-use ice cream maker. The powerful compressor enables fast freezing without the need for any frozen inserts or bowls. Overall an innovative and convenient design for homemade frozen desserts.

Noise Level

The Cuisinart ICE-21PKP1 ice cream maker operates at a reasonable noise level. The motor produces a dull hum during churning that is comparable to a refrigerator. It's noticeably louder than hand cranked models but quieter than most other electric ice cream machines.

Some reviewers note the churning noise is only slightly louder than the background noise in their kitchen. The majority find it unobtrusive enough for nighttime dessert making without waking the household. However, sensitive sleepers may want to use it in a room farther from bedrooms.

Overall, most users don't consider noise a problem with this model. As long as it's not positioned directly next to a conversation area, it can churn ice cream batter without being disruptive. Some even enjoy the churning hum as an audible indicator that ice cream is in progress. For an automatic ice cream maker, the noise level is better than expected.

Cleaning

The Cuisinart ICE-21PKP1 ice cream maker is fairly easy to clean. The frozen bowl should be cleaned after each use. Remove the bowl from the machine and let it thaw completely before washing. Use warm soapy water to wash the bowl, then rinse and dry thoroughly. Do not submerge the frozen bowl in water or place it in the dishwasher as this can damage the freezing unit.

The churning arm and spatula can be washed on the top rack of the dishwasher or hand washed. Make sure all ice cream residue is cleaned off. Do not wash or submerge the base of the unit. Simply wipe down with a damp cloth. Take care not to get any water into the interior housing or control panel.

For sanitizing and removing odors, fill the frozen bowl with a mild bleach and water solution. Let soak 5-10 minutes then dump out solution. Rinse bowl thoroughly before next use. Follow manufacturer's instructions for proper cleaning and maintenance. Storing the bowl in the freezer between uses helps prevent odor buildup.

Quality of Ice Cream

The Cuisinart ICE-21PKP1 produces ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, and sorbet with excellent texture, taste, and consistency. The ice cream comes out smooth and creamy thanks to the heavy duty motor and powerful compressor that churn and aerate the mixture effectively. Many reviewers praise the rich flavors and velvety mouthfeel of the ice cream, comparable to premium ice cream shops.

The consistency can be customized with the touchpad controls to make soft serve style or denser, firmer ice cream according to preference. There is minimal ice crystal formation even without having to thaw and re-freeze like some cheaper machines. The end result is a scoopable, frozen dessert with the right balance of air and fat for an indulgent, silky treat. Flavor gets evenly distributed throughout each batch for consistent quality from the first to the last scoop.

Price

The Cuisinart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker currently retails for $180 on Amazon. This price puts it squarely in the mid-range for home ice cream makers.

At this price point, the Cuisinart offers very good value for money given its features and performance. While more expensive machines boast extras like built-in compressors or wireless connectivity, the Cuisinart gets all the ice cream making basics right at a reasonable price. It can churn out 1.5 quarts of ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet in as little as 20 minutes. The double insulated freezer bowl ensures your mixture freezes properly without needing pre-freezing.

For most home users who want the ability to make fresh, homemade frozen desserts without much fuss, the Cuisinart hits a sweet spot between price and performance. While budget machines may be cheaper, they often require lots of manual effort like pre-freezing bowls or churning by hand. The Cuisinart eliminates most of that hands-on work for a very fair price. And more expensive machines don't necessarily produce ice cream that's $100+ better than what this Cuisinart can make.

Overall if you're looking for an automatic ice cream maker with solid performance without blowing your budget, the Cuisinart ICE-21 offers excellent value at its current $180 retail price point. You get ease of use and delicious results worthy of a more expensive appliance.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Makes ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, and sorbet in just 20-40 minutes
• Large 1.5 quart capacity
• Easy to use - add ingredients, turn on machine, and it does the rest
• Quiet motor doesn't disrupt conversations
• Double insulated freezer bowl keeps ice cream cold as it's churned
• Automatic shutoff when cycle is complete for safety
• All parts are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup

Cons

• Bowl must be pre-frozen overnight before each use
• Long freeze time required between each batch
• Maximum 1.5 quart capacity limits amount made
• Plastic parts may be prone to cracking over time
• Some users report ice crystals in ice cream, indicating uneven freezing
• Higher price point than some competitors' models