Whynter ICM-128WS
Whynter's small one, and its best seller
Whynter is the benchmark brand for home compressor machines in the United States, and this is its entry model: 1.28 quarts, a little over a litre. Good Housekeeping picked it in 2024 among the best kitchen gear of the year, and it has over two and a half thousand ratings.
Our score, after reading the reviews one by one.
Creamy and consistent. Extended cooling stops it melting while you tidy the kitchen.
A simple panel with a timer. Motor protection stops it by itself if the mix seizes up.
1.28 quarts, a little over a litre: three or four servings.
The backing of thousands of reviews, rare among compressor machines.
Four things you notice
in use, not on the box
How the ice cream comes out
Good. The 135 watts handle a little over a litre with ease, and that is the ratio that works best on a home compressor.
Extended cooling
When the batch finishes it keeps cooling instead of switching off. That is what stops you finding soup if you aren't standing there.
How loud it is
Whynter quotes under 55 decibels, the noise of a quiet conversation. For a compressor that is little.
The plug
The brand with the longest track record in home compressors
Capacity, a little over a litre
Power
How loud it gets, at most
Weight
What it wins and what you have to accept
- More than two thousand five hundred reviews and a 4.5 average
- Good Housekeeping picked it among the best of 2024 in kitchenware
- Under 55 dB, according to Whynter
- Extended cooling: when it finishes it keeps chilling instead of switching off
- Motor protection: it stops by itself if the mixture hardens and jams the paddle
- Runs on 110/120 V and 60 Hz: not for 230 V mains
- A transformer changes the voltage, not the frequency
- Just over a litre: three or four servings per batch
Whynter ICM-128WS specifications
The Whynter ICM-128WS against its rivals
Whynter ICM-200LS
Two litres and stainless steel, the big sister.
Whynter ICM-220
Two quarts and a real yoghurt incubator.
Iceman by Chefman Trio
A pint per tub, two tubs, and ready in half an hour.
Lello 4080 Musso Lussino
Solid steel and three quarts an hour. Another league.
Would we buy it? Yes, if you want a compressor in the smallest size
It is the compressor ice cream maker with the longest track record in the whole comparison: more than two thousand five hundred reviews and a 4.5 average. It makes a little over a litre, keeps the cold once it finishes and is quiet. It has one deal-breaker if your mains is 230 volts: it runs on 110 volts and 60 hertz. In that case the equivalent is the Springlane ELLI.
Frequently asked questions
What power supply does the Whynter ICM-128WS need?
Do you have to pre-freeze anything?
No. It has a built-in compressor and starts cooling on its own.
What is extended cooling?
When the batch ends it keeps cooling instead of switching off, so the ice cream doesn't melt if you aren't there.
How much is 1.28 quarts?
A good litre and a quarter: three or four servings per batch.
Is it noisy?
Whynter quotes under 55 decibels. For a compressor that is little: you can talk beside it.
What would we buy instead of the Whynter ICM-128WS?
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