Whynter ICM-128WS
A litre and a quarter with a compressor, a timer and extended cooling, from the brand that sells the most compressor ice cream makers in the United States. Note: it runs on 110 volts and 60 hertz, so it is no use on a European socket.
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
110/120 volts and 60 hertz. In Europe you would need a transformer, and even then it doesn't fix the frequency the compressor needs.
An American machine in a Spanish comparison
Whynter doesn't sell in Europe, but it is the brand everyone measures against when compressor ice cream makers come up. It is here for readers in the United States and for anyone who wants to know what is used on the other side. If your socket is European, the equivalent in bowl and power is the Springlane ELLI.
Capacity, a little over a litre
Compressor power
How loud it gets, at most
Weight
What it wins and what you have to accept
- Its own compressor: no need to pre-freeze the bowl the night before
- The cheapest in the compressor range
- LCD screen with timer
- Removable steel bowl
- The one that takes least worktop space
- 135 W and 1.2 litres: the lowest rung of its brand
- It falls short as soon as you want more quantity or more flavours
- It does not make yoghurt
- The recipe booklet doesn't give balanced formulas; the recipe is up to you
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 live where the socket is 110
It is the compressor machine with the longest track record in the whole comparison: over two and a half thousand reviews and a 4.5 average. It makes a little over a litre, holds the cold at the end and is quiet. The one drawback, for a European reader, is fatal: 110 volts and 60 hertz. Here the equivalent is the Springlane ELLI.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work in Europe?
No. It runs on 110/120 volts and 60 hertz. A transformer would give the voltage, but not the frequency the compressor needs.
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.
Which would we buy instead?
In Europe, the Springlane ELLI. In the United States, the ICM-200LS if you need twice the bowl.
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