Rank #1 in Best Ice Cream Maker 2026: The Compressor Is the Weight
Duronic Ice Cream Maker IM540, 1.5L Freeze-Bowl Machine
- Rating
- 4.2
- Ratings
- 2,135
- Rank
- #1
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Duronic IM540 is the most-reviewed affordable machine in this ranking: 2,135 ratings at 4.2 stars for £28.89, making 1.5 litres in about 30 minutes.
It takes first place because the evidence is deep and the price is a tenth of the machines above it, with one condition the listing states plainly: the bowl must be frozen overnight before use.
How those 2,135 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.2 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Capacity | 1.5 litres |
|---|---|
| Pre-freezing | The bowl freezes overnight |
| Item weight | 2.4 kg |
| Churn time | About 30 minutes |
| Ratings | 4.2 from 2,135 |
| Price | £28.89 |
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best Ice Cream Maker 2026: The Compressor Is the Weight.
Rank #2
Cuisinart Deluxe Ice Cream Maker ICE30BCU, 2L with 5 Year Guarantee
£89.99
Rank #3
Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Maker NC300UK, 1.4L
£29.99
Rank #4
Cuisinart Ice Cream and Gelato Maker ICE100BCU, No Need to Pre-Freeze
£231.39
Rank #5
Lakeland Digital Ice Cream Maker 1.8L with Digital Display
£44.99
Questions people ask
Do I have to freeze the bowl?
Yes: it is a freeze-bowl machine, so the inner bowl needs hours in the freezer before churning.
How much does it make?
1.5 litres in about 30 minutes.
Is it good for a family?
1.5 litres is four generous servings, or two tubs.
Why is it so cheap?
Because there is no compressor: the cold comes from your freezer rather than from the machine.
Why is it first?
Because it is the best-evidenced budget machine here, at a price where the freezer bowl is an acceptable trade.
How many ratings does it have?
2135 at the time of collection, averaging 4.2 stars, with 59 per cent five-star and 8 per cent one-star.
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