How to choose ice cream maker?

All the ice cream makers use the same principle

1. Pour cold aged ice cream mixture in a canister.

2. Attach a paddle assembly that will rotate the mixture while being frozen to make Ice cream

The machines vary how the technology is used to achieve these functions, specially to save labor.

Brine Models

The ice cream mixture is put in a canister. The canister is put in a bucket. The space between the bucket and the canister is filled with a mixture of crushed ice and salt. The paddle is rotated by hand or an electric motor. 

Liquid Freezing agent

The canister has hollow walls filled with liquid freezing agent. The canister is put in the freezer so that the liquid freezing agent. Once, the liquid agent is frozen, the canister is filled with the ice cream mixture. A plastic paddle is inserted that may be rotated by hand or by an electric motor.

Advantage over brine machine: No salt and ice are used.

Stand alone machines

These machines have a built in compressor to freeze the ice cream. Fill the compartment with the ice cream mixture and turn of the power. There is no need for ice and salt, or freezing the canister. There is no need to rotate the pedal.

These machines are the most expensive machines.