It depends on the size of the machine’s bowl. Bowls can vary in size from 0.5 litres to 2 litres on average but most are around 1.5 litres which is around two tubs of Ben & Jerry’s for reference. Are ice cream makers easy to use? Other things to consider include capacity – how much ice cream do you want to make in one go? And size, as some ice cream makers can be quite bulky so think about where you plan to store your ice cream maker. How much ice cream can you make in an ice cream maker? I have the Cuisinart one. It churns and freezes at the same time. It was expensive, (gift from dh) but the ice cream is lovely. No ice crystals at all. It's also stainless steel and looks lovely on my worktop" - uggmum Our verdict

READ NEXT: Upgrade your home cinema with the best projectors The best popcorn makers to buy 1. VonShef Retro Popcorn Maker: The best budget cinema-style popcorn maker We have a basic Magimix that goes in the freezer. The bowl is pretty small. It lives in the freezer with the peas inside it so doesn't take up much space and is always ready when we need it. It is great" - EasilyConfusedIndith Our verdictOnce you've nailed ice cream at home, you might want to add another fun foodie appliance to your kitchen. We've got guides to the best waffle makers, the best popcorn makers, the best smoothie makers and the best pasta makers, all featuring product recommendations from Mumsnetters. Best ice cream makers at a glance One word of warning, though: VonShef recommends using no more than 30g of kernels at a time. Otherwise, you may end up with unpopped kernels or burnt bits at the bottom of the machine. As is always the case when you’re buying a new piece of kitchenware, it’s worth considering how much space you can actually spare. If you’re a bit short of free space, there are some popcorn machines that can slot easily into a small cupboard when they’re not in use. Freeze-first models are simply designed and have a bowl that usually needs to be put in the freezer for between eight and 24 hours before you can use it, so it requires some pre-planning. And it means you can only churn one batch of ice cream a day. These models tend to be cheaper than self-freezing models and are still great at making good-quality ice cream. Will the popcorn machine of your dreams be supplying one person or ten? Is this for casual/personal use or is the plan to host an epic movie night with loads of mates? Keep an eye on the maximum load stats if you’re thinking of feeding a big group with your gadget. Are you looking for a healthy option?

There are two types of ice cream maker: freeze-first and self-freezing. Deciding on which ice cream maker is right for you will depend on a number of factors including budget and space. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Size: 20.5cm diameter, height 24cm | Capacity: 1.5L bowl with 800ml working capacity | Built-in freezer: No What we like One of the more expensive ice cream makers on our list, this light pistachio-coloured machine oozes curb appeal and has sweet desserts ready in about 25 minutes. It’s among the smallest capacities at 1.4 litres but it means it can fit easily into your freezer and onto your kitchen worktop for storage. It includes an ice cream paddle for ice cream, sorbets and frozen yoghurt and a separate one for fresh fruit. And when you’re done, both the paddles and lid are dishwasher-friendly.

It's also a much healthier alternative to shop-bought tubs. Ice cream is one of the most common ultra-processed foods so by using an ice cream maker at home, you'll know what's gone into every scoop. A favourite with Mumsnetters, Argos does it again with this nifty ice cream maker. Not only does it rate highly for how easy it is to use but with its chic red design, it’ll look great on your kitchen worktop too. It has a viewing window so you can see exactly how your creation is coming along and with a 0.6L fast-freezing bowl, your ice cream will be ready to devour in 45 minutes. The only downside is the size but if you’re just wanting to give ice cream-making a go this summer without breaking the bank this is a great budget option.

How we chose our recommendations

What sort of popcorn are you hoping to produce with this machine? Your choice of machine will determine the type of popcorn you can make, and you need to weigh up the benefits of tasty oil-based popcorn makers versus the healthier air-popped variety. How much space do you have in your kitchen?

Mixing nostalgic elements with a sleek core design, the Klarstein Volcano will look great in your kitchen. It’s easy to use as well: all you need to do is power it up, add kernels and oil, and prepare yourself for some excellent edible goodness. Keeping it clean will be more of a challenge, but the slide-out popcorn tray helps with serving and makes the task of tidying remarkably simple. This machine doesn’t have a huge capacity, making this better suited for two-person movie nights rather than big group affairs (unless you’re happy to refill it a few times before everybody arrives). Self-freezing ice cream makers are more expensive as they feature a built-in freezer. These generally take a couple of minutes to reach the temperatures needed for making ice cream, meaning you can make several batches of ice cream a day. As a mum of two, she’s always on the lookout for products that make life easier at home and loves putting gadgets and appliances to the test to highlight best buys for families. Why you should trust us What’s more, when you make your own popcorn there’s no end of flavour options to choose from. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a classic sweet snd salty combo, but when you’ve got the popping power in your own hands, why not try something new?

How do popcorn makers work?

Rich chocolate, sweet strawberry or salted caramel, we all have our favourite flavour of ice cream and you can make them all with this Lakeland stainless steel ice cream maker. Or if you prefer a healthier-option, it does just a good job of churning out lower-fat frozen yoghurt and dairy-free sorbets. But the best thing about this ice cream maker is how quiet it is. While some models make a loud mechanical whirring sound, this churns away quietly and is also fairly compact which means the bowl fits in the freezer neatly. Some reviewers say it takes twice as long to churn ice cream than the manual suggests but it produces a soft, whipped ice cream. You’ll find six delicious recipes in the instruction booklet to get you started. This popcorn machine is relatively expensive, although still not pricey enough to truly damage your bank account. This machine has a snazzy red cinema-worthy design, and it can produce as many as 16 cups of popcorn in one batch. There’s no assembly required, and it comes with all the cups and trays you need to get popping. There’s even one bag of corn thrown in for every customer, adding another level of value for money. Essentially, this is the perfect premium option for when you want to take your movie nights to the next level.