Reviews praise the Cuisinart ICE-20 as an excellent budget ice cream maker, saying this countertop model consistently delivers 1.5 quarts of creamy ice cream in about 20 minutes. The catch (as with all models less than $100) is that you need to pre-freeze its gel-filled canister prior to use. There's a large opening in the top for adding ingredients and an automatic shutoff feature that prevents the motor from overheating. It works best with custard recipes (made with eggs and heavy cream). Owners say this ice cream maker cleans up easily but is rather noisy. Although it takes up a fair bit of space on the countertop, it weighs just 9 pounds and has a retractable cord for easy storage. The similar Cuisinart ICE-30BC (*Est. $80) has a larger 2-quart capacity.

We found the best review of the Cuisinart ICE-20 at one foodie magazine, where editors test seven inexpensive electric ice cream makers. Stephen Metcalf of Slate.com also tests it with two recipes, along with seven other models, and more than 1,200 owners rate and review the Cuisinart ICE-20 ice cream maker at Amazon.com and Cooking.com. Real Simple and Fine Cooking magazines also include the Cuisinart ICE-20 in their ice cream maker roundups.