With the hot weather still going strong and David Beckham spotted queueing for a scoop at the Anya Hindmarch Ice Cream Project, it’s clear the UK’s obsession with frozen treats is just getting going. But if £6 for a ketchup-flavoured scoop doesn’t appeal, the Cuisinart 2L Deluxe Ice Cream Maker might just be the smarter summer buy, especially now it’s available for less on Cuisinart’s website at £66.66, than Amazon, which (at the time of writing) is still the top RRP of £100.

This particular ice cream maker is designed for ease, performance, and speed. It doesn't contain any built-in refrigeration so once the bowl has been pre-frozen (ideally overnight), you simply insert it into the base, pour in your mixture, and press a button. The built-in paddle churns while freezing, producing soft-scoop style ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yoghurt in about 25–30 minutes. With a generous two-litre capacity, it’s ideal for families, or people who don’t like sharing.

Plus, having your own ice cream maker means you can experiment with recipes, whether that’s a classic strawberry or something more adventurous like Anya’s salted cocopops or sweetcorn ice cream.

Shoppers say it produces creamy, scoopable results “better than shop-bought,” and one described it as an “awesome little ice cream maker". Many reviewers also highlighted how quiet, easy to clean, and simple to use it is as there’s no fiddly bits to assemble. The bowl and paddle lift out to be washed with warm soapy water and aren't suitable for the dishwasher.

Of course, it’s not perfect. The biggest drawback is the need to freeze the bowl in advance, but according to reviews that appears to be a standard drawback for models that don't have built-in refrigeration. Other customers noted they found the ice cream built up on the sides and at the bottom of the freezing container due to the mixing arm not being a tight fit to the bucket. However, they did also mention that they didn't mind too much as it allowed them to eat the mixture off the sides.

If you're after a machine even more cost effective, one model that's just shy of two litres is the Lakeland Digital Ice Cream Maker 1.8L and priced at a very reasonable £39.99, reduced from £49.99. Like the Cuisinart it doesn't contain a compresser so the bowl needs to be frozen before hand but it can whip up a batch of delicious ice cream in just 40 minutes. 

However, if you want a bit more premium that has built-in refrigeration, the Acmeenjoy 2L Ice Cream Maker from Amazon is worth considering. Unlike the Cuisinart, it has a built-in compressor, meaning you can make batch after batch without waiting to freeze the bowl. The main downside is the price, currently listed as £159.49 down from £169.99. If you want convenience and flexibility, the investment can be worth it.