Is the Breville Smart Scoop Worth It?
Based on tests by America's Test Kitchen (Jun 2026). How we score
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Why
America's Test Kitchen rated it Recommended: it churns "quart after quart with no need to freeze a canister ahead of time," but "that convenience isn't cheap," and a few tasters found "tiny" ice crystals in sorbet and frozen yogurt. ATK's Best Self-Refrigerating pick, the Whynter, gives you the same no-freeze convenience, made "supersmooth ice cream and sorbet," holds more, and costs much less. If you don't mind freezing a bowl first, ATK's canister pick from Cuisinart costs a fraction of either.
Breville warranty: 1-year limited
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the Breville
2.1 Quart Upright Automatic Compressor Ice Cream Maker
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen's Best Self-Refrigerating Ice Cream Maker: it made "supersmooth ice cream and sorbet," and its short, wide bowl was easy to scrape out. It holds 2.1 quarts to the Breville's 1.5. One quirk: ATK had to pause it to take the temperature. ATK didn't test long-term durability, and the listing doesn't state a warranty.
| Criterion | Breville | Whynter |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Ease of use | 2.5/3 | 2.5/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Ice Cream Makers (updated June 11, 2026)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Ice Cream Makers (updated June 11, 2026), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker, 1.5 qt
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen's Best Canister-Style Ice Cream Maker, with desserts tasters called "even-textured," "velvety," and "delightful." The trade-off is planning: you freeze its bowl ahead of time, where the Breville chills itself and can make batch after batch. It has a longer warranty (3 years vs 1). ATK didn't test long-term durability.
| Criterion | Breville | Cuisinart |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Ease of use | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Ice Cream Makers (updated June 11, 2026)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Ice Cream Makers (updated June 11, 2026), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Common questions
Is a self-refrigerating ice cream maker worth it?
It saves freezing a bowl ahead of time and lets you make batch after batch. In America's Test Kitchen's testing, the Whynter did that at least as well as the Breville for less, and the canister-style Cuisinart made ice cream as good as either if you plan ahead.
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Ice Cream Makers (updated June 11, 2026), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
