Cuisinart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker
$80, www.cuisinart.com

	Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Cuisinart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker easily turns strawberries, cream, sugar and milk into strawberry ice cream. Click photo for larger image.

This machine has an easy-lock transparent lid that secures to the base with one simple turn.

The flower-shaped ingredient spout was the biggest among those tested, allowing for easy addition of fruit and candy. The 50-watt motor is pretty noisy but delivered 1.5 quarts of creamy ice cream in about 20 minutes.

Booklet includes more than 30 recipes, including a few for frozen drinks.

VillaWare Ice Cream Maker
$64.99, www.villaware.com

This machine took a little longer than the others to freeze the mix but eventually made a respectable soft-serve ice cream. On the plus side: It's the only one tested that is available with a stylish stainless-steel base. It also has two speed-control settings, high for softer ice cream and low for harder ice cream. On the minus side: it makes only 1 quart of custard. Booklet includes 21 recipes, including several for yogurt and gelato.

Deni Automatic Ice Cream Maker
$59.95, www.deni.com

This compact machine is also on the noisy side, but it's a bit more compact than the others, which could make for easier storage. It makes up to 1.5 quarts of dessert in about 20 minutes, and the transparent lid comes in four colors, including raspberry, blueberry and grape. Booklet includes 28 recipes.

Rival Electric 4-Quart Ice Cream Maker
$24.99, ww.rivalproducts.com

This wastepaper basket-shaped ice cream maker was one of the cheapest tested, but it comes with a catch: as with those old-style churners, you have to add rock salt and ice, and plenty of it. as a result, the blue plastic machine is pretty loud while it's churning, though the motor automatically shuts down when the ice cream is finished (about 30 minutes). It was, however, the only one that made enough ice cream for a large family -- an entire gallon. Another plus: You don't have to remember to pre-freeze anything. Booklet includes 18 recipes, including several for frozen yogurt.

Camper's Dream Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker
$29.95, available at REI www.rei.com

This soccer ball-like, polycarbonate gadget doesn't make the most authentic ice cream -- the finished product tastes more like ice milk than frozen custard -- but it sure is fun. Kids simply roll, toss or shake it for about 20 minutes to create about a pint of dessert. On the negative side, you'll need ice and rock salt. On the plus side, you won't need electricity, which means you can make ice cream just about anywhere, even on a boat. Comes in six groovy colors.