Review: The Cuisinart FastFreeze Makes Ice Cream in 1 Minute Flat (& It's Currently on Sale)

I prepped two different flavors of ice cream, classic vanilla and protein cookies and cream, preparing them according to Cuisinart's instructions. All the while, I evaluated the machine on its ease of use, functionality—or how well its results live up to its claims—and the taste, texture and quality of the final product.

Now, when it comes to the "ready in minutes" claim, there is one important thing to note: You'll need to do some prep work a day in advance. I threw my ingredients in the provided half-pint containers, whisked and popped them in the freezer for 24 hours.

The next night, I took the protein cookies and cream mixture out to thaw for 10 minutes before I churned, but ended up leaving it to sit for about 25 minutes by accident. This mistake resulted in much softer ice cream that was more melted than most people would like. I, however, thought it was perfect. After the initial churn, I tossed in a few Oreo Thins and clicked over to the mix-in function, which mixed up the cookie bits in less than 20 seconds. It was thoroughly studded with Oreo pieces, resulting in a treat that was delicious and satisfying.

As for the classic vanilla, I set an alarm for ten minutes so I was sure to get it churned in the correct time frame, and it was heavenly. For this one, I used the vanilla ice cream recipe in the instruction book with one tweak. I added a little bit of cheesecake Jell-o powder for a richer flavor. I should have used a handheld frother to better mix my ingredients, though, because the churning function failed to blend up any Jell-o powder chunks in the mixture. I also noticed that the end result tastes a lot lighter than store-bought varieties. It’s also a bit less creamy, which is why I like mine a little bit melted.

Ever since becoming a mom, convenience and efficiency are my number one requirements when I’m buying anything. I don’t need all of the extra bells and whistles that will result in me taking apart and handwashing another four things, so if that sounds like you, you’re going to like this ice cream maker. Beyond the three plastic half-pint containers (which are dishwasher-safe, BTW), the device itself is only two pieces, weighing approximately a couple pounds fully assembled. One piece screws onto the reusable half-pint ice cream container, and the other piece attaches on top of it to control the churning mechanics. Yup, that’s it.

I was super impressed by how easy and quick it was for me to attach the device to the container, churn and start enjoying ice cream. The whole process, including the cleaning of the blade topper after use, took less than five minutes. Aside from having to wait 24 hours for the mixture to freeze (which I’m still getting used to because I easily forget), making the treats could not be easier. 

I’ve been a long-time Ninja Creami user, and while I love the versatility and delicious ice creams and sorbets it produces, I have some issues with it. For one, it’s incredibly loud. I have to make sure I churn my ice cream before my toddler goes to bed or it wakes him up. The Cuisinart isn’t silent by any means, but it’s no louder than getting ice from the fridge or a sizzling pan on the stove.

As far as flavor goes, the Creami takes the cake. The consistency is a bit creamier and richer tasting, while the FastFreeze comes out a little icy (but yummy, nonetheless). And if you asked my husband, he would tell you he prefers the Creami because it makes full pints versus the Cuisinart’s half-pint servings, but that doesn’t bother me because the smaller portions fill me up just fine.

The $100+ price difference is enough to sway me toward the FastFreeze over the Creami, but out of all of the features of this device, it has more pros than the Creami overall. From the user convenience, easy-to-clean parts, no-fuss assembly to its compact size (you can store it in a drawer or cabinet so it doesn’t take up counter space), it’s the winner for me. Am I still going to keep and use both? Absolutely, because they’re both great.

I genuinely enjoy the Cuisinart FastFreeze, and the number one feature to me is its user-friendly design. While the texture may not be the best I’ve ever tasted, it’s still incredibly yummy and enjoyable. If you go to an ice cream shop and the ice cream is very good but not your favorite, you’re still going to enjoy the heck out of it, right?

I highly recommend this gadget for anyone who buys a lot of ice cream in general. Whether you’re looking to make your own healthier, protein-packed recipes, you have kids who are always asking to go get a Blizzard or you just want to be able to make your own at home instead of always buying individual pints. It’s going to deliver delicious ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes or slushies in the matter of minutes, and basically all you have to do is prep the ingredients. You can’t beat it.