I Turned My Kitchen Into an Ice Cream Shop with the GreenPan Frost Machine

There are a few dishes that are difficult to make at home, even for seasoned cooks. Handmade pasta, French fries, and croissants are all worth leaving to the pros, mostly because the equipment, time and precision required are often more work than they’re worth. For years, soft serve belonged in that same category, though many made do by making ice cream at home and sneaking a few bites of the still-soft ice cream straight out of the machine. Thanks to new technology and smaller compressors, that airy swirl is not only possible, but easy.

The GreenPan Frost launched in May and has sold out several times since then. After getting our hands on one, we wanted to find out if this machine could walk the walk and churn out swirls as dreamy as what you’d find at the ice cream truck.

How I Tested the GreenPan Frost

To find out what makes a great soft-serve ice cream machine, I tested it with a few recipes. Each allowed me to evaluate texture, consistency, churn time and how well the machine dispensed the final product. I also froze samples overnight to assess scoopability and texture after storage.

• Pineapple Soft-Serve Test: I started with a pineapple soft-serve recipe designed to work in any ice cream machine. After 39 minutes, the result was a smooth and fluffy scoop with no icy patches. It froze firm enough to dispense cleanly into a pint container or onto a cone. A small portion of the mix stayed stuck in the hopper above the blades, but adjusting the firmness setting helped the ice cream flow more evenly. After a day in the freezer, the pineapple soft-serve stayed light and scoopable, with just a touch of dryness.

• Vanilla Soft-Serve Test: From the included recipe booklet, I created a simple vanilla soft serve. It froze in 34 minutes to a light-as-air texture that was still rich enough to rival the vanilla cone at a neighborhood ice cream shop. After a night in the freezer, it was still scoopable, though more firm than straight out of the machine, and did not get icy.

• Peach Sorbet Test: To push the machine a bit further, I blended fresh, ripe peaches with a bit of sugar and put the puree straight into the machine without pre-chilling or even carefully measuring. In 45 minutes, the Frost produced a soft sorbet that dispensed neatly into a cup. It was neither icy nor soupy, a result that impressed me considering how temperamental fruit-based sorbets can be.

After testing, I cleaned the ice cream machine and timed the process. I looked for difficult spots or hard-to-reach areas and noted which pieces were dishwasher-safe.

My Review of the GreenPan Frost Based on Testing

• Performance: The GreenPan Frost nails what most home ice cream makers can’t: It creates true soft-serve that dispenses as a pretty swirl right into your cone. The built-in compressor means you don’t need to clog up freezer space with bulky bowls or parts. Simply pour in your base and press start. After 30-40 minutes, the ice cream is ready to eat. The consistency was airy and creamy across different recipes, making this the best soft-serve ice cream maker for home use that I tested.
• Features and Appearance: This is a serious machine but not an eyesore. Available in five stylish colors (strawberry pink is exclusive to Amazon), the Frost has a slim, upright design that makes it less bulky than other compressor models. It’s still heavy at 25 pounds, but its countertop-friendly footprint makes it easier to live with than wider, boxier machines. Bonus: It’s quieter than most, running at about 52 dB.

• Care and Maintenance: Cleaning isn’t instant, but it’s manageable. Fully sanitizing after use requires about 15 minutes and a few rinse cycles. Thankfully, the paddle, mixing bowl, drip tray and extrusion head are all dishwasher-safe. The machine comes with a few cleaning tools to help, plus a few replacement gaskets in case they become damaged or lost. Assembly is a little tricky the first few times, but I was able to catch on quickly. Storage is simpler, and I found a spot for it in a lower cabinet to tuck it away when not in use.

• Price and Value: At just under $400, this appliance is undeniably a splurge. It makes novelty products, and most people are not consuming ice cream and slushies on a daily basis. Still, it delivers true soft-serve ice cream with no pre-freezing, so it’s worth the investment if you love frozen desserts or entertain often.

What Else Can You Make in a Soft-Serve Ice Cream Machine?

While having your own ice cream machine at home makes it easier to satisfy cravings year-round with seasonal recipes like GreenPan’s Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream and Peppermint Ice Cream, this machine offers even more versatility beyond seasonal flavors. Unlike grabbing a cone at the shop, you are free to create your own concoctions made with specialty ingredients, added protein or natural ingredients. Beyond ice cream, it can make slushies, milkshakes and frozen cocktails. Unlike a blender, it keeps the drinks or treats chilled and ready to dispense.

How the GreenPan Frost Compares to the Ninja Swirl by CREAMi

When it comes to soft-serve ice cream machines, the Ninja Swirl by CREAMi also delivered excellent results in testing in our search for the best soft-serve ice cream makers, sometimes even better texture-wise. That being said, it requires you to freeze canisters of ice cream base 24 hours in advance. Once that is done and the base is blended, each canister creates enough for four small cones. The Frost, with its built-in compressor, offers immediate gratification and requires no freezer space whatsoever. That means you could bring it with you to a backyard party, tailgate or to your beach house vacation rental. The Ninja is larger and about $50 less, plus it’s much louder at 89 dB. Overall, the smaller capacity of the canisters is better for small-batch testing, whereas the Frost can keep up with larger batches and bigger gatherings.

Bottom Line: Is the GreenPan Frost Worth Buying?

If you love soft-serve and want to make it at home or you need a gift idea for an ice cream lover, the GreenPan Frost is absolutely worth the splurge. It’s not a gimmick or a fad – just great-tasting soft-serve without a hassle. Yes, it’s pricey, takes up a decent footprint and only makes frozen treats and drinks, but for anyone serious about soft serve, you’ll love having this fun appliance on hand. If you entertain often, have a sweet tooth for frozen treats or just want a kitchen gadget that lets you customize freely, the Frost feels like an investment that pays off.

Why You Should Trust Our Tester

Taylor Murray is a regular contributor for Food Network, primarily doing product tests and reviews of cookware and kitchen products. She has over 15 years of experience working with food, starting her career in the restaurant industry at some of the best restaurants in the country.

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