Move over sourdough — today’s viral at-home culinary project is sweeter and creamier. People are making homemade frozen treats, from swirly soft-serve cones to refreshing slushies and luscious hand-scooped ice creams. And that means there’s a new crop of appliances making it easier to become an ice cream pro.
The latest addition to the home ice cream maker lineup is the GreenPan Frost, a new appliance that aims to produce scoop shop-quality results. I put it to the test for this GreenPan Frost review, from making decadent milkshakes to dealing with the cleanup. Here’s how it went.
TL;DR Key Takeaways
- The Frost has six modes and seven texture settings to customize your recipes
- There’s no pre-freezing requirement, thanks to a built-in compressor
- The 2-quart bowl is large enough for most households
- The machine isn’t a bargain, but the price reflects its premium features
- A built-in cleaning cycle is handy, but cleaning still requires some hand washing and can be time-consuming
Criteria Breakdown
For this GreenPan Frost review, we considered eight criteria that matter most to those looking to make ice cream and frozen drinks at home. We scored the product from 1 to 5 in each category, with 5 representing exceptional performance.
| Criteria | Rating | Key Strengths | |||
| Convenience & Ease of Use | 4/5 | Built-in compressor, simple operation, clear digital display, but many parts to keep track of | |||
| Versatility | 5/5 | 6 modes, 7 texture settings, dairy-free compatibility | |||
| Speed | 5/5 | 15-minute minimum production time, no pre-freezing wait | |||
| Capacity | 4/5 | 2-quart family-sized portions, adequate for most households | |||
| Texture Control | 4/5 | 7 options, but the texture also depends on the temperature of the ingredients | |||
| Cleanup | 4/5 | Cleansing cycle and dishwasher-safe parts, but some require hand-washing as well | |||
| Build Quality | 4/5 | Double-insulated design, clear viewing window, plastic exterior | |||
| Value for Money | 4/5 | Premium pricing is not for every budget | |||
What the GreenPan Frost Is Best Known For
There are plenty of home ice cream makers on the market, but the GreenPan Frost sets itself apart by eliminating the need to freeze anything — neither ingredients nor a bowl — before you start churning out homemade ice creams, milkshakes, and more. The machine has a built-in compressor that uses refrigerant to chill and freeze liquids within minutes (and unlike other machines, does it quietly — check out this video to the left to see what I mean). That means you can make a full batch of restaurant-quality ice cream in just 30 minutes.
At Organic Authority, we’re long-standing fans of GreenPan. We’ve trusted them for years with everything from gorgeous, high-performing (and non-toxic!) cookware to luxurious ceramic bakeware, and even a whole list of gift ideas for our favorite home chefs. GreenPan is a true leader in the clean cookware and appliances category, and the Frost is no exception.
Standout Features at a Glance
If you only take away one thing from this GreenPan Frost review, it should be just how convenient this appliance is. The Frost’s built-in compressor offers near-instant freezing with no need to freeze anything ahead of time. This technology is found in commercial-style ice cream machines, and it produces excellent results at home. No more waiting 12 hours to satisfy a craving — you can have frosés ready for girls’ nights at the drop of a hat.
The Frost also has a clear viewing window to keep tabs on the progress of your frozen treat without interrupting the churning process. The mixing bowl has double-wall insulation to prevent condensation and maintain a stable temperature while churning. When your dessert is finished, the machine emits a loud beep. This helps prevent over-processing, which can impact the texture of your treat.
Finally, we love that the Frost also works with dairy-free recipes and milk alternatives, which makes it so much more than just an ice cream machine. Don’t be afraid to get creative with sorbets, slushies, and iced cocktails! To help you get inspired, the appliance comes with a recipe booklet with GreenPan recipes (plus two cleaning brushes for the aftermath).
| Pros | Cons | ||||||
| No pre-freezing needed with built-in compressor | More expensive than traditional bowl-based ice cream makers | ||||||
| Seven texture settings, from soft-serve to gelato | Requires counter and storage space | ||||||
| Six modes for various frozen treats | Various removable parts require careful handling and storage | ||||||
| 2-quart capacity serves 4–6 people | Cleaning can be difficult | ||||||
| Produces frozen drinks and ice cream in as little as 15 minutes |
Our Detailed Evaluation
Convenience & Ease of Use (4/5)
The biggest check in the convenience column is that you don’t have to pre-freeze any ingredients to make ice cream in the GreenPan Frost. If a craving for a frozen treat strikes, you can whip something together in 15 minutes or less.
The machine is also super straightforward to operate. It has a single button to start and stop churning, and a smooth dial to select from the six modes. An audible beep lets you know when to check on the texture of your food so you can continue to let it thicken or serve it to avoid over-processing (which can cause air bubbles). Once you reach your desired texture, the machine switches to a “cool” setting that maintains the temperature for several hours. This feature is great for entertaining; your frosé or frozen margaritas stay fresh, and guests can serve themselves whenever a glass empties.
That said, the machine has quite a few parts to keep track of, and the cleaning process isn’t the easiest. Though several parts are dishwasher-safe, the unique shape of the pieces mean they don’t always get fully clean in the dishwasher. For example, after making vanilla ice cream, my mixing bowl had a slight film of fat that had to be scrubbed by hand. The plastic can also take a long time to dry.
Versatility (5/5)
The machine has six modes to blend slushies, soft-serve ice cream, spiked slushies, sorbets, and milkshakes. The sixth mode is self-cleaning. It also has seven texture settings ranging from creamy and pourable to thick and firm.
You can use all kinds of ingredients as your base in the Frost, from frozen fruit smoothies to yogurt to cooked custards. It also produces great results with dairy-free bases.
Speed (5/5)
From start to finish, it’s hard for other home ice cream makers to beat the speed of the GreenPan Frost. Many Frost recipes require very little prep work. To make vanilla ice cream, for example, you simply whisk together a base of milk, cream, and sugar. For a frozen smoothie, just blend your fruit before adding it to the mixing bowl. Depending on the quantity and temperature of the ingredients you add, the Frost can churn out a creamy frozen treat in as little as 15 minutes.
During testing, my vanilla ice cream base was at a perfect soft-serve texture after 25 minutes. A frozen fruit smoothie was ready in 15.
Capacity (4/5)
The Frost mixing bowl can hold up to two quarts of ice cream, which is sufficient for a household of two to four. Larger crowds may require multiple batches. That said, I wouldn’t want the machine to be any bigger — I loved that it’s fairly compact and doesn’t require a huge amount of counter space.
Texture Control (4/5)
After choosing your program, select from seven textures, from sippable to scoopable. With these options, you can fully customize each recipe to your preferences.
Cleanup (4/5)
Though many parts of the Frost are dishwasher-safe, you may need to do some handwashing, especially after mixing high-fat ingredients like cream. The machine comes apart easily, which gives you better access for cleaning nooks and crannies, but it’s also a lot of pieces to keep track of. It does have a self-cleaning setting that helps with cleanup too.
Build Quality (4/5)
We did take a point off in this category because the GreenPan Frost is largely made from plastic, which is not the highest-quality or most durable material. Plus, there are health considerations whenever your food comes in contact with plastic — although this is more of a concern when the plastic is heated, which isn’t the case with the Frost.
The built-in compressor, however, is a professional-level feature that elevates the build quality of the Frost above other similar products.
Value for Money (4/5)
If speed and efficiency are your top priorities in an ice cream maker, the GreenPan Frost is worth the premium pricing. It frees up freezer space and can satisfy your sweet cravings in record time. That said, if you don’t mind a little prep work, a cheaper alternative can produce similar results.
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Community Reviews and Expert Recommendations
GreenPan Frost reviews consistently praise the machine’s convenience and ability to produce a range of frozen foods with professional-level taste and texture. It’s no surprise that the ability to skip the pre-freezing step earns major points from customers.
Experts who have tested the product also confirm that it’s a pro at handling both dairy-free bases and high-fat dairy bases. Users report the best results making dairy-free ice cream using Oatly full-fat oat milk and Country Crock plant-based cream.
Price and Where to Buy the GreenPan Frost
If you’re ready to invest in the GreenPan Frost, we recommend buying it directly from GreenPan. They offer free shipping on all orders over $125 to the 48 continental states, and all of their electronic products are covered by a limited lifetime warranty.
Price: $399.99 at time of publish
Frequently Asked Questions
You can have a frothy cold milkshake or tart frozen smoothie ready in the GreenPan Frost in as little as 15 minutes. Denser items like ice cream can take closer to 30, and cold bases will churn faster than warm ones. Also, lower-fat bases like sorbets and frozen cocktails will take less time.
Yes, the Frost works well with dairy-free alternatives like plant-based milks and creams for vegan treats. Note that it’s still important to maintain a certain percentage of sugar in your base to achieve spoonable results, and higher-fat milks produce a richer texture. Opt for full-fat oat milk or coconut cream in your dairy-free desserts to get that craveable creaminess.
Nope! The beauty of the built-in compressor (and the reason you’re paying a premium price tag) is that you can skip pre-freezing altogether. That said, using a cold base (about 40°F, or refrigerator temperature) will let you enjoy your dessert a little faster.
The Frost has many removable parts for cleaning. Most are dishwasher-safe, and the machine also has a built-in cleaning cycle to rinse the bowl and compressor exterior with warm soapy water. The face of the appliance can be wiped down with a damp cloth. It comes with a silicone scrub brush and a crevice cleaning tool to get into any hard-to-reach areas.
GreenPan electronic products are covered by a limited lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects and material failures, including electrical components and compressor functionality. It excludes regular wear and tear from use or user error.
This kitchen appliance contains flammable refrigerant, which should be handled with caution. Take care not to damage the refrigerant circuit, puncture the tubing, or use mechanical devices to defrost the refrigerator. Make sure to follow GreenPan’s handling instructions as outlined in their instruction manual, and hire a trained professional service person for any repairs.
Our Final Verdict
The inclusion of a built-in compressor and the six operation modes and seven texture settings make the GreenPan Frost a stand-out home ice cream maker. It offers a ton of versatility and major convenience that competitor products can’t touch. While you’ll pay a premium price for these advanced features, the machine is built to last and can produce such an impressive variety of drinks and desserts that you’ll be using it for years (not to mention the money you’ll save on trips to your local gelateria).
Based on my testing for this GreenPan Frost review, this is a crowd-pleasing appliance that offers endless opportunities to make delicious frozen treats at home. It also comes in several cute colors to match your kitchen aesthetic, is quiet while churning, and dispenses luscious soft-serve ice cream just like your favorite shop.
