Top Pick: Musso Lussino

My Favorite! This one is on my kitchen counter. It's got style, it's got beauty and it's a performer, too. Retails for about $600 and features a 250-watt motor, 1 1/2-quart capacity and about a 30 minute turnaround. Chef John Folse's personal machine.

Power Pick: Musso Pola

For those willing to sacrifice a little design for pure power and extra servings. Retails for about $1,100 and features a 300-watt motor, 2-quart capacity and a batch every 20 minutes.

Bargain Pick: Cuisinart ICE-50 Supreme Ice Cream Maker

Not as finely engineered as its counterparts, perhaps, but for the price, it's hard to beat. Just $250 will get you a reliable, user-friendly ice cream machine. It can take up to an hour to create about a quart, but the results are well worth the wait.