If you love banana ice cream, also known as “nice cream”, you need the right machine to get the perfect creamy texture. Whether you’re looking for a commercial ice cream maker, a home-friendly option, or a soft-serve banana ice cream machine, this guide covers the best banana ice cream machines for every need.
Best Banana Ice Cream Machines: Top Picks
1. Yonanas 988 Elite – Best for Frozen Banana “Nice Cream”
💰 Price: $60 – $100
📦 Capacity: Single servings (~1-2 bananas at a time)
🔌 Power Requirement: 110V standard outlet
⚖ Weight: 4.5 lbs
⭐ Best For: Healthy frozen banana ice cream with no added sugar
The Yonanas 988 Elite is the best machine for making 100% frozen banana ice cream. It’s designed specifically for blending frozen bananas into a creamy, soft-serve consistency without needing dairy, sweeteners, or additional ingredients.
✅ Pros:
- Perfect for dairy-free & vegan banana ice cream
- Easy to use & clean
- Affordable & compact
❌ Cons:
- Not a true ice cream maker (only blends frozen fruit)
- Small capacity (single servings at a time)
🔹 Where to Buy: Available on Amazon, Walmart, and Target
2. Ninja CREAMi – Best for Custom Banana Ice Cream Recipes
💰 Price: $200 – $250
📦 Capacity: 1 pint per batch
🔌 Power Requirement: 110V standard outlet
⚖ Weight: 13 lbs
⭐ Best For: Creamy banana ice cream with mix-ins
The Ninja CREAMi is a game-changer for banana ice cream lovers. Unlike the Yonanas, this machine freezes and churns the ingredients, allowing you to make smooth banana ice cream with custom mix-ins like chocolate chips, peanut butter, or caramel.
✅ Pros:
- Makes real ice cream with bananas & other ingredients
- Works with dairy & non-dairy bases
- Compact & easy to use
❌ Cons:
- Small batch size (1 pint per run)
- Requires pre-freezing the mixture for 24 hours
🔹 Where to Buy: Available on Amazon, Best Buy, and Ninja’s website
3. Lello Musso Pola 5030 – Best Premium Banana Ice Cream Maker
💰 Price: $1,200 – $1,500
📦 Capacity: 1.5 quarts per batch
🔌 Power Requirement: 110V standard outlet
⚖ Weight: 65 lbs
⭐ Best For: Commercial-quality banana ice cream at home
If you’re serious about making banana ice cream with a professional texture, the Lello Musso Pola 5030 is one of the best home ice cream machines available. It has a built-in compressor, so there’s no need to pre-freeze your ingredients—just add bananas and start churning!
✅ Pros:
- Produces ultra-smooth, creamy banana ice cream
- Built-in freezer (no need to pre-freeze ingredients)
- Great for gelato, sorbet, and hard ice cream
❌ Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy & takes up counter space
🔹 Where to Buy: Available on Amazon, Webstaurant Store, and specialty kitchen retailers
4. Cuisinart ICE-100 – Best for Homemade Banana Ice Cream
💰 Price: $300 – $400
📦 Capacity: 1.5 quarts per batch
🔌 Power Requirement: 110V standard outlet
⚖ Weight: 32 lbs
⭐ Best For: Making banana ice cream with traditional methods
The Cuisinart ICE-100 is a great mid-range ice cream maker with a built-in compressor. This means you don’t have to pre-freeze your ingredients, making it a convenient choice for banana ice cream lovers.
✅ Pros:
- Churns banana ice cream in ~30 minutes
- Built-in compressor (no pre-freezing required)
- More affordable than Lello Musso
❌ Cons:
- Not as durable as premium machines
- Takes up counter space
🔹 Where to Buy: Available on Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy
5. Taylor 104 – Best Commercial Soft-Serve Banana Ice Cream Machine
💰 Price: $3,500 – $6,000
📦 Capacity: Up to 10 quarts per hour
🔌 Power Requirement: 208-230V, 20A
⚖ Weight: 200+ lbs
⭐ Best For: Restaurants & ice cream shops selling banana soft serve
If you’re looking for a commercial banana ice cream machine, the Taylor 104 is a soft-serve dispenser that works with banana-based ice cream or frozen yogurt mixes. It’s ideal for businesses looking to offer banana-flavored soft serve on their menu.
✅ Pros:
- Produces consistent soft-serve banana ice cream
- High capacity (perfect for commercial use)
- Easy to clean & maintain
❌ Cons:
- Expensive
- Requires a 230V power source
🔹 Where to Buy: Available at restaurant supply stores and Taylor distributors
How to Choose the Best Banana Ice Cream Machine
1. What Type of Banana Ice Cream Do You Want?
| Machine Type | Best For |
|---|---|
| Yonanas 988 Elite | 100% frozen banana “nice cream” |
| Ninja CREAMi | Banana ice cream with mix-ins |
| Lello Musso Pola 5030 | Premium homemade banana ice cream |
| Cuisinart ICE-100 | Mid-range hard banana ice cream |
| Taylor 104 | Commercial soft-serve banana ice cream |
2. Capacity – How Much Ice Cream Do You Need?
| Machine | Batch Size | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Yonanas 988 Elite | 1-2 bananas per serving | Single servings |
| Ninja CREAMi | 1 pint per batch | Home use with mix-ins |
| Lello Musso 5030 | 1.5 quarts per batch | Serious home ice cream makers |
| Cuisinart ICE-100 | 1.5 quarts per batch | Frequent homemade ice cream |
| Taylor 104 | 10+ quarts per hour | Commercial soft-serve production |
3. Budget – How Much Are You Willing to Spend?
- $50 – $100: Yonanas 988 Elite (best for frozen banana “nice cream”)
- $200 – $250: Ninja CREAMi (best for small-batch banana ice cream)
- $300 – $400: Cuisinart ICE-100 (best mid-range ice cream maker)
- $1,200 – $1,500: Lello Musso 5030 (best premium hard ice cream maker)
- $3,500 – $6,000: Taylor 104 (best for commercial banana soft serve)
Final Verdict: Best Banana Ice Cream Machine for You
| Machine | Best For | Price | Capacity | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yonanas 988 Elite | Best for Frozen Bananas | $60 – $100 | 1-2 bananas per serving | Soft-serve style |
| Ninja CREAMi | Best for Custom Mix-Ins | $200 – $250 | 1 pint per batch | Hard ice cream |
| Lello Musso 5030 | Best Premium Ice Cream | $1,200 – $1,500 | 1.5 quarts per batch | Hard ice cream |
| Cuisinart ICE-100 | Best Mid-Range Ice Cream | $300 – $400 | 1.5 quarts per batch | Hard ice cream |
| Taylor 104 | Best Commercial Soft Serve | $3,500 – $6,000 | 10+ quarts per hour | Soft-serve |
🔥 Best Overall: Yonanas 988 Elite ($60-$100) – Best for pure banana ice cream
🔥 Best Premium: Lello Musso 5030 ($1,200) – Best texture & performance