Which Cuisinart Replacement Freezer Bowl Fits Your Ice Cream Maker

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Find the model number before you look at any bowl

Cuisinart makes several freezer-bowl ice cream makers, and the bowls are not interchangeable. The model number is the only reliable guide. Look for it on the rating label on the base of the machine, or on the cover of the instruction manual. It is a letter-and-number code such as ICE-20, ICE-21P1 or ICE-30BCP1.

The suffix matters less than the family. A P1 at the end generally denotes a later production version of the same machine, and the ICE-21 and ICE-21P1 take the same bowl. Do not rely on a product name such as frozen yogurt-ice cream & sorbet maker on its own, because several different models carry similar names. Write down the full code, then match it to the bowl part number below.

ICE-RFB: the 1.5-quart bowl for the ICE-20 and ICE-21 line

The ICE-RFB is a 1.5-quart freezer bowl. Cuisinart’s own parts page for the ICE-21P1 lists it as the freezer bowl for that machine, and retail listings describe it as fitting the ICE-20 and ICE-21 ice cream makers.

A freezer bowl is a double-walled bowl filled with a sealed coolant. You freeze it solid, drop it onto the machine base, fit the paddle (dasher) and lid, and pour in the chilled mix. The ICE-RFB’s drive hole at the bottom engages the base, and its walls are sized for the 1.5-quart batch the machine is built to churn.

If your machine’s label reads ICE-20, ICE-21 or ICE-21P1, this is the bowl to look for. A replacement helps if the original is dented or leaking coolant. It also helps if you want a second bowl already frozen so you can churn a follow-up batch.

ICE-30RFB: the 2-quart bowl for the Pure Indulgence ICE-30BC and ICE-30BCP1

The ICE-30RFB is the 2-quart freezer bowl for the Cuisinart Pure Indulgence 2-quart frozen yogurt, sorbet and ice cream maker. Cuisinart’s parts page for the ICE-30BCP1 and retail listings that name the ICE-30BC both point to it.

It is larger than the ICE-RFB. The paddle, lid and base for the Pure Indulgence machines are built around the bigger bowl, and a genuine replacement lid for the ICE-30BC and ICE-30BCP1 is sold under its own part number. If you own an ICE-30BC or ICE-30BCP1, the ICE-30RFB is the match.

The two bowls differ in volume, so a mismatch is visible on the counter. A 1.5-quart bowl in a 2-quart machine leaves the lid and paddle poorly seated, and a 2-quart bowl will not suit the smaller base.

Cuisinart machines that use other bowls

Not every Cuisinart ice cream maker uses the ICE-RFB or ICE-30RFB. The Cool Creations ice cream maker, for example, has its own freezer bowl, the ICE-70FB. Cuisinart’s automatic freezer-bowl machines, its pint-sized models and its soft-serve units each pair with a model-specific bowl.

If your machine is not an ICE-20, ICE-21, ICE-21P1, ICE-30BC or ICE-30BCP1, do not assume either bowl fits. Open the manufacturer’s parts page for your exact model and read what it lists under freezer bowl. Compressor machines such as Whynter’s do not use a freezer bowl at all, so these parts do not apply to them.

Reading a listing: genuine Cuisinart or compatible bowl

Marketplace listings for freezer bowls vary. Some are Cuisinart-branded parts, and others are written as bowls compatible with a named machine. Look at three things:

If the title names a different machine, or leaves out the model entirely, move on. Check the seller, the return terms and what the box contains. Some bundles pair a machine with a second bowl, so confirm whether you are buying the bowl alone. The bowl should arrive intact: look for dents and check that the wall is not cracked or bulging, since a damaged coolant chamber will not freeze evenly.

Before you order: is the bowl really the problem?

A soupy batch does not always mean the bowl is bad. First check what the manual specifies for freezing time and freezer temperature, around 0°F (-18°C) being the usual target. A bowl pulled out after a short freeze, or one stored in a door shelf where temperature swings, will not hold enough cold. A base that was not chilled in the refrigerator before churning has the same effect.

Realistic signs of a bowl that needs replacing are a visible dent in the inner wall, a crack, a coolant leak, or a bowl that no longer seats on the drive. In those cases, order the part that matches your model number from the sections above. If your machine is an ICE-20 or ICE-21 and you simply want the convenience of back-to-back batches, a second ICE-RFB serves that purpose.

FAQ

Does the ICE-RFB fit the Cuisinart ICE-30BCP1?

No. The ICE-RFB is a 1.5-quart bowl for the ICE-20 and ICE-21 line, while the ICE-30BCP1 is a 2-quart machine that uses the ICE-30RFB. The sizes and fit differ, so use the bowl that matches the model code.

Where do I find my Cuisinart ice cream maker’s model number?

Check the rating label on the underside of the base, or the front of the instruction manual. The code looks like ICE-21P1 or ICE-30BCP1. Use that full code to find the matching freezer bowl.

Is a third-party bowl listed as compatible the same as a Cuisinart-branded bowl?

Not necessarily. Some listings are for genuine Cuisinart parts and others are written as compatible with a named model. Check the part number, capacity and the models the listing names, and read the seller’s return terms before you buy.