One of the tastiest ways to stay cool during the heat wave is by eating a cool, silky ice cream, and thanks to the best ice cream makers, it’s never been easier to make a tub at home. While the freezing, churning machines don’t come cheap, in usual fashion Aldi is launching a budget alternative – this time one that rivals Ninja’s premium creami. Landing in Aldi’s Specialbuys middle aisle tomorrow (16 July), the Ambiano ice cream machine uses “smoothify” technology to turn frozen ingredients into a creamy dessert by finely shaving them with a rotating blade. From homemade ice cream and fruity sorbets to milkshakes and frozen cocktails, it offers plenty of ways to whip up frozen treats at home.At just £69.99, Aldi’s latest kitchen gadget costs around £130 less than the Ninja creami. With a similar design and a comparable set of accessories, it’s an attractive budget-friendly alternative for anyone considering Ninja’s cult-favourite appliance.Upkeep is seemingly simple too, with a self-cleaning function, adjustable blade and dishwasher-safe accessories. Plus it comes with three 500ml preparation cups and ten preset programmes.As it’s a Specialbuy, stock is pipped to move quickly. But if you miss it, Lidl is launching an ice cream maker in stores tomorrow (16 July), which has seven different preset functions for £69.99.Read more: Salter launches affordable rival to the Ninja slushi – I put the two head-to-headWhen can you buy Aldi’s affordable ice cream maker?The ice cream maker will land in Aldi stores on Thursday, 16 July, as part of the supermarket’s limited Specialbuys range. This means that once the stock is gone, it’s unlikely to return.Aldi’s ice cream maker will cost £69.99, so it isn’t as costly as investing in one of the best ice cream makers. There’ll be other kitchen devices landing in-store the same day, including a 9l dual air fryer (£49.99) and a milk frother (£14.99).Best ice cream makersNinja creami deluxe“If you’re tight on space and you want a machine that doesn’t only produce ice cream, the Ninja creami deluxe is the answer and the best ice cream maker I’ve tested,” said expert tester Rachael Penn in her review of the best ice cream makers.It produced delicious, creamy soft scoop and boasts low faff clean up, as the freezable tubs are dishwasher-friendly. Its the priciest model in Ninja’s range, but we also rate the smaller, original Ninja creami (was £200, now £179, Sharkninja.co.uk). It’s often on sale, but it isn’t as big and has fewer settings. Cuisinart solo scoops ice cream makerCheaper than Aldi’s machine, the Cuisinart solo scoops ice cream maker was our best budget ice cream maker. “The one-touch operation makes it incredibly easy to use,” said Rachel. “While you’re limited to one batch at a time, the results were consistently creamy and satisfying during testing, and you get a decent amount of ice cream with this machine.”For more recommendations, we’ve tested the best juicers