I resisted purchasing a Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker for several years simply because I didn’t want to add another appliance to our kitchen. I purchased one a little over a month ago and have been absolutely blown away by the results. I can’t stop raving to my friends about this appliance so I decided to share a detailed review. In this post I will share an honest review including- recipes, pros and cons and tips for using the ice cream maker.
What is a Ninja Creami?
A Ninja Creami is different from most traditional ice cream makers because it does not have a cooling mechanism. Instead- it makes ice cream from a frozen substance using a high powered blender-type technology called a creamerizer paddle. Knowing this, I was skeptical and assumed the treats might be more of a smoothie bowl than an ice cream texture. The Creami is the first appliance in this price range (around $180) to offer this type of technology. The texture is perfectly smooth nomatter what I freeze. Even simply milk or cut fruit and milk or juice will result in a perfectly textured ice cream.
How does the Ninja Creami work?
The machine works by blending a frozen pint with a retractable blade that goes all the way up and down. Unlike typical ice cream recipes that need a crème anglaise (tempered egg yolks into cream for a custard, then chilling and churning that mixture). Many ice cream makers also require salt to achieve the final product. With the Ninja Creami you have the option to use a huge variety of ingredients. It’s an easier way to make ice creams that are free of dairy, vegan, rich in protein or made with healthy ingredients. It is also very easy to use.
Creamify Technology is similar to that of the Pacojet (which costs around $6000+ and is mainly used in restaurants rather than homes). The Ninja Creami makes this type of spinning blade preparation possible in an affordable home appliance.
How to Use
The Ninja Creami is a 7-in-1 machine that has buttons (modes) for ice cream, sorbet, lite ice cream, gelato, milkshake, smoothie bowl, and mix-ins. Ninja’s recipes come in an included recipe booklet and we have shared many here on the blog as well. You can make ice cream, sorbet, italian ice, frozen yogurt, milkshakes and more.
Here are the basics about how to use a Ninja Creami machine. Begin by freezing your desired ingredients in the provided container for 24 hours. I usually keep several flavors in my freezer- ready to use. After freezing you choose between settings such as ice cream, sorbet, gelato and mix-ins. I always use the ice cream setting first. After the first spin the ice cream will be a chalky texture. Add more liquid into the center of the container (either milk or water) and re-spin. After the second spin, it is ready to eat! At the point you can also add mix-ins and do a mix-in spin to combine them throughout your pint. It takes around five to ten minutes to complete a pint of ice cream using this device.
What I love about the Ninja Creami (pros list)
- Any ingredient ice cream is possible Most homemade ice cream recipes call for ingredients like sugar, heavy cream, egg whites and condensed milk. The thing I LOVE about the Creami is you can make perfect texture, tasty ice cream from super healthy ingredients such as fruit and milk or juice. It is also very easy to create vegan friendly or options that cater to any specific food sensitivities . You can also create high protein ice creams easily.
- Consistency The texture is A++. Even when I use the healthiest possible ingredients I am always amazed by the creamy texture. Whether you use whole milk or dairy-free milk (such as almond milk) the texture will be nice every time. Many recipes call for ingredients like cream cheese and cottage cheese and the texture still comes out flawless every time.
- Prep I love that I can mix up 4 or 5 pints at a time and store them in my freezer. Then throughout the week, anytime we feel like ice cream I pull one out and make it in less than ten minutes. I love kitchen shortcuts and batching my meal prep!
The not-great stuff about the Creami (cons list)
- It is loud This is not a quiet machine. It is loud in the same way a high-speed blender is. Each time we use it there’s around ten minutes of loud blending between the several cycles needed to achieve a perfect texture.
- Leftovers are a challenge Possibly the biggest downside. This ice cream freezes very hard, not soft like store bought ice creams. It’s best to use the machine right before you eat it. You can also sit a re-frozen pint out for around 15-20 minutes to let it soften. The other option is you can spin it again before eating (but any mix ins will be pulverized so it’s not always the best option for leftovers with a lot of mix ins).
- Expense The Ninja Creami price hovers around $180 while a traditional ice cream machine is more like $50.
Ninja Creami vs. traditional ice cream machine
Which frozen treat maker is right for you? If you want to follow traditional ice cream recipes you will want a traditional ice cream machine. I have the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker and it works well. It’s more affordable than the Creami as well. If you want a straight forward, traditional ice cream experience I would probably go with the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker.
If you want to make healthy ice cream I highly, highly recommend the Ninja Creami. It is very different from a traditional ice cream maker, but I personally would prefer to use this appliance nine times out of ten. I also love that I can prep a week’s worth of flavors and then mix them up when we are ready to try one in less than ten minutes.
Personal notes
My verdict? It lives up to the hype! If you’re on TikTok you’ve likely seen people using this machine to make healthy ice creams. I have tried many recipes from TikTok that didn’t end up being repeat favorites in my home. It’s very hit or miss. But these ice creams are such a huge hit for my whole family. I’m sold.
I held back on purchasing for more than a year because of my lack of counter space and general annoyance with already having too many appliances in our home (most home cooks can relate to this struggle). Now that I have tried it, I am hooked and I personally think it’s the best ice cream maker I have ever used.
Product Notes
Extra Containers I also purchased 4 extra pint containers. The machine comes with 2 containers. I like to prep four containers at the same time in different flavors and then use them throughout the week. The lids on these containers seal really well so you can leave your prepped ice creams sealed until you are ready to use them.
Ninja Creami Deluxe I initially purchased the deluxe version and as soon as I recieved it in the mail I realized it was too big (both for my space and for the freezer space that the 24 ounce deluxe pints would require. I immediately returned it and opted for the regular sized machine. Just my two cents- I would not recommend the deluxe version unless you have a very big family and a very spacious freezer.
Ninja Creami Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Ninja Creami Different than a blender?
I love my Vitamix, but it cannot achieve a texture similar to ice cream. I understand how they seem very similar, but the way this machine works is much better suited for ice cream.
What is special about the Ninja Creami?
The Ninja Creami is a 7-in-1 machine that has buttons (modes) for ice cream, sorbet, lite ice cream, gelato, milkshake, smoothie bowl, and mix-ins. Creamify Technology is similar to that of the Pacojet (which costs around $6000 or more and is mainly used in restaurants rather than homes). The Ninja Creami makes this type of spinning blade preparation possible in an affordable home appliance.
Why is my Ninja Creami ice cream powdery?
The first spin is often very powder. Add a tablespoon of milk or water and re-spin the mixture. If it comes out powdery a second time, add another tablespoon and do one more spin. This is normal and if you continue you will achieve a creamy texture- don’t eat the powdery phase.
Can I just put frozen fruit in my Ninja Creami?
Yes. You can freeze nearly anything and use the Creami to turn it into ice cream. I loved mango and coconut milk and we tried one that was only a frozen protein drink that was very tasty. In this way, the machine definitely lives up to the hype.
