Updated on Apr. 28, 2025
After a few kitchen experiments and countless pints of ice cream, the Taste Recipes testing experts can confidently give the Ninja Creami their stamp of approval.
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Over the five years I’ve worked for Taste Recipes, I’ve edited countless ice cream recipes—so many, in fact, that I could recite the plug-and-chug process from memory, which is impressive considering it’s quite cumbersome.
First, you whisk together the base ingredients, typically over the stove, until the mixture is thickened. Then, you pour it into the cylinder of your ice cream freezer and chill it in the fridge, often overnight. Next, you churn it with your preferred ice cream maker. Then, you let it freeze for three to four more hours. Finally, you get to enjoy your ice cream, one to two business days later.
All these steps have always put me off: I’ll stick to my store-bought ice cream pints, thank you very much. But recently, that changed.
The flashy, viral Ninja Creami skips several of these steps, streamlining homemade ice cream so much that it could be an every-night indulgence. As a self-proclaimed ice cream fanatic, I knew I had to try it out firsthand—and so did others on the Taste Recipes team.
KATIE BANDURSKI FOR TASTE OF HOME
Transform frozen solid bases into ice cream, sorbets, milkshakes and more at the touch of a button.
The Ninja Creami is an appliance primarily lauded for its ice cream-making capabilities, but it has numerous functions. I originally tried the more budget-friendly Ninja Creami Breeze 7-in-1 ice cream maker, which can make regular ice cream and “lite” ice cream, smoothie bowls, sorbet, gelato and milkshakes. However, Ninja has since discontinued the Creami Breeze.
Senior Shopping Editor Katie Bandurski has used the Deluxe version in her own kitchen for about a year, and it can make the aforementioned treats, plus frozen yogurt, Italian ice, “Slushis,” “Creamiccinos” and frozen drinks. Additionally, Taste Recipes Producer Linda Cheung tested the latest Ninja Creami Swirl, which operates much like the original Creami model, but has a soft-serve setting and dispenser.
A Creami is not a blender (there are plenty of top-notch Ninja blenders if that’s what you’re after), and the user manual makes that very clear. You don’t use this machine to crush ice or blend loose ingredients. Rather, with Ninja’s “creamify” technology, you churn frozen, liquid-based mixtures, typically made of cream or milk, into silky-smooth treats.
The Ninja Creami doesn’t require assembly, so only a few parts are inside the box. There’s the unit itself, which contains the motor base. Additionally, regardless of which Creami model you’re using, you’ll typically find pints made of heavy-duty plastic and marked with max fill lines, storing lids that snap on, a processing lid and the Creamerizer paddle, which isn’t particularly sharp to the touch (a pro in my book!).
The parts for each model look a little different. The Deluxe has bigger tubs than the original, and the Creami Swirl has special nozzles and dispensing lids to accommodate soft-serve. The Swirl is the only Ninja Creami model that makes soft-serve in addition to scoopable ice cream.
On the face of the machine, there are several buttons: power, ice cream, lite ice cream, sorbet, milkshake, smoothie bowl, gelato, + mix-in and re-spin. And they all do exactly what they imply. The progress bar at the top of the touchscreen indicates that the pint is properly installed and tracks the progress of the program. It flashes twice when the program is over, then shuts off.
I tested the Ninja Creami by making its magnum opus: ice cream. Grab your spoon! Let’s dig into the preparation, freezing, processing and cleaning involved with this test.
I was all about by-the-book testing while working on this Ninja Creami review. I followed the brand’s recipes for Cookies & Cream and Pistachio ice cream, which are included in the recipe pamphlet.
The night before, I stirred together the bases of cream cheese, sugar, extract, heavy cream and milk. They were very simple to make. (Just make sure the sugar is fully dissolved!) Regardless of what the instructions say, I had the most success using a rubber spatula to mix the cream cheese, sugar and extract, then switching to a whisk once the liquids were added.
Katie is a bit more lax about following a recipe. She primarily uses her Creami to churn out healthy ice creams with protein powder, fruit and milk. She recommends using a handheld milk frother to thoroughly whip ingredients together.
Editor’s tip: Preparing two bases at once can be a bit cumbersome. If your household has a favorite flavor, I suggest doubling one base recipe and filling both pints with it rather than making separate flavors simultaneously.
Once my bases were prepped, I poured them into the plastic pint-size containers and topped them with the storage lids. I placed both on a freezer shelf and took care to ensure they were situated upright. The instructions warn against freezing the containers at an angle.
I’d recommend using tape and a Sharpie to label the bases because a lot of them look similar without their mix-ins, which are added later. For example, my pistachio and Oreo bases looked identical, yet one had almond extract and the other had vanilla.
Heading into this portion of the process, I was a bit nervous. Ninja advises freezing your base for 24 hours, and, you see, I only had about 15 hours until showtime.
There’s been much discussion online as to whether a full 24 hours of freezing is necessary, and I found that 15 hours was more than sufficient, granted I have a mega-cold freezer. So long as your base is frozen solid, I’d say you’re good to go.
Working with one flavor at a time, I swapped out the storage lid with the processing lid and clicked the pint into the motor base straightaway. (I had to turn it counterclockwise to hear a click, but the directions say to turn it clockwise.)
Next, I pressed the “Ice Cream” button, and we were off! After that first program, which took a little more than 90 seconds, my base was still crumbly. This is likely because my freezer is so cold. Katie has also found that healthy recipes without a lot of fat typically require more processing.
So, per the instructions, I clicked the “re-spin” button. (I couldn’t get over the fact that there was a separate button for everything. It made the process so foolproof!) During this portion, some droplets of ice cream leaked out the top of the processing lid and got on the backsplash of the machine. Not a huge deal.
After this 70-second program, the base was still a little crumbly—not quite what I’d call creamy. But I forged ahead and added my mix-ins. I snapped the pint back into place and employed the “+ mix-in” function, which, of course, had its own button.
After another 70 seconds of whirring (the reports are correct—this machine is quite noisy), my base had transformed into full-fledged Oreo ice cream. I was in absolute awe. Creami is in no way a misnomer.
Word to the wise: Don’t place the processing lid directly on your counter. The base will melt and seep through the hole on the top, ultimately making your kitchen surfaces sticky. Instead, toss it straight in the sink.
With this tip in mind, cleaning the Creami is a breeze. Only three pieces need washing: the processing lid, paddle and pint (and this last one doesn’t need to be cleaned until you’re done scarfing down your ice cream).
Detach the paddle from the processing lid by toggling the paddle latch—this allows for the most thorough wash. Sadly, I’m without a dishwasher, so I washed the two components with a soapy sponge and let them air-dry. But all parts are machine-washable if kept on the top rack.
Before putting the Creami away, I wiped down the tray and backsplash around the motor base with a soapy rag because of the drippage mentioned above.
Our Prep Kitchen Manager, Catherine Ward, has been using a Ninja Creami for several months. “It has my heart and I’m not going back,” she says.
Catherine loves to make a light ice cream with chocolate almond milk, a scoop of chocolate protein powder and a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder. Sometimes she’ll add a teaspoon of decaf espresso powder, too. “I mix those dry ingredients with just enough water to dissolve, then whisk them into the almond milk,” Catherine says. “I only fill the ice cream container halfway, so it’s a single serving. I often have to re-spin as it comes out dry and crumbly on the first run on ‘lite ice cream,’ but then it’s perfectly smooth and creamy.”
Katie has been using the Ninja Creami Deluxe for about a year. “It really does a great job converting low-calorie options—think a protein shake, Greek yogurt or frozen fruit—into a healthy treat with the consistency of soft-serve,” she says. “Mine always turn out a little icy, but I also focus on solely using whole foods. I know a lot of Creami fans use things like pudding mix or emulsifiers for a smoother consistency.”
One of Katie’s favorite Creami creations is milk, chocolate protein powder, vanilla bean paste, maple syrup, almond extract and cocoa powder. “I use a handheld milk frother to incorporate all the ingredients,” she says. “It tastes like a frosty!”
“When it’s time to use the Creami, there’s a slight learning curve,” Katie adds. “First, you have to attach the blade to the lid. Then you insert the pint and twist the lid on. All pieces must be connected just so or you risk damaging the machine or it not working.”
Our team consistently found Creami models loud across the board. Occasionally, users noted icy chunks on the edges or bottom of the ice cream containers. They also found it tricky to make a small serving; even filling the pints halfway yields a lot of ice cream.
When it comes to ice cream makers, the Ninja Creami is kind of in a league of its own, thanks to its multifunctionality. So, it makes the most sense to stack the different models against one another.
As mentioned above, there are the Deluxe and original models (as well as a discontinued Breeze model). The Creami Deluxe is touted as having 11 functions, and the original as having seven. This is the reason for the $50 price difference. The Deluxe also has a handled chamber holding the pint container while processing.
Ninja launched the latest Creami model, the Creami Swirl, earlier this year. Taste Recipes Producer Linda Cheung put the all-new Ninja Creami Swirl to the test before its release. The Creami Swirl operates much like the original Creami model, but you can insert the Creami container vertically into the machine and pull a dispensing lever to pour soft-serve. You’ll also notice the disappearance of the smoothie bowl button with the new Creami Swirl, and the addition of new buttons like frozen yogurt, frozen custard, fruit whip and creamifit.
Linda found using the new Creami Swirl soft-serve machine self-explanatory, just like the other Creami machines. She was also a big fan of the soft-serve and sorbet consistency that the latest Ninja ice cream machine produced.
In terms of a finished product, it’s safe to say every Creami model creates ice cream and other treats of equally tasty caliber. Which model to buy should depend on your budget, dessert preferences and ever-fluctuating availability.
I’ll shout it from the rooftops: I have never encountered an easier-to-use appliance. I’d seen many videos online that made the Creami seem confusing: Wait, when do I add mix-ins? How long does the base need to freeze? Why are some mixtures crumbly? Once I had it on my countertop, though, all these questions were cleared up. The buttons make the process a no-brainer, and the literature that Ninja includes is insanely comprehensive.
Then, there’s the actual end result to consider. The ice cream is delicious. Right after processing, the luxurious, decadent texture is a mix between that of frozen custard and ice cream. Plus, there’s no shortage of recipes from Ninja itself or the internet, so there’s endless dessert dabbling possible. Although I don’t think I’ll be able to help myself from frequently returning to the pistachio flavor that rivals the best on the market.
Is it worth the hype? Heck yes. If you ask me, the gripes I’ve seen on the internet regarding the gadget’s noise levels, price, etc., all come out in the wash. That’s just how fun this product—and its creations—are.
KATIE BANDURSKI FOR TASTE OF HOME
If you're serious about frozen treats, you can't beat the power of a Ninja Creami. It churns everything from ice cream bases to protein shakes into delicious, creamy desserts.
Shop the entire line of Ninja Creami models on the brand’s website. You can also find select appliances at Amazon, Walmart and other mass merchants. Prices start at $230 for the original, $250 for the Deluxe version and $350 for the Creami Swirl. Welcome to the first pint of the rest of your life!
Excluding prep and freezing time (freezing takes 12-24 hours), the whole process of making ice cream takes about five minutes. When I add up the durations of the three programs I employed (ice cream, re-spin and + mix-in), it equates to four minutes. Tack on a couple of minutes here and there for adding mix-ins and surveying the consistency, and the whole process still clocks in at well under 10 minutes.
According to the Ninja Creami recipe pamphlet, the base becomes crumbly when it’s too cold. The re-spin function was designed to address this. Simply reinstall the pint and spin it again. Katie recommends adding a splash more liquid to ensure the final result is creamy—especially when making a low-fat recipe.
Ninja recommends freezing the base for a full 24 hours for maximum success, but I found that only about 15 hours was sufficient. Simply put, the base needs to be frozen solid all the way through in order to “creamify” correctly.
Ninja’s wunderkind can be hard to come by. Luckily, various iterations of the product are currently available through popular retailers. However, due to its unprecedented virality (thousands of TikTok videos are dedicated to its usage and recipes!), it is known to sell out occasionally, especially before big gifting holidays and right after new model releases.
The Creami’s popularity seemingly stems from its customizable nature. Many people are looking for ways to save money due to inflation, surveying where their food comes from and investigating what goes into it. Other folks just want healthy treats they can enjoy while still meeting their health goals. The Ninja Creami lets users do all those things and then some. Whether you want to stop paying $9 for a pint of ice cream from the supermarket or simply prefer oat milk or protein ice cream, the Ninja Creami is a smart solution.
Our Taste Recipes team has tried every Ninja Creami model we can get our hands on. For this review of the original Ninja Creami review, Editor Annamarie Higley used the ice cream maker to whip up ice cream from Ninja’s recipe guide. In our latest Ninja Creami Swirl review, Taste Recipes Producer Linda Cheung tested the all-new Ninja Creami Swirl before its launch. She made a protein soft-serve using a Fairlife Corepower vanilla protein shake for the base. Finally, Senior Shopping Editor Katie Bandurski has used the Ninja Creami Deluxe in her own kitchen for about a year. She uses it a handful of times each month, and even more often in the summer.
The Creami isn’t the only Ninja product we love. We’ve also tested (and approved) a Ninja blender, outdoor pizza oven, cooler, single-serve coffee maker and ceramic cookware. Ninja gear is well-loved by Taste Recipes product testers and editors, who frequently rank it among the best kitchen appliances, with a fair price point.
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