{"id":1896226,"date":"2023-06-27T14:05:43","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T18:05:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=1896226"},"modified":"2025-01-30T11:15:14","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T17:15:14","slug":"ninja-creami-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/ninja-creami-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Ninja Creami Review: Is This Viral Ice Cream Maker Worth the Hype?"},"content":{"rendered":"Over the course of the five years that I've worked for Taste Recipes<\/em>, I've edited countless ice cream recipes<\/a>. So many, in fact, that I could recite the plug-and-chug process from memory, which is impressive considering it's quite a cumbersome one.\r\n\r\nFirst, 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, oftentimes overnight. Next, you churn it with your preferred ice cream maker<\/a>. Then, you let it freeze for three to four more<\/em> hours. Finally, you get to enjoy your ice cream\u2014one to two business days later.\r\n\r\nI've always been put off by all these steps: I'll stick to my store-bought ice cream pints<\/a>, thank you very much.\u00a0<\/em>But, recently, that changed.\r\n\r\nFrom what I was seeing on TikTok (and really just the internet at large), the flashy, viral Ninja Creami<\/a> skipped a bunch of these steps, streamlining homemade ice cream so much so that it could be an every-night indulgence. As a self-proclaimed ice cream fanatic, I just had to try it out firsthand.\r\n\r\n[dam-video dam-id=\"51209\" type_of_player=\"jw\" \/]\r\n\r\n \r\n

What is the Ninja Creami?<\/h2>\r\n\"finger\r\n\r\nThe Ninja Creami<\/a> is an appliance primarily lauded for its ice cream-making capabilities but it has numerous functions. I 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. The Deluxe version can make the aforementioned six treats, plus frozen yogurt, Italian ice, \"Slushis,\" \"Creamiccinos\" and frozen drinks.\r\n\r\nA Creami is not a blender (there are plenty of top-notch Ninja blenders<\/a> if that's what you're after), and the user manual makes that very<\/em> clear. You don't use this machine for crushing ice or blending loose ingredients. Rather, with Ninja's \"creamify\" technology, you churn frozen, liquid-based mixtures, typically made of cream or milk, into silky-smooth treats.\r\n\r\n[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"We Tried It\" product_name=\"Ninja Creami\" short_description=\"Transform frozen solid bases into ice cream, sorbets, milkshakes and more at the touch of a button.\" image=\"2084097\" image_credit=\"VIA MERCHANT\" pr_name=\"Ninja\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=131817X1598243&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ninjakitchen.com%2Fproducts%2Fninja-creami-7-in-1-ice-cream-maker-zidNC301\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Ninja\" retailers_2_name=\"Amazon\" retailers_2_url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ninja-NC501-Milkshakes-Programs-Containers\/dp\/B0B9CZ6XBQ\/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=7XMJFI42XRR9&keywords=Ninja+NC201QCN+CREAMi+Breeze+7-in-1+Ice+Cream+&+Frozen+Treat+Maker+for+Ice+Cream&qid=1707469865&s=home-garden&sprefix=ninja+nc201qcn+creami+breeze+7-in-1+ice+cream+&+frozen+treat+maker+for+ice+cream,garden,976&sr=1-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1&asc_refurl=https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/ninja-creami-review\/&asc_source=https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-admin\/post.php\" retailers_2_display_text=\"Shop on Amazon\" retailers_3_name=\"Walmart\" retailers_3_url=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=131817X1598243&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FNinja-Creami-with-2-pints-Ice-Cream-and-Frozen-Treat-Maker%2F5349984080\" retailers_3_display_text=\"Shop on Walmart\" retailers_4_name=\"Kohl's\" retailers_4_url=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com?id=131817X1598243&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kohls.com%2Fproduct%2Fprd-5164006%2Fninja-creami-ice-cream-gelato-sorbet-maker.jsp\" retailers_4_display_text=\"Shop on Kohl's\" \/]\r\n\r\n \r\n

Ninja Creami Product Features<\/h2>\r\nThe Ninja Creami Breeze<\/a> doesn't require assembly, so there are only a few parts inside the box. There's the unit itself, which contains the motor base. Additionally, you'll find two 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!).\r\n\r\nOn the face of the machine, there are nine 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, as well as tracks the progress of the program. It flashes twice when the program is over, then shuts off.\r\n

How We Tested It<\/h2>\r\nI 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.\r\n

Preparing<\/h3>\r\nWhile working on this Ninja Creami review, I was all about by-the-book testing. I followed the brand's recipes for Cookies & Cream and Pistachio ice cream, which can be found in the included recipe pamphlet.\r\n\r\nThe night before, I stirred together the bases, consisting of cream cheese<\/a>, 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.\r\n\r\nNote: It's a little clunky to prepare two bases at once. If your household has a favorite flavor, I'd suggest doubling one base recipe and filling both pints with it rather than making separate flavors simultaneously. (Add extra Creami pints<\/a> to your list of must-have ice cream accessories!)\r\n

Freezing<\/h3>\r\n\"making\r\n\r\nOnce 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.\r\n\r\nI'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.\r\n\r\nHeading 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.\r\n\r\nThere'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.\r\n

Processing<\/h3>\r\nWorking with one flavor at a time, I swapped out the storing 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.)\r\n\r\nNext, 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.\r\n\r\n\"ice\r\n\r\nSo, from there, 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.\r\n\r\nAfter this 70-second program, the base was still a little crumbly\u2014not quite what I'd call creamy. But I forged ahead and added my mix-ins (i.e., crushed Oreos). I snapped the pint back into place and employed the \"+ mix-In\" function, which, of course, had its own button.\r\n\r\n\"adding\r\n\r\nAfter another 70 seconds of whirring (the reports are correct\u2014this 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.\r\n\r\nFor the clearest instructions, I recommend referring to the \"Assembly & Process\" section of the Ninja Creami Breeze Quick Start Guide, which comes in the box.\r\n

Cleaning<\/h3>\r\nWord to the wise: Don't place the processing lid directly on your counter. The base will<\/em> melt and seep through the hole on the top, ultimately making your kitchen surfaces sticky. Instead, toss it straight in the sink.\r\n\r\nWith this teensy tip in mind, cleaning the Creami Breeze is, well, a breeze. There are only three pieces that need washing: the processing lid, paddle and pint (and this last one needn't be cleaned until you're done scarfing down your ice cream).\r\n\r\nDetach the paddle from the processing lid by toggling the paddle latch\u2014this 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.\r\n\r\nBefore putting the Creami away, I wiped down the tray and backsplash around the motor base with a soapy rag because of the aforementioned drippage.\r\n

Six-Month Update<\/h3>\r\nOur Prep Kitchen Manager, Catherine Ward<\/a>, has been using the Ninja Creami for several months. \"The Breeze has my heart and I\u2019m not going back,\" she says.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nCatherine 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. \"<\/span>I mix those dry ingredients with just enough water to dissolve, then whisk it into the almond milk,\" Catherine says. \"I only fill the ice cream container half way so it\u2019s a single serving. I often have to re-spin as it comes out dry and crumbly on the first run on \u201clite ice cream,\u201d but then it\u2019s perfectly smooth and creamy. I have noticed with the Breeze that there is more volume in the finished ice cream than the last model and it has a creamier texture.\"<\/span>\r\n\r\nCatherine also notes that the Ninja Creami Breeze containers are easier to position into the base than previous models. It's also a tiny bit quieter\u2014but, as far as kitchen appliances go, is still pretty noisy. \"It makes ice cream so fast that it\u2019s really not a bother,\" Catherine quips.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

Finally, the Ninja Creami Breeze consistently churns out creamy results. \"The vanilla ice cream from the recipe book is on the icy side of creamy on the older model, and melts pretty fast, losing its creamy consistency,\" Catherine says. \"I find it to be creamier on the Breeze model. It seems as if there may be more air incorporated during churning in this model so the result is a little more product with a little creamier mouth feel and appearance. It also doesn\u2019t melt as rapidly.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Pros<\/h3>\r\n