Unless you work in the food service industry Ninja Cream unlike any other ice cream maker you’ve probably used before. This is because, until recently, the engineering powering Creami was owned by Pacojet (acquired by this company. Groupe SEB in 2023), developed expensive devices intended for use in restaurants. But after the patent expired, Ninja took the opportunity to develop a more affordable version for home cooks. While making ice cream in your own kitchen is more of a luxury than a true necessity (I’m sure some would disagree), Kreme makes the process so quick and easy, with surprisingly tasty results, that I hope more people give it a go.
Standard Cream or Deluxe?
The version I tested for this review is the standard Creami, which costs $200. However, there is a luxury model that costs a touch more than $230. The latter comes with a few extra settings (mostly drinks) for things like slushies and Creamiccinos (whatever), and an updated menu system to match. But the biggest change is that the Deluxe uses larger 24-ounce “pints” instead of the 16-ounce cans you get with the standard model. This means it’s easier to make larger batches for parties or other special occasions, while for smaller mixes you have the option of simply flipping the container up or down as needed.
Ninja
For people who want a compact machine to make all kinds of frozen treats, Creami delivers more than its $200 price tag might suggest.
- It is easy to use
- Mostly machine washable
- Surprisingly versatile
- Kind of loud
- Not the most attractive design
Design and how it works
Unlike traditional ice cream makers, Creami doesn’t rely on churning. Instead, you make a liquid ice cream base, freeze it solid (ideally within 24 hours), and then the machine essentially uses a drill press to churn (or churn, in Cream parlance) everything into a thick, delicious treat. The base of the machine is approximately 6.5 inches wide and 16 inches tall. It’s significantly smaller than most old-school ice cream makers, but it’ll still take up some space on your counter, especially for anyone who lives in an older home with lower cabinets. Be sure to measure before purchasing.
In addition to its main body, the Creami comes with an outer container, two plastic pint cups (plus tops), a large lid, and a paddle attachment that does all the heavy lifting. The pints fit inside the outer container, and the paddle is attached to the top of the lid. Then, once you’ve got everything together, you push all the hardware into the bench, turn the handle to lock it in place, and you’re good to go. Sure, it sounds complicated, but if you can use a food processor, you can use Cream. After the first swirl, you can always top off your creativity with some sprinkles, chocolate chips, or whatever else you like, and then hit the stir button to spread everything evenly throughout the pint.
My main complaint is that the Cream gets kind of loud when it’s actively stirred. It’s noisier than a food processor, but slightly quieter than a countertop blender at full blast. The first time I used the cream, my baby covered his ears and ran to another room. But the commotion only lasted a few minutes, and on subsequent attempts it stuck around (although that was probably because all the commotion knew the ice cream was on its way).
How delicious
Of course, the best part of trying Cream is trying everything it creates. To begin with, I relied on Ninjas surprisingly large catalog of recipes. My son wanted something with blueberries, so I came across this recipe blueberry honey ice cream with graham crackers, it turned out great, although I substituted coconut-based yogurt (my wife is lactose intolerant) and skipped the graham cracker crumble. Then I made the syrup this formula, but with key lime juice instead of lemon. It was smooth and juicy and it might have been my favorite. Then my wife used it these instructions creating a true vegan option that tastes rich and creamy, even though it uses zero milk.
After that I went for a more freewheeling approach and started throwing stuff in with abandon. The most surprising thing is how difficult it is to mess up a party, even if things don’t go as planned. For example, although there isn’t a specific setting for it, I wanted to see if Cream could make something close to shaved ice. Although the texture of my creation was more like froyo than distinct flakes, I was amazed at how good a simple mixture of whole milk with a few tablespoons of condensed coconut milk could be. So unless you go completely wild, it’s pretty hard to make something that doesn’t taste good.
However, there are some important differences between what Creami makes and more traditional ice cream. Because the base is folded instead of folded, there is less air inside your finished product. This is good because it increases the flavor intensity and gives a slightly denser, more luxurious mouthfeel. Compared to ice cream, frozen custard is almost closer. The downside is that less air means less insulation, so food tends to melt more quickly. I’ve noticed that after swirling something in the cream, the consistency is often infinitely runny, like when you leave a pint from the freezer on the counter for a few minutes too long.
Now, if you eat something right away, this can be a bonus, as I prefer a softer product instead of something you really have to bite into. But if you’re not, it’s important to put whatever you put into your ice cream box right before it turns into a puddle again. On the flip side, if your base is too cold before you put it in the cream and it comes out too hard or thick, you can just swirl the pint again (there’s a special knob for that), which will help smooth it out.
Collection
For someone like me with a relatively small kitchen, anything that takes up valuable space on my counter or pantry should be just as good or even more so. good. Although I’m still not sure I need it, creamy It’s something I want to make room for. Of course, what it creates isn’t quite the same as a more traditional shredder, and the machine is far from the prettiest kitchen appliance I’ve ever owned. But Creami is certainly still a great ice cream maker and has some advantages over more traditional competitors. Flavors are more intense and textures smoother. Meanwhile, cleaning is also not difficult as most of the parts are machine washable or easy to wash. You also get the freedom to control what ingredients you use or mix in, which is almost essential when you live with a handful of people with food allergies/restrictions. At just $200 for the standard model, it feels like a great deal. Just remember to use it in moderation because it can be too much of a good thing.
