Ninja Creami Review

When the craving strikes, there’s nothing better than a creamy treat of high-quality ice cream or sorbet made with real fruit. Whether a pint from the grocery store or a trip to an ice cream shop, that frozen goodness just gets us every time.

But unfortunately, high-quality ice cream is expensive and pre-made sorbets are often loaded with added sugars. I have tried using at-home ice cream makers in the past, but they didn’t quite meet my specific expectations. That is, until I tried this Ninja ice cream maker and my homemade ice cream and sorbet dreams came true.

About the Ninja Creami

The Ninja Creami ice cream maker can turn simple ingredients into creamy milkshakes, gelato, smoothie bowls, sorbet, and (of course) ice cream. The entire system consists of a motor base with digital one-touch programs, a paddle, pint containers, and an outer bowl for processing.

It also comes with a recipe book so even the most inexperienced dessert-maker can learn how to whip up a rich gelato with ease.

How the Ninja Creami works

Unlike many home ice cream makers that require you to freeze a bowl or insert ahead of time, the Creami only requires that you freeze your liquid base.

While it takes some patience to wait 24 hours before you can actually whip up your dessert, you fortunately get multiple freezing containers in your starter kit (and you can purchase extras) so you never have to be without a frozen concoction ready to go. Plus, smoothie bowls, milkshakes, and "soft serve" can be whipped up without waiting.

Once your base has been set in the freezer for at least 24 hours, you are ready to make your treat. Remove the storage lid from your frozen container and place the pint in the outer processing bowl, lock the paddle lid in place, and insert it into the machine.

Spin the outer bowl up to secure it in place, then simply select the mode that matches what you want to create: Ice Cream, Sorbet, Milkshake, Gelato, Smoothie Bowl, Lite Ice Cream​, and Mix-in to add goodies like chocolate chips and other add-ins to your ice cream. Each mode processes slightly differently based on what's in the mixture and the desired output.

After about 2 minutes of processing, your treat is ready to be enjoyed. Remove the outer bowl from the machine, open the top that contains the paddle, and dig in. There's even a re-spin function if you want a creamier finished product.

What we like about the Ninja Creami

It’s easy to use

Some ice cream makers require many steps and pieces. But the Ninja Creami is truly simple to use, making the process quite mindless. As long as you have your frozen pint ready to go, making your frozen dessert is as simple as touching a button. Plus, clean-up is a breeze since the bowls, lids, and paddle are all dishwasher-safe.

The one-touch programs take the guesswork out of processing different types of treats, and the Mix-in function lets you personalize your creation (think: crushed cookies, pieces of chocolate, nuts, candy, fruit, sprinkles—the sky’s the limit).

It can handle all types of produce

The Ninja Creami can convert the contents of a can of pineapple chunks or canned sliced peaches (once frozen) into a bowl of cold sorbet goodness in minutes.

As long as the variety you're choosing is canned in natural fruit juice (not syrup or other options with added sugars), your sorbet is really a nutrient-rich snack that is made with 100% fruit and nothing artificial.

If I don’t have canned fruit available, frozen fruit works just as well when a sorbet craving strikes. Making a fruit sorbet with any kind of frozen fruit—from berries to mango—is simple to do. And the blades won’t even get stuck on the hard ingredients.

It helps me eat more fruit

Since this kitchen appliance so simply converts fruit into sorbet or a smoothie bowl, I find that I eat more produce when I incorporate the Ninja Creami into my life. Sure, eating fruit is easy enough to do. But a homemade sorbet or smoothie bowl makes meeting my fruit quota so much more fun. Now, instead of reaching for candy or a store-bought sorbet filled with added sugar, I whip up a sorbet made with only real fruit and I’m just as happy.

What we don’t like

It’s noisy

While I love the end-result of using the Ninja Creami, I don’t love enduring the noise this machine makes when it is working its magic.

Sure, I only have to suffer through a few minutes of the racket, but if I am trying to make sorbet without my husband knowing (and ultimately having to share with him), it is nearly impossible to do with the noise level that ensues.

Should you buy the Ninja Creami?

Yes!

If the thought of having freshly made sorbet, ice cream, gelato, or other frozen sweet treats at your fingertips sounds like something you would like, then the Ninja Creami should be on your shopping list. And if you are on Team Frozen Treat and you have a hard time eating enough fruit in your diet, this makes it a bit easier to sneak it in.

Sure, the price tag for the machine isn’t cheap. But if you are regularly buying products that the Ninja Creami can make, you may find that investing in this machine may save you money in the long run.

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.