Ninja Creami Is Worth the Hype

The Ninja Creami is inescapable on the internet when looking for healthy ice cream recipes. It always seems to pop up when you least expect it. I guess you could say it’s a bit like… a ninja.

It seemed like there was one thing on everyone’s holiday wishlist this holiday season. This thing exploded in popularity on TikTok and Instagram. It’s helping everyone eat ice cream made out of beans and cottage cheese (yes, really). Have you guessed what it is yet? If you read the title of this blog post, I’m guessing you already know what it is.

The Ninja Creami is inescapable on the internet when looking for healthy ice cream recipes. It always seems to pop up when you least expect it. I guess you could say it’s a bit like… a ninja.

This time, however, I was expecting it when I opened my Hanukkah gift. It had been on my wishlist for a while. I was told that the Ninja Creami makes healthy ice cream, which is important for someone like me who loves to eat ice cream as much as possible.

Doing my due diligence before putting an expensive item on my wishlist, I read up on everyone’s complaints about the Ninja Creami. Some of them made me nervous:

“It sounds like a plane’s taking off from my kitchen.”

“The blade broke after five uses.”

“I found metal shavings in my ice cream.”

Worry not. After using the Ninja Creami multiple times with different recipes, I can give my honest review of it here. As of writing this, I am not sponsored by Ninja Creami. All opinions are my own. Let’s get into it.

Who should buy the Ninja Creami?

I absolutely love it, but not every product is for every person, and the Ninja Creami is no exception. For starters, it can set you back upwards of $200. It’s a big investment. You can see why I wanted to do my research before putting it on my wishlist!

The Ninja Creami is worth the cost if:

1.       You want to make healthier (low fat, low sugar, high protein, vegan, etc.) ice cream.

The Ninja Creami lets you get creative with ingredients. Where a normal ice cream machine would fail, the Ninja Creami excels. You can make a one-ingredient pineapple sorbet by dumping canned pineapple into your pint and freezing it. It’s super easy, and you don’t need to balance your recipe very much to ensure scoopability. With a few exceptions, the Ninja Creami can turn almost any frozen concoction into a smooth, creamy dessert.

2.       You want to make small batches of ice cream.

The standard Ninja Creami can make 16 ounces of ice cream at a time—that’s equal to one pint. Instead of committing to making a full quart like in a regular ice cream machine, you can make as little as one pint at a time. This is especially useful if you like testing new flavors. And speaking of which…

3.       You want to make lots of different flavors.

The Ninja Creami comes with two pint-sized containers, but you can order more if desired. You can freeze a bunch of different flavors, then just churn whichever one you’re in the mood for. It’s that easy.

Who should not buy the Ninja Creami?

The Ninja Creami is not worth the cost if:

1.       You don’t care if your ice cream is diet-friendly.

It can make regular ice cream, but if you only make ice cream with normal amounts of sugar, dairy, and fat, then you’re better off just getting a regular, less expensive ice cream machine. The way the Ninja Creami works is that it blends the crap out of a frozen block of ingredients. If you're using milk, sugar, and cream, then you don't need a strong blender, and using a regular ice cream machine with an unfrozen ice cream base will work just fine, no need to shell out the extra cash.

2.       You want to make a full quart of ice cream at one time.

The Ninja Creami does come in another size: The Ninja Creami Deluxe. However, this isn’t a review for the deluxe version. This is a review for the original Ninja Creami, and the original Ninja Creami only makes one standard-sized pint at a time. If you want to make ice cream in larger batches, then you should either invest in the Ninja Creami Deluxe or get a regular ice cream machine.

3.       You have sensitive ears.

I saw someone online compare the Ninja Creami’s churning noise to the sound of a jet engine. Another person compared it to a vacuum cleaner. As someone with a dog in the house, I was worried about the noise. I didn’t want my dog to panic. Thankfully, my dog was perfectly fine. However, the Ninja Creami is definitely very loud. I would compare it to a vacuum cleaner in its noise level, but the sound is higher pitched and more annoying. If you have thin walls, you won’t be able to use it at night without upsetting your neighbors. I have sensitive ears, so I either leave the room or put in earplugs. 

Tips

Using the Ninja Creami for the first time can be overwhelming, but I promise it isn't difficult at all. While the instruction manual explains how to use it, I still have plenty of tips to help walk you through the process.

1.       Don’t assume that you can throw literally anything into the machine and make ice cream. If you throw in a block of ice, you will break the blade. There’s more room for error than with a regular ice cream maker, but the Ninja Creami still has its limits.

2.       Freeze your pints on a level surface. Do not freeze them at an angle.

3.       If your ice cream domes in the middle, fill a cup with warm water and press down on the frozen surface with the cup until it is flat. Be careful not to use a cup that breaks from sudden fluctuations in temperature.

4.       When you’re removing the base from the machine, don’t remove the lid until the entire base is disconnected and lifted away from the machine. Otherwise, the lid sticks to the machine.

5.       RESPIN! If your ice cream comes out looking like couscous or sand, just press the respin button, then check on it again. Repeat as many times as needed. So far, I’ve only had to hit the respin button up to two times on a pint.

6.       A whole pint can be too much to eat in one sitting, but if you save some for later, it freezes solid. If this happens, just let it sit out for a few minutes at room temp before trying to dig in again.

7.       Thoroughly wash all removable components, shake out the water as much as possible, and let them air dry completely before putting them away.

8.       Remember to clean off the little nub on the machine. It sticks out and connects to the blade for churning. It looks like the bottom of a screw. I like to clean it with a sanitizing wipe first, then with a dry paper towel.

Q and A

Q: What can I make in the Ninja Creami?

A: Ice cream, sorbet, sherbet, frozen yogurt, milkshakes… I’ve also heard of someone making hummus, oddly enough.

Q: How do I use the Ninja Creami?

A: The Ninja Creami comes with a user manual that explains this better than I ever could. I recommend reading it for simple instructions on how to set it up. I promise it isn’t difficult!

Q: How do I clean the Ninja Creami?

A: All removable parts are dishwasher-safe for the top rack. I prefer washing everything by hand with a sponge, gentle dish soap, and water because I’ve heard that things last longer that way. As for the machine itself, if it gets dirty, a wet paper towel will do just fine. Be sure to clean the metallic nub that spins the blade.

Q: How can I deal with the loud noise?

A: There are $80 large pieces of plastic that you can buy to put on top of your machine to reduce the noise. However, I’m not paying that much for a piece of plastic. I either leave the room during churning or put in earplugs.

Q: Why don’t the sides and very bottom get churned?

A: Because the blade doesn’t reach that far. If it did, the pint container would break, and you’d get plastic in your ice cream. If the frozen sides bother you, just scoop the sides and bottom towards the middle after churning, then respin it once.

Q: Why does my ice cream look like sand/small pebbles/couscous, and how do I fix it?

A: The Ninja Creami blends through a frozen block of ingredients pretty efficiently. In doing so, it gives the frozen ice cream a larger surface area, so it softens more quickly. Sometimes, though, your ice cream will be so frozen solid that it doesn’t melt right away even with that extra surface area. Sometimes I actually enjoy this texture because it reminds me of Dippin Dots, but if you want your ice cream to be smooth, just put your pint back into the machine and press respin. One or two respins usually does the trick. You can also add a small splash of liquid or let your pint sit at room temperature for a few minutes to help it along during its respin.

Q: When I press the gray lever to put the blade in place, the lever doesn’t return all the way back to its resting position. Is it broken?

A: No, that’s normal. When the blade is in place, the lever does not return to its starting position.

Q: The blade can still move a little bit once it’s in place. Is that a problem?

A: No, that’s fine. The blade doesn’t lock firmly in place. It’s totally fine if it moves around a little bit.

Q: Can I make sorbet by churning just fruit?

A: Sometimes! It depends on the fruit. Pineapples and bananas do well. Fruits that are higher in sugar and fiber work better, and so do fruits that are lower in water. If you’re feeling unsure, try blending the fruit beforehand with a tablespoon or two of hard alcohol, such as vodka, before freezing; this may help keep it soft enough to blend without damaging the blade.

Q: How can I add small mix ins, like crushed cookie pieces?

A: The machine has a mix in function. Add your mix ins to the middle, then press the mix in button. This is a great option for crushed cookies, nuts, sprinkles, and other small things.

Q: How can I add chunky/large mix ins, like cookie dough bites?

A: Unfortunately, this is only possible by hand. Use your spoon to add them and mix them in. You will need to do this for large things that you want to remain intact. Otherwise, they’ll get blended to a pulp.

Q: How can I add ribbons/variegates, like caramel or jam?

A: Unfortunately, this also needs to be done by hand. Use your spoon to add them, and carefully fold them in. The fewer folds, the better.

Q: What should I make first?

A: Check out this amazing tahini ice cream recipe. I’ll be posting more recipes soon. Stay tuned!