By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-11-18 16:50:10 | Updated at 2024-11-18 18:42:59
1 hour ago
Price: £149.99, John Lewis
Our rating: 9/10
We like:
- Easy to use
- Fast churning
- You can make multiple flavours in one day
We don’t like:
- Quite noisy
- Can’t make large batches
What is the Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker?
The Ninja Creami 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker is a clever, intuitive and modern looking ice cream maker with a 1.4 litre capacity. With the machine’s presets, you can make classic ice cream as well as gelato, sorbet and even smoothie bowls. To operate it, you place ingredients into the included 470ml tub to freeze overnight, then in the morning you can select your preset and let the machine churn it for you.
This latest version has an upgraded compact design and seven one-touch programmes, including mix-in options, meaning you can add chunky bits like chocolate, nuts or fruit without them turning to mush. It’s also faster and (a little) quieter - which are both big pluses.
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How we test ice cream makers
When something is touted as ‘Tiktok famous’, we’re more sceptical than usual when reviewing, putting appliances through more rigorous and stringent testing than even our usual high standards to figure out if they’re just a fad or if they’re genuinely useful.
I put the Ninja 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker through its paces over four weeks focusing on performance, usability and ease of cleaning. My main aim was to see how well it could handle both milkshakes and ice cream, testing a variety of flavours and textures along the way. From classic vanilla ice cream to indulgent chocolate milkshakes, I experimented with the seven pre-set programmes, checking how consistently it churned, froze and delivered a creamy finish. Clean-up was also a big focus, so I assessed how quickly I could disassemble and wash each part.
Design and looks: 9 out of 10
The design of the Ninja Ice Cream Maker is modern and surprisingly compact. While it’s narrow and doesn’t hog much counter space, it’s also quite high – I struggled to get it under my cupboards . The Creami’s intuitive control panel features seven pre-set programmes, each clearly labelled for quick selection, which keeps the process simple and user-friendly. The 1.4 litre tub fits neatly inside the machine, while the smart paddle is designed to churn ingredients smoothly for consistently creamy textures. It’s also easy to clean, with parts that come away from each other quickly.
A minor drawback is its weight. It’s slightly hefty for frequent moving, so it’s best to find a home for it on your kitchen top and leave it there.
Performance: 9 out of 10
The Ninja model churns ice cream in five to 10 minutes, depending on your recipe, delivering a smooth, creamy texture every time. However you do have to freeze your ingredients for 24 hours before, but this is easy to do in the provided pint tub.
While the machine isn’t quiet – think blender level noise – it’s such a powerful machine that I wasn’t surprised. The pre-set programmes are spot on, handling everything from ice cream to sorbets and even milkshakes. The one drawback is that there’s no beep to alert that your ice cream is ready, but as it’s fairly noisy you can tell when it’s finished. The machine’s consistent results and ability to create multiple textures set it apart from other home ice cream makers. For performance I found it reliable and fast, you just need to remember to prepare the mixture in advance.
Usability: 10 out of 10
I found the seven one-touch presets to be very useful – I simply had to press what I was making and it quickly whipped up everything, whether it be ice cream, milkshakes, sorbets or even smoothie bowls. It also has a mix-in function that lets you customise with ingredients like chocolate chips, nuts or fruits at the end of the churning, without disrupting the creamy texture.
I loved how this machine didn’t make my additions go soft and mushy, unlike some of the other machines I’ve reviewed. Each programme is intuitive and easy to use, so you can pick your texture and let the machine do the hard work. These settings definitely set it apart from other machines, as they remove the guesswork and streamline the whole process.
Results: 9 out of 10
Most of the time the Ninja ice cream maker delivered smooth, creamy ice cream with impressive texture, thanks to its Creamify Technology. There were moments when the ice cream wasn’t as creamy as I’d hoped, but this was likely due to human error. A couple of times I became impatient and didn’t fully chill the base before churning. Also, some flavours took a little longer and took a few more ‘re-spins’ to reach the perfect texture.
Gelato came out rich and velvety, while sorbets were refreshingly light. The milkshakes were also perfectly blended, thick without being too heavy. Overall, the machine performed well across all settings, making it an excellent all-rounder. With a bit of practice, I found I achieved good results every time.
Cleaning: 8 out of 10
Cleaning the ice cream maker is relatively easy, though not quite as effortless as I would have hoped. The removable parts, including the lid, paddle and bowl are all dishwasher safe, which is a huge plus. I found that a quick rinse before placing them in the dishwasher ensured everything cleaned well.
The base unit itself also requires a bit of wiping down, especially if any ice cream splatters occur during the process. I found it was better to do this straight after, rather than leaving it a day or two. It’s not too time-consuming, but it’s worth noting that you’ll need to give it a little extra attention.
Technical Specifications
One of Ninja’s biggest competitors is the Cuisinart Iced Dessert Maker. Here’s how it stacks up against the Creami 7-in-1 ice cream maker:
Verdict
The Ninja Creami 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker is great value for money with its impressive performance, ease of use, and versatility. The seven presets make it simple to create a variety of frozen treats, from smooth ice cream to gelato and milkshakes. While the cleaning process isn’t entirely hands-off, the machine’s consistency and quality are top-notch. I really enjoyed using it and can see myself using it weekly for homemade treats. It’s definitely one of the best on the market, easily outshining competitors like Sage and ProCook thanks to its powerful features and reliable results. Overall, a solid investment.
FAQ
What are the main features of the Ninja Creami ice cream maker?
Different settings and programmes: It offers multiple settings for making a variety of frozen treats, which include settings for ice cream, sorbet, gelato, smoothie bowls, and milkshakes. It also has a mix-in function that lets you customise your ice cream with other ingredients.
Creamify Technology: Using powerful blades and a unique creaming process, the Ninja Creami transforms solid frozen bases into creamy ice cream. It also blends down hard-frozen mixtures into smooth, scoopable textures with minimal air, ideal for gelato or rich ice cream.
Easy-to-follow freezing process: The process starts by freezing your base in one of the provided pint tubs for 24 hours. Once frozen, the pint is loaded into the machine, which blends the contents into a creamy consistency in just a few minutes.
Customisable texture: If the texture isn’t quite to your liking on the first spin, you can use the “re-spin” function to achieve a smoother, creamier texture without re-freezing.
Can I use dairy-free or alternative ingredients in the Ninja Ice Cream Maker?
Yes, you can make plant-based, dairy-free, low-sugar, and even keto-friendly frozen desserts with it.
How long does it take to make ice cream with the Ninja Ice Cream Maker?
Making ice cream with the Ninja Creami involves a two-part process: freezing the base and then processing it into ice cream. After preparing your ice cream base, you’ll need to freeze it for 24 hours in one of the included pint containers. This ensures that the mixture is fully solid and ready to be creamed. Once the base is completely frozen, insert it into the Ninja Creami, select your desired setting (ice cream, sorbet, etc.), and let the machine do its work.
The actual processing time takes about two to five minutes depending on the programme selected. If you’re not satisfied with the initial texture, you can use the “re-spin” function, which only takes an additional minute or two.
