Ninja Creami Deluxe Review: Viral ice cream maker is “genius”
Does it live up to the hype? With millions of views over on TikTok, these are my honest thoughts on the Ninja Creami.
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When it comes to eating healthy, my one downfall (like many others I’m sure) is those damn delicious sweet treats – who can say no to a little something after dinner?
Enter a kitchen appliance that helps you create your very own frozen treats with complete control over the ingredients.
When I first saw the Ninja Creami online, I was immediately hooked.
And if you’re anything like me, I was watching recipe videos over on TikTok, without even owning the appliance myself – and the videos in questions have millions and millions of views.
It’s official – TikTok loves the Ninja Creami.
Think of it as an ice cream maker, but with 11 different functionality options and complete control over the ingredients – perfect for those looking to follow a more healthier lifestyle.
Here’s exactly what I thought of the Ninja Creami Deluxe after testing it out for two weeks.
1-MINUTE REVIEW: NINJA CREAMI DELUXE ICE CREAM AND FROZEN TREAT MAKER
Ninja Creami Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream and Frozen Treat Maker, $349.99 (down from $449.99) at Ninja
What You Need To Know:
If you love playing around with different recipes in the kitchen, can’t say no to a frozen treat and have the cash to splurge, the Ninja Creami Deluxe is sure to become your new best friend.
I was eyeing it off for a few months and now that I own it, I can’t see myself ever not using it.
One of the most common misconceptions about the Ninja Creami Deluxe is that it works like a blender. This is not true, and something that I was pretty surprised to find out.
The Ninja Creami Deluxe works by making a pre-mixed base, freezing it for 24 hours and
then spinning it in the machine to create your delicious frozen treat.
The beauty of this machine is that everything is personalised completely to you – so you can follow any dietary requirements you have with complete ease.
And don’t fret if you’re stuck for recipes – Ninja provides you with a handy booklet chock full of ideas. Or you can also just have a search on TikTok – it’s going crazy viral over there with so many people invested in creating new and exciting flavours and treats.
Obviously not a necessity in your kitchen like a kettle or toaster, but the Ninja Creami Deluxe is a fun addition to help you have fun with your healthy lifestyle.
What comes in the box: Motor Base with Dual Drive Motors, Three 700ml Deluxe Tubs with Storage Lids, Outer Bowl and Lid, Deluxe Creamerizer Paddle and a Recipe inspiration guide.
HOW WE TESTED THE NINJA CREAMI DELUXE ICE CREAM AND FROZEN TREAT MAKER
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I tested the Ninja Creami Deluxe for two weeks, trialling as many different recipes and modes as I could. I experimented with creating ice cream, lite ice cream, frozen yoghurt, as well as using the mix-in feature.
HOW WE EVALUATED THE ICE CREAM MAKER
- What is the Ninja Creami Deluxe?
- Function and features
- How to use the Ninja Creami Deluxe
- Price: How much does the Ninja Creami Deluxe cost?
- Verdict: Should you buy the Ninja Creami Deluxe?
- Other comparable ice cream makers and blenders
FULL REVIEW OF THE NINJA CREAMIE DELUXE ICE CREAM AND FROZEN TREAT MAKER
Now to preface, I tested the Ninja Creami Deluxe but you can also get your hands on the Ninja Creami – it’s priced at $299.99, on sale from $499.99.
The original version offers seven functions, while the Deluxe edition offers 11 – new functions being the slushie, Italian ice, frozen drink, Creamiccino and frozen yoghurt. The Deluxe also gives you bigger tubs – they’re 700ml and hold 50 per cent more ice cream than the original Ninja Creami.
WHAT IS THE NINJA CREAMI DELUXE?
Not an ice cream maker and not a blender, but somewhere in between, the Ninja Creami Deluxe is a super unique kitchen appliance.
It uses ‘Creamify’ technology – the dual drive motor move through the tub and spins the paddle to finely shave and transform ice particles into delicious treats in less than five minutes.
FUNCTION AND FEATURES
When it comes to the Ninja Creami Deluxe, you get to choose from ice cream, lite ice cream, sorbet, gelato, milkshake, slushi, creamiccino, frozen yoghurt, frozen drinks and Italian ice.
There’s also the option to add mix-ins (think Cold Rock vibes) or re-spin your program if it turns out crumbly (more on this below).
You also have to choose your processing mode – either top, full or bottom. This is the program you select first and just determines how much of the Deluxe tub you would like to Creamify, i.e. so if you’re mixing the whole tub, you’ll hit “full”.
This also means that you can turn one frozen base into two finished flavours with halfway processing. How handy!
HOW TO USE THE NINJA CREAMI DELUXE
The real greatness of the Ninja Creami Deluxe is the fact that you have complete control over the recipe … it’s kind of genius.
Below is a recipe I absolutely loved – in your tub, mash down one banana, a chocolate protein shake, maple syrup, vanilla extract and high protein yoghurt. Freeze it for 24 hours and then get ready to Creamify.
Something that can happen often is the first spin will leave you with a crumbly texture – don’t panic, this is totally normal and just requires you to add a splash of liquid and hit it for a “re-spin”, or sometimes two.
Next is the fun part – adding your favourite mix-ins. My sweet tooth was really kicking in for this one so I decided to add some Oreos. Simply carve out a small hole in the middle, making sure it reaches to the bottom of the tub. Pop in your treats, hit the mix-in button and then you’ll get a delicious Oreo, chocolatey delight. Just look at that texture!
One of the more healthier options I loved to make is this raspberry and strawberry healthy ice cream. Simply add raspberries, strawberries, high protein yoghurt, vanilla protein powder, maple syrup and vanilla extract to your base, freeze, mix and voila!
It is truly so, so delicious and I may or may not have eaten it like a smoothie bowl for breakfast one morning …
Something to keep in mind with the Ninja Creami Deluxe is that it does involve some experimentation. Over the two weeks, I created about 10 or so different recipes – some of them being amazing, and others getting there after many attempts.
Don’t lose hope, there’s so much amazing inspiration online and it’s super fun to try different things.
PRICE: HOW MUCH DOES THE NINJA CREAMI DELUXE COST?
The Ninja Creami Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream and Frozen Treat Maker is normally priced at $449.99, but is currently on sale for $100 off at Ninja, costing you just $349.99.
Depending on the time of year, you should be able to find some sort of discount on it – or you could wait around for the next big sale event like Black Friday, Boxing Day or Afterpay Day.
So is it worth it? If you’re regularly buying healthy sweet treats or frozen yoghurt (which almost always cost upwards of $10), you’ll be sure to get your money’s worth in no time.
VERDICT: SHOULD YOU BUY THE NINJA CREAMI DELUXE?
Do I think the Ninja Creami Deluxe is worth the cash? It depends on your situation.
The $449.99 price tag isn’t easy to come by, especially in this cost-of-living crisis.
But if you know you like to get creative in the kitchen, I think this is a great appliance to add to your collection.
Keep in mind that it is a little big and bulky – so it may not be ideal for those living in a smaller apartment.
The Ninja Creami Deluxe is fantastic at supporting a healthy lifestyle as you are able to create totally customisable frozen treats.
I would spend so much money on those sugar-free ice creams, that almost always taste awful and would be packed with loads of unnecessary ingredients.
The Ninja Creami Delxue does the hard work for you – all you need to do is get creative, freeze it, spin it and then enjoy.
OTHER COMPARABLE ICE CREAM MAKERS AND BLENDERS
If you’re looking for another kind of ice cream maker, Breville’s The Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker is a popular choice with an average rating of 4.5 out of five from over 200 Myer reviews. The price point is a little higher – sitting at $529 – and it’s a lot bigger and bulkier.
Looking for a great blender instead? Keep in mind they won’t create a delicious ice cream texture for you, but they will help you create some frozen healthy treats.
Ninja has a huge range of highly-rated blenders to choose from, including the Ninja Nutri-Blender Pro With Auto IQ (on sale for $159.99) and the Ninja Blast Portable Blender (on sale for $79.99).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS THE NINJA CREAMI JUST A BLENDER?
Contrary to popular belief, the Ninja Creami is not just your average blender.
Sure it blends things for you, but not in the way your smoothie maker would.
You need to prep and pre-mix your base, freeze it for 24 hours and then turn it into ice cream and other frozen treats.
DOES THE NINJA CREAMI REALLY NEED 24 HOURS TO SET?
The Ninja Creami does recommend you freeze your base for 24 hours before putting it through the machine. Now this can be frustrating for people who forget to prep their bases ahead of time, and are looking for a last minute sweet treat.
Most of the bases I created over the two weeks were sitting in the freezer for 24 hours (or longer) but I did decide to trial a 12-hour frozen base because I was impatient.
The results were certainly not the same compared to if it were frozen for longer. Instead it turned my mixture into more of a smoothie bowl texture – still delicious, but just don’t expect that perfect ice cream look and feel.
HOW DO YOU CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE NINJA CREAMI?
After using it consistency for two weeks, I have to say I find the Ninja Creami super easy to clean. All the parts are dishwasher safe, although I do sometimes just find it easier to hand wash so the choice is yours.
Once I’m done with my delicious froze treat, I wash the motor base (which pops in and out really easily), the tub, the outer bowl and the lid. Then after every few uses, I’ll make sure to wipe down the entire machine to keep dust at bay.
More Coverage
Despite how large it is, the Ninja Creami is super easy to clean and maintain.
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