I reviewed this Ninja ice cream maker — it’s the perfect gadget for keeping kids entertained during the holidays
DURING school holidays in a summer defined by record-breaking temperatures, there surely can't be a gadget as exciting as an ice cream machine. We've put Ninja's Ice Cream Maker, the CREAMi, to the test to see if it's worth the price tag.
It certainly sounds intriguing, but how easy is it to achieve tasty results? As an ice-cream lover with young kids, I was more than happy to put this latest Ninja gadget through its paces; here's everything you need to know.
- Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Maker, £199 at Amazon - buy here
Overall rating: 4/5
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- Makes ice cream in minutes (after pre-freezing)
- Creates a range of frozen desserts and drinks
- Recipes to cater for restricted diets
Cons
- Requires 24 hours freeze time
- Can only make small amounts at one time
- Takes up space in your kitchen
Ninja ice cream and frozen dessert maker: quick summary
The Ninja CREAMi is a really clever and useful appliance for a whole range of reasons.
It's really quick and easy to create the base and there's a great range of recipes to choose from, including ones for gelato, sorbets and smoothies as well as traditional ice cream. There are also plenty of healthier options and nut, gluten and dairy-free varieties.
On the downside, having to pre-freeze your base for a minimum of 24 hours does require some pre-planning (and wouldn't work if your kids are demanding ice cream NOW) but you could always have one in the freezer ready to pop in your maker whenever you need it.
The tub size is also quite small (serving four people) so it would make sense to order extras and have a few in your freezer if you have a bigger group to cater for.
I was sold on the speed and simplicity of the process, the great-tasting results and the scope to be creative and have fun with the recipes.
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Ninja ice cream and frozen dessert maker: full review
Ninja ice cream maker review: the verdict
Although the Ninja CREAMi is re-inventing what an ice cream maker is, it works and achieves great tasting results.
The price tag is a factor (it's mid-range among other ice cream makers, and some also include a freezing feature) and 24 hours minimum is a long time, but for me, the system works to pop it in the freezer a day or two before I need it.
The small tubs could also be an issue for some but again, this worked fine for me — it was plenty to provide desserts for my family and I liked the idea of having different flavours in tubs in the freezer, ready for me to whip up some gelato or a smoothie whenever I felt like it.
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I think perfecting the texture probably takes some practice and ensuring you follow the recipe accurately but I loved how experimental you could be with the flavours and textures of desserts — as your confidence grows, it could be quite addictive to come up with new and inventive flavour combinations.
Overall, I was won over by how quick and convenient the process was, from mixing up the ingredients in minutes, pre-set options for the different desserts and then popping all the parts in the dishwasher at the end — job done.