The Ninja Creami has become one of the most popular at-home ice cream makers, but is it worth the investment? In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, I tested both the Ninja Creami 7-in-1 model and Deluxe 11-in-1 models to evaluate performance, ease of use, and overall value. Here's what I found.
How is a Ninja Creami different from a regular ice cream maker?
Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker
Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream Maker
Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream Maker
The Ninja Creami works differently from traditional ice cream makers. Instead of churning ingredients as they freeze, you freeze your mixture in the included containers for about 24 hours, then process it whenever you're ready to eat. This approach lets you keep multiple flavors on hand and make a fresh serving in just a few minutes.
Another benefit is flexibility. The Creami's individual containers make it easy to prepare different flavors at once, while traditional ice cream makers typically make one larger batch at a time. The 7-in-1 model includes two 2-cup containers, while the Deluxe 11-in-1 comes with two larger 3-cup containers. You can also purchase additional containers if you'd like even more flavors ready to go.
The Creami is also more versatile than many traditional ice cream makers. The 7-in-1 model can make ice cream, lite ice cream, gelato, sorbet, smoothie bowls, and milkshakes. The Deluxe model is especially useful for families or frequent entertainers because it can make everything from frozen coffee drinks and slushies to frozen yogurt and Italian ice without requiring separate appliances. Both models can mix in ingredients like cookies, candy, or fruit and work with a wide range of recipes, including dairy-free and fruit-based options.
How the Ninja Creami performed in our tests
In the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen & Cooking Lab, we've tested nearly 20 ice cream makers, and our team of food experts and recipe developers uses them often at home.
When I tested the Ninja Creami in the Lab, my team and I were impressed by its performance. In fact, the 7-in-1 model earned a Good Housekeeping Kitchen Gear Award for its innovative design. Using a vanilla ice cream base, we made both ice cream and gelato. Each came out creamy, delicious, and scoopable, with the gelato noticeably lighter and silkier than the ice cream. Unlike many traditional ice cream makers, neither dessert needed additional freezing after processing.
I also tried two recipes from Ninja's recipe booklet: Cookies 'n Cream and Death by Chocolate, which have similar bases (milk, heavy cream, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract), and use the machine's mix-in feature. Both processed smoothly and produced rich, creamy results.
Our one complaint was the mix-in function. Creating the recommended divot for cookies and candy pieces was a little tricky, and the mix-ins didn't distribute as evenly as we expected after reprocessing. Even so, the finished desserts tasted great.
To see how the Creami performed outside the Lab, we sent eight machines home with some very excited consumer testers and several editors from our Test Kitchen. They used them to make everything from ice cream and milkshakes to sorbets, margaritas, and banana-based “nice cream.”
Across the board, testers found the machine easy to use. Several praised how quickly it worked—a traditional ice cream maker can take about 20 minutes to churn, while the Creami can process a frozen pint in roughly 4 minutes. Others appreciated having complete control over the ingredients.
There are a few downsides to keep in mind. The Creami is loud during operation, with a noise level similar to a blender. Testers also noted that freezing the base for 24 hours requires advance planning, and some recipes occasionally needed an extra spin to achieve the smoothest consistency.
Pros and cons of the Ninja Creami
Pros
- Produces creamy, scoopable ice cream and gelato
- Can make a wide variety of frozen treats
- Easy to use
- Lets you customize ingredients
- Processes frozen pints quickly
Cons
- Loud during operation
- Requires 24 hours of freezing before use
- Mix-ins don't always distribute evenly
- More expensive than many traditional ice cream makers
The bottom line: Is the Ninja Creami worth it?
Yes, I think the Ninja Creami is a unique appliance that performs well. It's fun for parents, college students, and anyone looking to experiment with their own ingredients. It's also great for entertaining and makes a great gift.
I'd recommend buying the Ninja Creami if you enjoy trying new appliances and recipes and are looking for a quick, customizable snack or dessert (even though you do have to prep the ingredients in advance). I particularly liked how many different styles of desserts and snacks we could make with it. It's easy to use and feels like a product we'll continue having fun with even after owning it for a while.
While the Creami costs more than many traditional ice cream makers, its ability to make multiple frozen treats, customize ingredients, and process frozen pints in minutes helps justify the higher price if you’ll use it frequently.
If you'd rather churn ice cream the old-fashioned way, are looking to make big batches, or don't plan to make ice cream often, consider a traditional ice cream maker, which is typically less pricey.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Ice cream lover Nicole Papantoniou tested each version of the Ninja Creami for this review. As director of the Kitchen & Cooking Lab, she has also tested numerous traditional ice cream makers. She is a recipe developer trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition.
