Is the Ninja Creami Worth It?
Based on tests by America's Test Kitchen (Jun 2026). How we score
Save $139Depends. Cuisinart for most people.
Amazon prices as of Sep 29, 9:38 PM EDT (details)
Why
America's Test Kitchen rated it Recommended with Reservations: raspberry sorbet "turned out great," but with ATK's own recipes, vanilla ice cream "was soft and liquidy." For classic ice cream, ATK says a canister-style or self-refrigerating machine "is the best option," and its canister pick, the Cuisinart, makes three times as much per batch at about a third of the price. Buy the Creami if you want high-protein ice cream or frozen-fruit sorbets, where ATK found it "the easiest to use."
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the Ninja
Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker, 1.5 qt
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen's Best Canister-Style Ice Cream Maker, with desserts tasters called "even-textured," "velvety," and "delightful," and simple one-button operation. You freeze its bowl ahead of time, much as you freeze a Creami pint, but each batch makes 1.5 quarts to the Creami's pint. ATK didn't test long-term durability; its warranty is 3 years, and the Creami's listing doesn't state one.
| Criterion | Ninja | Cuisinart |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 1.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Ease of use | 2/3 | 3/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Ice Cream Makers (updated June 11, 2026)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Ice Cream Makers (updated June 11, 2026), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Common questions
Is the Ninja Creami better than a regular ice cream maker?
Not for classic ice cream, in America's Test Kitchen's testing: vanilla made with ATK's own recipes came out soft, and ATK recommends a canister-style or self-refrigerating machine for conventional ice cream and sorbet. The Creami did best with frozen-fruit sorbets and recipes written for it, and ATK calls it the easiest blade-style machine for high-protein ice cream.
How long does the Ninja Creami take?
Processing takes under two minutes, but the base has to be frozen solid first, which takes about 24 hours.
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Ice Cream Makers (updated June 11, 2026), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
