I’ve tested the Ninja Creami and its biggest multi-functional rivals – here is the one I’d actually buy in a heatwave and why
Either way, you're in for a sweet summer
The ability to make frozen sweet treats at home, either for pudding or to wow your guests, is something that really comes into its own in the summer months.
A question that I've been discussing a lot with friends and family who are looking to purchase something similar is whether they should opt for one of Ninja's bestselling viral best ice cream makers or an appliance that can whip up slushies and soft serve instead.
The two leading examples of this are the Ninja Swirl and the Cuisinart Frost Fusion – both of which I've used extensively at home. Here's what each of these machines can achieve and which one you should opt for to get the most for your money.
If you want the full Pizza Hut Ice Cream Factory experience, you need the Swirl (it's amazing!). If you're less fussed about the fun of dispensing into a cone, then the Creami or Creami Deluxe (which has slush settings) may be better.
This lesser-known buy from Cuisinart has six settings: soft serve, slushie, sorbet, frosé, frozen cocktail and frappe. If you don't want to choose between ice cream or slushies, this is a good in-between. Our reviewer Annie recently rewarded it 4.5 stars out of 5 when she tried it in her review.
1. Functionality and preparation
It's really important to look at the different settings on offer with whichever sweet treat maker has caught your eye. The original Ninja Creami has less going for it than the Deluxe version which in turn is not quite as capable as the newer Swirl. But the kicker with all of them? Your ice cream or soft serve mix will always require pre-freezing.
Ninja doesn't have an ice-cream maker (yet) that doesn't require you to prepare materials in advance. It does have the Slushi, but that's drinks-limited.
Testing the Ninja Swirl at home.
The Cuisinart Frost Fusion is a hugely popular alternative that can whip up frozen desserts on the same day – in our tests we found it could take as little as 30 minutes. Below I've outlined the exact functionality differences between these bestsellers as well as the crucial pre-freezing times required.
Appliance | Functions | Pre-freeze time required? |
Ninja Creami | 7: Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Smoothie Bowl, Milkshake, Mix-In, Re-Spin | 24 hours |
Ninja Creami Deluxe | 11: the same 7 as Creami plus Creamiccino, Frozen Drink, Slushi, Italian Ice, Frozen Yoghurt | 24 hours |
Ninja Swirl | 13: Soft Serve settings (6), Scoop functions (7), Mix & Re-Spin | 24 hours |
Ninja Slushi | 6: Slush, Frozen Cocktail, Milkshake, Frozen Juice, Slush Assist | None (but drinks only) |
Cuisinart Frost Fusion | 6: Soft Serve, Frozen Yoghurt, Sorbet, Slushy, Frappe, Frosé | None |
There's plenty to weigh up with these speficiations laid out. The Cuisinart is the best option if you want to skip the faff of pre-freezing but the results won't be as firm as you can expect with Ninja's ice-cream alternatives – obviously the day spent in the freezer will do a lot to help your ingredients.
2. Fun factor
If you're considering buying one of these ice-cream makers, chances are you'll want to use it to impress your guests this summer. And while all of them have fun factor, some have more interactive features than others.
As someone who has tested all of the appliances listed above, the Swirl and the Cuisinart Frost Fusion are the most entertaining thanks to their soft serve dispensers if you want ice cream. Or if you're more interested in frozen drinks, the Slushi is far and away the machine you want.
If you've ever paid a visit to Pizza Hut's Ice Cream Factory, you'll know the thrill of trying to master the flow of ice cream and with these two, you can try that at home. Just bear in mind it does take a bit of practice!
The Cuisinart has the fun of dispensing soft serve with the benefit of doubling up as a slushie machine too, so it's arguably the better all-rounder. But for me, you can't beat Ninja when it comes to quality.
3. Price
These appliances are of course not an essential addition to a kitchen, but they're worth their weight in gold on a hot weekend if you're entertaining. My Slushi machine was hardly out of use last summer.
All of them are pretty pricey, but the best value option is Cuisinart's Frost Fusion considering how many functions it has. Ninja's offerings are pricier, yes, but the have the better quality overall and I can see all of the ones I've tested going the distance in my kitchen.
Sales periods help to bring the price of these machines down significantly. Right now, Amazon Prime Day sales offer a good summer window to snag a discount and Black Friday will be an even better time, as these appliances will be less in demand.
