Ah, homemade ice cream machines… I must say that I have always had a weakness for them. A long time ago, when I was little, my mother had an ice cream maker . I still remember the noise it made when turning, a bit like an old car engine. We had fun making sorbets as a family, and I remember a grapefruit sorbet we made. The taste was great, super refreshing, but... texture-wise, it wasn't really that good. There were always these ice crystals that spoiled the experience. At the time, we thought it was normal, but looking back, it was far from the cream of the crop!
Now that I have tried the Ninja Creami , I really see the difference. I had the opportunity to compare with traditional ice cream makers, and frankly, it's not at all the same crazy. So, I'm going to tell you everything you need to know to choose between the two.
1. Ease of use: Ninja Creami, the friend of lazy people (like me!)
Let's start with ease of use, because let's be honest, no one wants to spend hours struggling to make ice cream. With my mother's ice cream maker , we had to freeze the bowl 24 hours in advance, and very often, we forgot... Result: goodbye to ice cream the same day. We also had to watch while it was turning, hoping that the ice cream would set well.
With the Ninja Creami , everything is so much easier. You prepare your mixture, you put it in the small jars, you freeze, and that's it. When you're ready, you take your pot, you insert it into the machine, you press a button, and boom, a few minutes later, your ice cream is ready. No bowl to freeze for hours, no need to stand by to see if it turns out well. It changes everything. Honestly, for someone like me who loves ice cream but has zero patience, this is seriously the best.
2. Preparation time: a little anticipation on each side
So here, I have a pretty clear memory of the sorbets we made at home. The grapefruit sorbet we made took a good half hour to turn in the ice cream maker, but the longest part was really waiting for the bowl to be ready to use. And as I told you, we often forgot to freeze it in advance…
With the Ninja Creami , you still have to prepare your mixture in advance and freeze it, so yes, you also have to anticipate a little. But once it's done, the ice cream is ready in minutes. You don't have that "oh no, I forgot to freeze the bowl" thing, which, for me, makes all the difference. In terms of anticipation, it's great, but the Creami is just more practical when you want ice cream, right now.
3. The texture: here, the Ninja Creami crushes the competition
Okay, let's talk texture. As I said above, the grapefruit sorbet that I made in my mother's ice cream maker had a good taste, but in terms of texture, it wasn't crazy. There were always ice crystals , and that made the sorbet grainy. In fact, that's a bit of a problem with most traditional ice cream makers. Even when you follow the instructions carefully, it's difficult to get that smooth, creamy texture we all love.
With the Ninja Creami , on the other hand, it's the jackpot. The machine uses “inverted turbine” technology (it sounds very technical, but basically, it works really well!) which breaks up the ice crystals, and you get an ultra creamy . Seriously, whether for ice cream or sorbets, the result is just perfect. It reminds me of the artisanal ice creams that we buy at the ice cream parlor, without the little pieces of ice that ruin everything. texture alone , the Creami is clearly above classic ice cream makers.
4. Versatility: Ninja Creami is the Swiss army knife of frozen desserts
With a classic ice cream maker, what do you do? Ice cream and sorbets, that's about it. It's not bad if that's all you want, but with the Ninja Creami , you can do a lot more. In addition to ice creams and sorbets, you can make frozen yogurts , smoothies , and even protein ice creams (okay, I admit that I'm still struggling to find the right recipe, but I'm persevering!).
If you like to vary your pleasures and try something a little new, this is really a big plus . You're not limited to one type of frozen dessert, you can really explore lots of different options. For me, this is a major argument because, let's be honest, we quickly get tired of always eating the same thing!
5. The price: the traditional ice cream maker for small budgets
Well, we also need to talk about the elephant in the room: the price . Classic ice cream makers are generally much more affordable. For a few hundred euros, you can have a good quality machine. The Ninja Creami is more expensive. We are talking about 150 to 200 euros depending on the model. So, yes, it's a budget, but as I told you, with the Creami, you have professional quality and many more possibilities.
So, if your goal is just to make ice cream from time to time without taking the hassle, a classic ice cream maker can do the trick. But if you want a versatile machine that really lets you do it all , the Ninja Creami is a worthwhile investment.
Conclusion: which one to choose?
In the end, it all depends on what you're looking for. If you want something simple and not too expensive to make homemade ice cream from time to time, a classic ice cream maker will do the trick. But if you're looking for a machine that gives you crazy texture , with much wider possibilities (and without ice crystals!), then the Ninja Creami is clearly the best choice.
Honestly, after experiencing both, I have to say I would never go back to a regular ice cream maker. The Ninja Creami gives me so much better results, and without the hassle. It's a real game changer for lovers of homemade ice cream.
