Buying guide

Ninja CREAMi: which model should you buy?

The CREAMi turns a frozen base into silky ice cream, gelato, sorbet or a milkshake in minutes, and it’s brilliant for high-protein and low-sugar recipes. There are three models in the UK. Here’s how they differ.

CREAMi Deluxe
CREAMi (original)
Ninja Swirl
Compare
Tips

How it works

Freeze, spin, scoop

Make a base
Mix milk, cream and sugar, or blend fruit, yoghurt or a protein shake. Pour it into a CREAMi tub.
Freeze for 24 hours
Pop the lid on and freeze it flat. Most owners keep a few tubs ready to go.
Pick a program
Ice Cream, Gelato, Sorbet, Lite and more. The blade shaves and whips the frozen block in minutes.
Mix in & enjoy
Add chocolate, biscuits or fruit with the Mix-In program, or Re-spin for an even creamier finish.

The models

The three UK CREAMi machines

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Best overall

Ninja · NC501UK

Ninja CREAMi Deluxe

Best for: Families, and anyone who wants ice cream and frozen drinks

Everything the original does, with 50% bigger tubs and extra drinks programs. The clever bit is the 2-in-1 option: process only the top or bottom half of a tub, so you can make two flavours from one freeze.

10 programs, adding Frozen Yoghurt, Frappé, Frozen Drink & Slushi
XL 709ml tubs, 50% larger than the original
2-in-1 flavour: process the top or bottom half of a tub
About 42cm tall, so check your cupboard clearance

Why we like it

Bigger batches for families
Makes frozen drinks as well as ice cream
Also comes in a Stone/Gold finish

Bear in mind

Taller than the original
Still needs a 24-hour freeze
XL tubs take more freezer space

££££ Check price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab, affiliate link)

Best value CREAMi

Ninja · NC300UK

Ninja CREAMi

Best for: First-time CREAMi owners and high-protein ice cream fans

The original CREAMi. Freeze a base in one of the tubs, then the machine shaves and whips it into scoopable ice cream, gelato, sorbet or a milkshake in minutes. Seven programs cover almost everything most households want.

7 one-touch programs: Ice Cream, Gelato, Sorbet, Lite Ice Cream, Smoothie Bowl, Milkshake & Mix-In
3 × 473ml tubs with lids included
Freeze your base for 24 hours, then process in minutes

Why we like it

Lowest-cost way into the CREAMi range
Brilliant for high-protein and low-sugar recipes
Tubs double as freezer storage

Bear in mind

Needs planning: bases freeze for 24 hours
Loud for the minute or two it’s processing
Smaller tubs than the Deluxe

££££ Check price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab, affiliate link)

Best for soft serve

Ninja · NC701UK

Ninja Swirl by CREAMi

Best for: Soft-serve cones at home. Kids love the handle.

A CREAMi with a soft-serve dispenser built in. Make scoopable ice cream as usual, or pull the handle to pipe café-style soft serve, frozen yoghurt and fruit whip straight into a cone.

13 programs, including 6 dedicated soft-serve programs
Soft Serve, Fruit Whip, Frozen Custard, CreamiFit, Swirled Frozen Yoghurt & Lite Ice Cream
Automatic soft-serve handle with 3 speeds
2 Swirl tubs with nozzles, plus a pull-out drip tray

Why we like it

Scoop and soft serve in one machine
Great fun for parties and kids
CreamiFit program for lighter treats

Bear in mind

Largest footprint in the CREAMi range
More parts to wash than a standard CREAMi
Costs more than the original

££££ Check price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab, affiliate link)

Side by side

CREAMi models compared

	CREAMi NC300UK	CREAMi Deluxe NC501UK	Swirl NC701UK
Programs	7	10	13
Tub size	473ml	709ml (XL)	Swirl tubs with nozzle
Scoopable ice cream	Yes	Yes	Yes
Soft serve	No	No	Yes, 6 programs
Frozen drinks / Slushi	No	Yes	No
Frozen yoghurt	No	Yes	Swirled frozen yoghurt
Two flavours from one tub	No	Yes (2-in-1)	No
Price band	££££	££££	££££
Buy	View on Amazon	View on Amazon	View on Amazon

Buy the original if…

you want great ice cream at the lowest price, there are one or two of you, and you mostly make scoopable ice cream, sorbet and milkshakes.

Buy the Deluxe if…

you’re feeding a family, want bigger tubs, like the idea of two flavours from one freeze, or fancy frozen drinks and frappés too.

Buy the Swirl if…

soft serve is the dream. It does everything a regular CREAMi does for scoops, plus café-style cones at the pull of a handle.

Get better results

CREAMi tips worth knowing

Freeze tubs flat with the lid on. A level top helps the blade work evenly.
Powdery or crumbly? Add a splash of milk and use Re-spin. It usually turns silky.
Don’t overfill. Keep below the max line on the tub.
Buy spare tubs. With a few bases always in the freezer, ice cream is never more than a few minutes away. Check the tubs list your exact model, because sizes differ.
Use the Lite program for low-sugar, keto and high-protein bases.

CREAMi extras

Ninja CREAMi spare tubsFreeze several flavours at once CREAMi & SLUSHi recipe booksHundreds of tried-and-tested bases Cones, sprinkles & toppingsFinish your scoops in style

FAQ

Ninja CREAMi questions

Can the Ninja CREAMi make protein ice cream?

Yes, and it’s one of the main reasons people buy one. Freeze a protein shake or a milk-and-protein-powder base, then use the Lite Ice Cream program. A Re-spin with a splash of milk helps if it’s crumbly.

Are CREAMi tubs interchangeable between models?

Not across every model. The Deluxe uses larger XL tubs and the Swirl has its own tubs with a dispensing nozzle. When buying spares, choose tubs that list your machine’s model number.

Why does it take 24 hours?

The CREAMi doesn’t freeze anything itself. It processes a base that’s already frozen solid, which takes about a day in a home freezer. If you want ice cream the same day, look at a compressor ice cream maker instead.

Is the CREAMi noisy?

It’s loud while it’s processing, a bit like a blender, but each program only runs for a couple of minutes.

Is it easy to clean?

Fairly. The tubs, lids, paddle and outer bowl come apart, and Ninja says the removable parts are dishwasher safe. Check your manual for specifics. The Swirl has a few more parts because of its soft-serve dispenser.

Can the CREAMi make slushies?

The CREAMi Deluxe has Slushi and Frozen Drink programs that turn a frozen tub into a drink. For proper self-dispensing slush in big batches, a Ninja SLUSHi is the better tool. See our CREAMi vs SLUSHi guide.