It’s been some time since the Instant Pot became the kitchen gadget of the 2010s. There is something new on the block and this time it’s a machine to make ice cream. No it doesn’t have the versatility of an Instant Pot but there are hardly any machines to ensure excellent soft-serve ice cream in a few minutes, without complications. The Ninja Creami has the potential to make homemade ice cream a rage.
What is it?
Ninja Creami is a countertop ice cream maker that can deliver healthy ice cream to fruity sorbets and other inspired concoctions. You can be in the mood for a gelato or a light dessert or incorporate your favourite mix-ins.
The machine comes with three plastic pint-sized tubs in which you can create any kind of frozen treat — sorbets, gelato or ice cream, which can be full-fat, low-fat or dairy-free. There is also the option to make smoothies and milkshakes, which, of course, a simple blender can make.
It can make frozen desserts that almost match the quality of the store-bought variety. What makes this an interesting machine is that you need three minutes of churning and if that doesn’t work, a further two minutes of churning. The only thing you need to remember is you must freeze the pint-sized tubs of ice cream mix for 20 to 24 hours. In case you are using mix-ins, add it after the first churn.
How is it different?
Most ice cream makers need you to freeze an inner metal bowl. You need to freeze it before making any ice cream. The bowl can be quite big and take up a lot of space. The Ninja works in reverse. Here, the ice cream mixture itself needs to be frozen but not the bowl. This means you can make several varieties of ice cream in compact tubs and then store them in the refrigerator. Second, most ice cream makers need at least 20-25 minutes to make ice cream but with the Ninja, things get done in three to five minutes.Third, there are no (or very little) ice crystals in the mixture. Fourth, ice cream is not something everyone can (or should) eat all the time. To check the intake of calories, you can churn nondairy or nonfat ice cream. Fifth, you can play around with the recipe as much as you want.
Can you get it in India?
The machine will set you back by $180 if you buy it abroad but in India, there are few importers and it’s still highly-priced. On Ubuy.co.in, you can get it for around Rs 33,000, which is expensive. Give it sometime and you are sure to get Ninja Creami cheap.
MP