The Ninja Swirl Ice Cream Maker has been all over social media, marketed as a high-tech appliance that can create a variety of frozen desserts with ease. It makes the promise of delivering smooth, creamy ice cream, soft-serve, and even frozen custard.
After hearing all the raving reviews and seeing it advertised as the perfect addition to any kitchen, I was eager to try it out. Unfortunately, my experience with the Ninja Swirl didn’t exactly live up to the hype.
What is the Ninja Swirl Ice Cream Maker?
The Ninja Swirl is a countertop appliance designed to create a variety of frozen treats by using frozen ingredients. It’s marketed as being able to make everything from ice cream to sorbets, soft-serve, and even milkshakes, all with a smooth, creamy texture. It offers six different programs for different types of desserts and promises to be easy to use, with minimal prep and cleanup required.
My Experience Using the Ninja Swirl Ice Cream Maker
I had high expectations when I bought the Ninja Swirl. The idea of quickly making customized frozen desserts at home sounded too good to pass up. Setting it up was straightforward, the machine is fairly easy to use, and it blends the ingredients efficiently, but unfortunately, that’s where my excitement ended.
First off, I was disappointed with the noise. The Ninja Swirl is incredibly loud during operation, almost as if it was a blender on full speed. This became a bit annoying, especially since I expected the process to be quieter, given its premium price. I wasn’t prepared for how disruptive the sound would be every time I used it.
When it came to the actual results, I was underwhelmed. Despite using fresh, quality ingredients, the texture of the ice cream was nothing like what I had anticipated. The machine didn’t create the smooth, creamy consistency that I was hoping for. Instead, the ice cream had a gritty texture, and it felt more icy than creamy. The flavor was fine, but the texture just wasn’t right.
Also, the Ninja Swirl doesn’t do a great job with blending multiple ingredients. I found myself needing to run the cycle several times to get everything mixed properly, which ended up making the process longer than I expected. At times, the mix just wouldn’t blend well and left me with uneven results.
Pros of the Ninja Swirl Ice Cream Maker
- Versatility. It allows you to create different types of frozen desserts like ice cream, sorbet, and milkshakes.
- The machine is fairly easy to use and clean.
- It’s great for experimenting with unique ingredients and flavors.
Cons of the Ninja Swirl Ice Cream Maker
- The machine is very noisy, which can is quite disruptive.
- The texture of the ice cream was disappointing, more icy than creamy.
- It requires several cycles to blend ingredients properly, which is time consuming.
- The machine is bulky, taking up a lot of counter space.
How to Use the Ninja Swirl Ice Cream Maker
Using the Ninja Swirl is relatively simple:
- Start with frozen ingredients, such as fruit, cream, or yogurt.
- Load the ingredients into the machine’s designated container.
- Choose the program (e.g., soft-serve or ice cream).
- Wait for the machine to blend the ingredients into your desired consistency.
- Serve your homemade frozen dessert!
Where to Buy the Ninja Swirl Ice Cream Maker
The Ninja Swirl Ice Cream Maker is available on several online retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and the official Ninja website. The price typically ranges from $200 to $350, depending on the retailer.
What To Know Before Buying the Ninja Swirl Ice Cream Maker
Before purchasing the Ninja Swirl, it’s important to consider the size of your kitchen, as the machine is quite bulky. The noise level is another factor to keep in mind, as it can be disruptive. And while the machine is marketed as making perfectly smooth and creamy frozen treats, my experience didn’t quite match these expectations.
Alternatives
If you’re looking for an ice cream maker that’s more reliable, consider these options:
- Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence
- Breville Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker
- Hamilton Beach 68330N 4-Quart Automatic Ice Cream Maker
Conclusion
While the Ninja Swirl Ice Cream Maker has its moments, it didn’t deliver the creamy, smooth results I expected, and the noise level was a major downside. For the price, I feel that other ice cream makers on the market offer better results and are more reliable.
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