Learn how the Ninja Creami Deluxe compares to the unique Ninja Creami. Get solutions on which model to purchase or whether or not to improve.

In September of 2022, Ninja launched the upgraded “Deluxe” model of the favored Ninja Creami ice cream maker. As you possibly can inform from our Ninja Creami Recipes, we’re big followers of the unique Ninja Creami for making sugar-free, keto, and high-protein ice lotions, which aren’t potential with a standard ice cream maker. So, when this model got here out, we needed to attempt it out!

However which model do you have to purchase and is it well worth the improve? Learn on to search out out.

What are the totally different Ninja CREAMi fashions?

Ninja has made 4 totally different variations of the favored CREAMi ice cream maker because it was first launched on Nationwide Ice Cream Day in July 2021. 

The Ninja CREAMi 5-in-1 (typically labeled NC300) is difficult to search out and infrequently bought with a steep low cost.

The Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 (NC301) is the commonest mannequin with a retail checklist worth of $229 however we’ve seen it beneath $200 when on sale (particularly now that the Deluxe model is out). 

The Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 (NC500 / NC501) was launched September 2022 with a retail worth of $249 and is the present prime of the road mannequin.

The Ninja CREAMi Breeze (NC200) is obtainable as of Might 2023 and has the identical features as the unique Creami however lacks the newer features of the Deluxe. You’ll be able to learn our evaluate of the Ninja CREAMi Breeze right here however this publish will deal with the highest of the road Deluxe mannequin.

The names “5-in-1”, “7-in-1”, and “11-in-1” check with the variety of one-touch packages the mannequin helps. For instance, the 5-in-1 has 5 packages for several types of features: Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Sorbet, Milkshake, and Combine-in. The 7-in-1 added new packages for Gelato and Smoothie Bowl to the unique 5. The 11-in-1 provides packages for Frozen Yogurt, Creamiccino, Frozen Drink, Slushie, and Italian Ice to the CREAMi’s repertoire whereas eradicating the Smoothie Bowl program. For many of this evaluate, we’ll be evaluating the Deluxe 11-in-1 to the 7-in-1 for the reason that 7-in-1 is the commonest mannequin on the time of writing and it’s additionally the opposite mannequin of CREAMi we personal.

Watch out, it is laborious to inform these fashions aside, particularly in case you’re taking a look at a small image on an e-commerce web site. We’ve even typically seen each the 5-in-1 and 7-in-1 bought underneath the identical mannequin quantity. For instance, NC300 is the mannequin quantity for the 5-in-1 however in Canada the NC300C mannequin is a 7-in-1. Equally, Ninja’s help web site makes use of “NC300 Collection” to check with all of the 5-in-1 and 7-in-1 machines. For the Deluxe fashions, the NC500 and 501 are similar machines, however the NC501 accommodates extra equipment like further pint containers. The most effective and most dependable option to inform which mannequin is which is by the variety of one-touch packages you see on the entrance panel. 

What are the variations between the common Ninja CREAMi and the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe?

1. Variety of Applications

Within the Deluxe mannequin, Ninja eliminated the Smoothie Bowl (personally, our least used function, so won’t be missed) and added 5 new packages: 

• Creamiccino: A signature program of the Deluxe, the Creamiccino program allows you to create Starbucks-like Frappacinos at residence. It’s potential to do that within the authentic CREAMi, however the Deluxe makes this simpler with pre-filled markings on the pints and a customized setting on the machine.
• Frozen Drink: This program is designed for frozen drinks and cocktails like Pina Coladas.
• Frozen Yogurt: Whereas of us have used yogurt within the authentic CREAMi with good outcomes, this program is customized tuned for making frozen yogurt from store-bought yogurts. 
• Italian Ice: This program turns sweetened, fruit-flavored water like lemonade into scoopable, frozen Italian Ice.
• Slushi: This program is designed for turning sweetened and fruity-flavored water right into a drinkable frozen dessert. Not like Italian Ice, which is scoopable, a slushie is designed to be sippable.

2. Measurement of Pint Containers & Ninja CREAMI

The Deluxe mannequin additionally makes extra ice cream per batch. As an alternative of the 16 ounce pints of the unique mannequin, the Deluxe mannequin makes ice cream in 24 ounce containers that Ninja refers to as “Deluxe pints” (regardless that a pint is technically 16 ounces).

Surprisingly, it additionally allows you to make much less ice cream per batch because of a brand new setting that allows you to course of solely the highest or backside half of the pint if you would like. These are good conveniences, however not must-haves. In order for you extra ice cream within the authentic mannequin you possibly can simply purchase further pints and it simply takes a number of additional minutes to make. And if you would like much less ice cream within the authentic mannequin, you possibly can merely underneath fill the pint container when getting ready a recipe, or make a full recipe after which flatten and refreeze what you don’t eat for later.

Impacts of Pint Measurement
The change in pint dimension of the Deluxe has plenty of penalties.

• As you possibly can inform from the picture above, one consequence of the bigger capability is that pints, blades, lids, and bowls are bigger and, sadly, not interchangeable between the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe and people of older fashions. That is essential in case you’ve already invested in buying additional Ninja CREAMi pint containers.
• A much less apparent however essential incompatibility is that most recipes you’ll discover on-line have been written for the unique CREAMi’s 16 ounce pints. You’ll be able to nonetheless use these recipes unchanged within the Deluxe however they gained’t fill the Deluxe’s 24-ounce pints which defeats one of many Deluxe’s signature advantages. If you wish to adapt an everyday CREAMi recipe to fill a Deluxe pint, you’ll must multiply the elements by 1.5. We’ve up to date all of our Ninja Creami recipes to have a 1.5x button to make the recipes simpler to adapt, as seen within the picture beneath.

• One other situation is that the Deluxe model is just a little taller as you possibly can see within the picture beneath, though it nonetheless suits underneath the cupboards on our counter.

3. Working Processes

Working the Deluxe is similar to the unique CREAMi with solely slight adjustments. For instance, the method of inserting the outer bowl into the CREAMi is less complicated. As an alternative of inserting the bowl diagonally as you needed to do with the unique CREAMi, on the Deluxe the insertion is straight from the entrance. One wonders if this variation was impressed by the on-air QVC scenario the place the hosts had points inserting the bowl, nevertheless it’s simple to get the hold of the insertion course of on the unique when you’ve tried it a number of occasions. 

When you begin the CREAMi Deluxe it now asks you to pick whether or not you’re processing the highest half, backside half, or full pint. From there you rotate the dial to pick which program you need and press the dial to start out the machine. One useful comfort is that the Deluxe will inform you what number of minutes a program will take earlier than you run it after which depend down the variety of minutes left because it runs. In contrast, the unique CREAMi had a easy 4 step progress indicator that allow you to know roughly how shut the CREAMi was to being carried out however not how a lot precise time was left.

One of many widespread surprises with the CREAMi is how loud it will get when processing a pint. To our ears, the Deluxe does sound barely totally different than the unique CREAMi however each appear equally loud.

Which Ninja CREAMi Ought to You Purchase?

In our opinion the Ninja CREAMi is a must have system for keto and low-carb ice cream followers. The Ninja CREAMi Deluxe provides quite a lot of refinement and conveniences to the unique however none of them are must-haves.

So, the underside line is in case you do not already personal a Ninja CREAMi then it is positively value spending just a little extra to get the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe.

However, if you have already got one it is in all probability not value upgrading until you actually need one of many new packages (most of that are for drinkable desserts) or the bigger dimension. It is form of like once they launch a brand new, bigger telephone mannequin yearly: it’s not well worth the improve in case you had final 12 months’s mannequin. The truth is, as with telephones, “final 12 months’s mannequin” is a good deal once you issue within the reductions you’re more likely to discover now that there’s an improve possibility. Finally, we don’t suppose of us will go mistaken with both mannequin.

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