Post by eyeofthestorm on Nov 15, 2021 7:20:53 GMT -6
In 2015 or 2016, I won a "Ninja Cooking System." It's like a slow cooker, but it has other settings, like cooktop and baking. When I won it, I thought WHAT am I gonna do with this? I have a slow cooker. Well, I tried it and was sold. Everyone in the family likes it (the kids because it's so easy to clean). Since then, when given the choice, we have chosen Ninja products when we needed something (like a new toaster oven). We have chosen to save up the money (they do cost more), but so far, we have not been disappointed. We also have a Ninja Air Fryer (which I love and is also SUPER easy to clean), and a Ninja blender/mixer. It's called a "Foodi," but they have several gadgets with that name. We have one that functions as a blender but will also knead doughs, make nut butters, make spreads, things like that.
DH and I have been looking at the Ninja "Creami" for months now. A lot of ice cream gets eaten in this house - I mean, a lot. DH probably buys 3 quarts per week. Of course the boys eat it, but DH does, too. At any given time, he can give you an inventory of what ice cream is in the freezer. Anyway, if we got this Creami, I figured it would get used well. DH said a couple weeks ago that we should get it as an early Christmas present.
We put it to work on Friday, and I have to say the thing that really struck me was that DH said, "I would rather eat this ice cream than ANY other ice cream." You have to understand that this is a man who, for twenty years of marriage, says, "It's fine" whether it's the best meal he's ever eaten... or if he had to choke it down slathered in ketchup.
Anyway, I want to give you some information about this device in case you consider it in the future.
First, it's not an ice cream machine like I've used before. There is no cranking.
You first mix your ice cream base, then you put it in the special pints that come with the machine and freeze this solid before processing it. It's important that the top of the ice cream base freezer flat.
After it has been in the freezer for at least 24 hours, you process it in the machine. There are settings for ice cream, "lite" (really, reduced sugar) ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes, and something else I can't remember off hand. There is a special blade that some how processes the ice crystals to achieve an ice cream texture.
AFTER processing, there is an additional function to blend in other ingredients (fruit, nuts, chocolate chips).
The flavors I made:
Cons (or Maybe "I just haven't figured this out yet")
As far as the price, I know that DH isn't (or, wasn't) going to stop buying ice cream. At the rate he was going, this should pay for itself in a few months. For myself, I rarely was eating ice cream because the sugar free ice cream was so expensive I would only justify it as a treat. It's been nice to have it and be able to make whatever flavor I want (even if it does still look like snow).
I probably would NOT have bought this if it wasn't a brand that we know and trust, but so far, we have been pleasantly surprised with the quality of the ice cream.[/ul]
DH and I have been looking at the Ninja "Creami" for months now. A lot of ice cream gets eaten in this house - I mean, a lot. DH probably buys 3 quarts per week. Of course the boys eat it, but DH does, too. At any given time, he can give you an inventory of what ice cream is in the freezer. Anyway, if we got this Creami, I figured it would get used well. DH said a couple weeks ago that we should get it as an early Christmas present.
We put it to work on Friday, and I have to say the thing that really struck me was that DH said, "I would rather eat this ice cream than ANY other ice cream." You have to understand that this is a man who, for twenty years of marriage, says, "It's fine" whether it's the best meal he's ever eaten... or if he had to choke it down slathered in ketchup.
Anyway, I want to give you some information about this device in case you consider it in the future.
First, it's not an ice cream machine like I've used before. There is no cranking.
You first mix your ice cream base, then you put it in the special pints that come with the machine and freeze this solid before processing it. It's important that the top of the ice cream base freezer flat.
After it has been in the freezer for at least 24 hours, you process it in the machine. There are settings for ice cream, "lite" (really, reduced sugar) ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes, and something else I can't remember off hand. There is a special blade that some how processes the ice crystals to achieve an ice cream texture.
AFTER processing, there is an additional function to blend in other ingredients (fruit, nuts, chocolate chips).
The flavors I made:
- chocolate (this was a BIG hit, and the simplest ingredients)
- dairy free chocolate (another big hit, I just substituted coconut products for the dairy)
- mint (mint extract)
- sugar free, dairy free coconut "rum" (rum extract - this looked like snow but was VERY good with chocolate stevia syrup and coconut shavings on top)
- sugar free, dairy free maple. (maple extract - again, looked like snow. I blended in chopped pecans and closed my eyes. It kind of tasted like breakfast... except it was ice cream)
- The texture is very, very creamy.
- You can make a lot of different flavors with a few pantry ingredients: milk (dairy or non-dairy), cream (dairy or coconut cream), sugar, and flavoring (either baking cocoa or extract). It's just that simple.
Cons (or Maybe "I just haven't figured this out yet")
- You have to use small bits to mix in. For example, you are supposed to use mini chocolate chips, not regular. There are multiple warnings in the manuals about this, and I'm not willing to take a chance on breaking the machine. Anyway, regular chocolate chips or whole nuts are not an option.
- Sugar free ice creams can come out "dry" or crumbly. Re-processing is supposed to fix this. I haven't figured this part out. This is the only type of ice cream I have eaten myself, and so far, they just look like snow (really! powdery snow!), even after reprocessing. On the upside, the flavor and texture in my mouth is right - but I haven't yet figured out how to get it to look right.
- It's kind of a pricey gadget, and definitely a luxury.
As far as the price, I know that DH isn't (or, wasn't) going to stop buying ice cream. At the rate he was going, this should pay for itself in a few months. For myself, I rarely was eating ice cream because the sugar free ice cream was so expensive I would only justify it as a treat. It's been nice to have it and be able to make whatever flavor I want (even if it does still look like snow).
I probably would NOT have bought this if it wasn't a brand that we know and trust, but so far, we have been pleasantly surprised with the quality of the ice cream.[/ul]