Ninja NC299AMZ Ice Cream Machine: Full Review

The Ninja Creami NC299AMZ is a countertop ice cream maker that promises to make rich, creamy ice cream, gelato, milkshakes, sorbet, and smoothie bowls with a touch of a button. This model uses Ninja's Auto-IQ One-Touch Intelligence technology to provide an easy way to create delicious frozen desserts, with no ice or salt required. The NC299AMZ features a built-in freezer bowl, so you don't have to pre-chill a bowl or wait between batches. With its digital timer and automatic shutoff, you can simply add ingredients, select a program, and let the machine do the hard work of churning and freezing your treats. The Ninja Creami aims to deliver homemade ice cream in minutes with minimal effort required. This review will provide an overview of the key features and performance of the Ninja Creami ice cream maker.

Design

The Ninja NC299AMZ has an attractive modern design with a glossy white plastic exterior and black accents. It has a compact upright cylinder shape, standing about 15 inches tall with a diameter around 7 inches. The total weight is a portable 10 pounds.

The ice cream maker consists of a motor base with an opening on top to insert the detachable 16 oz frozen mixing container. This container has a dishwasher safe plastic liner and plastic dasher inside to churn the ice cream. The dasher connects to the motor drive when inserted into the base.

The build quality seems decent but not as premium as higher-end ice cream makers. The plastic parts are BPA-free but likely won't withstand as much long-term heavy use compared to steel or aluminum constructions. However, the size is ideal for home kitchen use.

Another great option to consider is the DASH DMIC200GBAQ04. This ice cream maker boasts a sleek and colorful design, making it a cheerful addition to any kitchen. It features a 1.6-quart capacity, allowing you to create larger batches of your favorite frozen treats. The DASH DMIC200GBAQ04 also has a simple, user-friendly operation with a single switch functionality. It's compact and lightweight, weighing around 5 pounds, making it incredibly easy to store and transport.

Capacity

The Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker has a generous 1.5 quart capacity, which allows you to make up to 2 pints of ice cream, sorbet, gelato, or shake at one time. This is a great size batch for larger families or if you want to make ice cream for parties or gatherings.

The 1.5 quart aluminium freezer bowl detaches from the motor base so you can store your creations in the freezer until ready to serve. Once frozen, the bowl can hold ice cream for up to 24 hours before melting.

With the Ninja's capacity, you can experiment with different flavors and varieties without having to make multiple small batches. You can knock out a couple of pints of ice cream in one session. The Ninja allows you to be creative and make delicious ice cream creations for the whole family to enjoy.

For comparison, the Cuisinart ICE-48 also offers a remarkable ice cream-making experience. It features an easy-to-use interface and reliable performance, making it an excellent choice for home-made dessert enthusiasts. With the Cuisinart ICE-48, you can create a variety of frozen treats efficiently and enjoyably, adding another great option to your kitchen appliances.

Ease of Use

The Ninja NC299AMZ ice cream maker is designed for simplicity and ease of use. The process of making ice cream involves just a few straightforward steps:

1. Freeze the freezer bowl overnight or for at least 12 hours.

2. Once frozen, attach the paddle to the motor base. Pour your ice cream mixture into the freezer bowl and re-attach it to the base.

3. Select your desired consistency setting - soft serve, medium or firm ice cream. Press the start button.

4. The machine will handle the churning and freezing process automatically based on the selected setting. It takes roughly 20-30 minutes.

5. When finished, the machine beeps to alert you. Remove the paddle, serve and enjoy your freshly churned ice cream!

The all-in-one freezer bowl, paddle and lid design makes cleanup a breeze. Simply detach, rinse off excess ice cream mixture and wash. Everything is dishwasher safe as well. Overall, the process is straightforward and relatively hands-off. With just a few steps and minimal effort, you can churn multiple batches of delicious homemade ice cream.

Features

The Ninja NC299AMZ ice cream maker comes with a variety of programs and settings that allow you to customize your frozen treats. It has settings for ice cream, gelato, sorbet, milkshakes, smoothie bowls, and more.

You can choose different hardness settings depending on your preference - soft serve, medium, or firm ice cream. It also includes a keep cool function to prevent your ice cream from refreezing too hard if you want to serve it later. The digital timer allows you to set the optimal freezing time for different recipes.

This machine comes with a recipe book that includes 30 recipes to get you started making frozen desserts and drinks. It includes both classic and innovative flavors so you can experiment.

The Ninja includes a few handy accessories as well. You get a dual-sided cleaning tool to make washing easier. It also comes with a splash guard and tamper to help get your ingredients integrated smoothly. The tamper is especially useful for mixtures that are thicker like cookie dough.

Overall, the variety of programs, settings, accessories, and recipes gives you lots of options when using the Ninja ice cream maker. You can get creative and customize flavors, textures, and styles.

Noise Level

When it comes to ice cream makers, you want one that gets the job done without disrupting the fun. The noise level of the Ninja NC299AMZ is surprisingly quiet given its powerful motor. While it's not completely silent, the noise is comparable to a standard kitchen appliance like a blender or food processor running on low.

The majority of the noise comes from the initial churning and mixing as the ingredients begin to freeze and take form. Once the ice cream thickens, the noise reduces to a soft hum. You can carry on a conversation nearby without having to raise your voice much. The noise level is reasonable for an ice cream maker of this caliber.

Some buyers do wish it was a tad quieter, but most agree the noise is acceptable considering the quality ice cream it produces. As long as you don't expect it to be whisper quiet, the noise won't be an issue under normal use. Overall, the Ninja provides powerful ice cream making performance without being overly noisy.

Recipe Book Provides Quality and Variety

The Ninja NC299AMZ ice cream maker comes with a recipe book that includes a wide variety of delicious frozen treat options beyond just ice cream. The book provides recipes for ice creams, gelatos, sorbets, yogurt, and more.

There are classic ice cream flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. But the book also includes creative, gourmet flavors like brown butter pecan, blueberry cheesecake, and lemon curd. For sorbets, you can make flavors like mango, raspberry, and passionfruit. Gelato recipes feature options like hazelnut, pistachio, and amaretto.

The recipes specify details like required ingredients, steps for preparation, and recommended mix-in add-ins to create your perfect frozen treat. The book makes it easy for beginners to get started but also provides enough variety for more advanced users to get creative with unique flavor combinations.

Overall, the recipe book adds excellent value on top of the purchase of the ice cream maker itself. Having a varied book of recipes helps you fully utilize the machine's capabilities to produce top-quality frozen desserts at home.

Consistency

One thing to consider with the Ninja Ice Cream Maker is the consistency of the ice cream. This machine uses a freezing bowl rather than a built-in compressor, so the texture and firmness of the end result can vary.

Some users find the ice cream comes out quite soft, closer to soft serve rather than a firmer, scoopable texture. The ice cream may benefit from additional time in the freezer after churning to firm it up. But even then, it may not develop the dense, creamy consistency of ice cream from a machine with a built-in compressor.

Factors like the recipe, ingredients, and even the temperature of the mixture before freezing can impact the final texture. So there can be a bit of trial and error to get the consistency just right. The included recipe book provides some guidance, but overall the firmness seems harder to control compared to other ice cream makers. Just something to keep in mind if a very thick, firm scoop is your priority.

Value For Your Money

The Ninja NC299AMZ ice cream maker is competitively priced compared to similar models on the market. At around $200, it's a mid-range option that delivers premium results.

For the price, you get a powerful 1100 watt motor that makes frozen desserts in as little as 15 minutes. The large 1.5qt capacity allows you to make enough ice cream or sorbet for 4-6 servings at a time. The built-in hardness settings and intelligent temperature control ensure your recipes turn out perfectly smooth and creamy.

Unlike some cheaper models, the Ninja comes with everything you need to get started - a recipe guide with 40 recipes, dual non-stick paddles, and a storage lid. The intuitive one-touch interface is easy to use and clean. All parts are BPA free and dishwasher safe.

Considering the quality materials, versatile features, and delicious results, the Ninja ice cream maker provides excellent value at this price point. It's a great choice for frozen dessert lovers who want premium homemade ice cream without the premium price tag. The 5 year warranty also ensures this machine will last for years to come.

Conclusion

The Ninja Ice Cream Maker is an impressive appliance that makes delicious frozen treats with little effort. Its sleek design and generous 1.5 quart capacity allow you to create milkshakes, gelato, sorbet, and of course ice cream for the whole family.

The easy-to-use operation means anyone can enjoy homemade frozen desserts with just the press of a button. Features like the foldable paddle help speed up prep and cleanup. While not the quietest appliance, the noise level is reasonable.

Pros of the Ninja Ice Cream Maker include the convenient one-touch operation, bundled recipe book, and consistency in churning out smooth, creamy results. The reasonable price tag also makes this a great value compared to similar models.

Potential cons to consider are the noise level and lack of a viewing window. While the machine isn't overly loud, some may prefer a quieter motor. The inability to monitor the freezing process is a minor downside.

Overall, the Ninja Ice Cream Maker delivers delicious frozen treats with very little effort required. The generous capacity, versatile functions, and recipe book make this a great addition to any kitchen. If you're seeking an easy-to-use and affordable ice cream maker that reliably churns out creamy desserts, the Ninja NC299AMZ is highly recommended.