Ninja NC501 Ice Cream Machine: Full Review

The Ninja Creami is an ice cream maker from the popular kitchen appliance brand Ninja. Known for their versatile blenders and cookware, Ninja entered the frozen dessert market in 2018 with the release of the original Creami model. This countertop appliance aims to bring the ice cream parlor experience home by enabling users to create customized ice cream treats like milkshakes, gelato, and sorbet in minutes.

With the new Creami NC501 model, Ninja builds on the success of the original with some key upgrades like increased batch sizes, new programs, and improved accessories. This review will cover all the details of using and owning this popular ice cream making appliance. We'll look at the product's design, interface, performance, noise, cleaning needs, and value to determine if it's worth the investment for ice cream lovers.

Overview

The Ninja NC501 is an automatic ice cream maker that can churn out delicious frozen desserts and milkshakes at home. This countertop appliance features a sleek modern design with a digital touchscreen interface.

Some of the key features and capabilities of the Ninja NC501 include:

• Makes ice cream, gelato, sorbet, milkshakes, smoothie bowls, and more
• Digital touchscreen with 6 automated programs
• Mix-in function to add extra ingredients like chocolate chips or cookie dough
• Makes up to 2 pints of frozen desserts at a time
• Dishwasher-safe removable parts for easy cleanup
• Compact footprint - measures just under 11 x 8 x 15 inches

Another excellent ice cream maker option is the Breville BCI600XL. This machine offers a compressor feature that allows for continuous churning without the need for pre-freezing the bowl. It also has 12 hardness settings that let you customize the texture of your frozen treats. The Breville BCI600XL has a self-refrigerating compressor, making it convenient and efficient. For more information, visit the Breville BCI600XL.

Sleek, Compact Design

The Ninja NC501 has a sleek, modern design that will look great on any countertop. It has a compact footprint, measuring just 9.5 x 7.7 x 15.72 inches. So it doesn't take up too much space but still offers 1.5 quarts capacity.

The machine has a durable plastic housing that comes in black, gray, or white color options. The plastic seems sturdy enough for regular use and occasional cleaning.

There are also some metal accents on the machine, like the paddle that churns the ice cream. The chrome finish gives it a hint of style.

At just under 11 pounds, the NC501 isn't too heavy. The plastic housing keeps it lightweight enough to store away easily when not in use.

Overall, the streamlined design makes the Ninja ice cream maker an attractive and space-saving addition to your kitchen.

The Musso musso-mini-4080 is another excellent ice cream machine. It features a fully stainless steel construction for durability and a professional look. The unit is relatively compact, measuring 12 x 8 x 11 inches, and has a capacity of approximately 1.5 quarts. The powerful built-in compressor enables continuous use without pre-freezing. The simple control panel with timer makes it easy to operate. At around 32 pounds, it is heavier than the Ninja NC501 but the robust materials ensure longevity.

Ice Cream Making

The Ninja Creami ice cream maker allows you to make homemade ice cream, gelato, milkshakes, and other frozen desserts. The process is very simple - you just add your ingredients to the pint-sized freezer bowl, insert the mixer paddle, and choose your desired setting on the touchscreen.

You can customize your recipes by experimenting with different mixes of milk, cream, fruits, chocolate, etc. The machine comes with a recipe book to get you started. It can make up to a pint of ice cream at a time. The preset programs include Ice Cream, Gelato, Sorbet, Lite Ice Cream, Milkshake, and Mix-Ins. These auto settings will adjust the timing and mixing speed accordingly. For example, gelato is churned slower and at a warmer temperature compared to ice cream.

The touch screen lets you adjust the hardness level from soft serve to firm. You can also manually adjust the time if you want to customize further. The mixing paddle churns and aerates your ice cream base continuously for smooth, creamy results. An auto-stop feature prevents overchurning. Overall, the Creami makes it easy to create premium frozen desserts at home with custom recipes and settings.

Interface

The Ninja NC501 ice cream maker has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use. It features a control panel with buttons to select your desired program - ice cream, gelato, shake, or lite ice - as well as buttons to start and stop the cycle.

The LCD display is bright and clearly shows which mode is selected, total time remaining, and current cycle status. It provides just the essential information you need without cluttering the interface. The display also indicates alerts or errors if anything is wrong.

Overall, the interface is very user-friendly with its straightforward buttons and readable screen. The controls are simple enough for everyday use, but give you some customization options with the different programs and settings. Everything is laid out in a logical way that is easy to understand.

The interface makes the ice cream making process nearly automatic while still giving you control. You don't need any special skills to operate it. Just add your ingredients, select your preferred mode, press start, and it handles the freezing and churning process for you. It's designed to be accessible for beginners but also satisfies more advanced users.

Accessories

The Ninja Creami comes with two pint-sized containers for making and storing ice cream as well as an ice cream scoop. The containers are made of plastic with lids and are dishwasher safe.

The main accessories you may want to purchase separately are:

• Additional pint containers - If you plan to make ice cream for a crowd or meal prep several flavors, having 4-6 containers can be useful for efficient batch making and storage.

• Cone holder - To serve soft serve style ice cream cones, a cone holder is needed to catch drips as the ice cream distributes into the cone. Ninja sells a stainless steel cone holder that fits with the Creami.

• Mixing bowls - For custom recipes, mixing ingredients in a bowl first before pouring into the Creami containers can make for easier cleanup.

• Recipe books - While the Creami comes with some basic recipes in the manual, investing in an ice cream recipe book can offer more variety and inspiration for flavors.

• Decorating supplies - Toppings, sprinkles, syrups, cherries, etc can allow for customization on ice cream servings. A decorating kit can be a fun addition, especially if gifting ice cream.

The key accessories to consider are additional containers for batch making, a cone holder for soft serve, mixing bowls for custom recipes, inspirational recipe books, and decorating supplies to dress up the final product. With the right extras, the possibilities and convenience of the Creami can be fully realized.

Cleaning

The Ninja NC501 ice cream maker is designed for easy cleaning. The removable aluminum freeze bowl, paddle, and lid can be hand washed with warm soapy water or placed in the dishwasher.

To clean the freeze bowl, remove it from the base and let it stand at room temperature for 15 minutes so the remaining frozen contents soften. Then wash the bowl, paddle, and lid in warm soapy water, using a soft sponge or cloth to gently clean. Avoid abrasive scouring pads or cleaners that could scratch the bowl. All parts are dishwasher safe as well.

The key to easy cleanup is to not let ice cream residue freeze solid in the bowl. Remove remaining contents and wash soon after each use. Ice cream, gelato, or sorbet mixtures can develop a hardened layer if left frozen in the bowl for prolonged periods.

The touchscreen control panel and base can be wiped clean as needed with a soft damp cloth. Avoid submerging the base in water or using abrasive cleaners. Keeping the vents on the back and sides clear of dust buildup is also advised for proper airflow.

With routine cleaning after each use, the NC501's parts can be maintained spotless and frost-free. Taking a few minutes to hand wash or load in the dishwasher makes cleanup a breeze.

Noise

The Ninja NC501 ice cream maker operates at a reasonable noise level that won't disturb most households. The base motor runs at around 50-55 decibels while churning ice cream, similar to operating a refrigerator or dishwasher. The noise is muffled when the lid is closed.

Blending milkshakes and smoothies in the mixer attachment can get slightly louder at 60-65 decibels. However, these blending cycles are short, lasting 1-2 minutes. The pulses while crushing ice are louder, but also brief.

Overall, the noise levels are comparable to or quieter than most average kitchen appliances. The ice cream churning noise may be noticeable in a quiet room, but isn't overly intrusive. Most users shouldn't find the Ninja too loud or noisy for kitchen use.

Pros

• The Ninja NC501 makes delicious soft-serve ice cream, yogurt, sorbet, and milkshakes using a simple one-touch operation. Just pour in your ingredients, select your desired consistency, and the machine does the rest.

• It can make batches in as little as 30 minutes, much faster than conventional ice cream makers that can take hours to freeze the bowl. The Ninja has an internal freezer that churns and freezes the ingredients at the same time.

• The digital display and touch controls make it very easy to use. You simply add your ingredients, select your program, and press start. The machine guides you through the entire process.

• Clean up is a breeze with the removable bowl, paddle, and lid that are all dishwasher safe. The non-stick bowl also makes cleaning easier. Just wipe it down or rinse briefly after each use.

Cons of the Ninja NC501 Ice Cream Maker

• The NC501 is expensive for an ice cream maker at around $200. More basic machines can be found for under $100.

• The compressor makes the unit quite loud in operation according to some reviews. This could be annoying, especially if you want to use it at night.

• The ice cream bowl holds 1.5 pints, which is on the smaller side. Larger machines can make bigger batches in one go.

• Cleaning the machine can be a chore. The bowl, paddle, and lid all have to be hand washed and properly dried to avoid mold growth. The ice cream residues can be difficult to clean.