It might be the middle of winter, but if ice cream is on your mind, we wouldn’t blame you. Lately, Ninja has been flooding our feeds with picture-perfect swirls of soft-serve to tease the launch of their latest creation – the Ninja Swirl.
Here at Homes & Gardens, we're not only dreaming of ice cream; we're actually eating it too! We've managed to get our hands on an early Ninja Swirl sample to put it to the test and see how it shapes up in comparison with our favorite Ninja products.
Our tester, Kate, is putting the new Ninja Swirl through its paces (she's even testing puppy ice cream). The full review will be here soon, so stay tuned. But in the meantime, Kate has some early impressions to share – and let's just say, there are some fairly large surprises.
Ninja Swirl: Our First Impressions
Kate has set the Ninja Swirl up in her kitchen, and her first thought is: it is big. At a whopping 20 pounds and 17 inches tall, you might want to get your measuring tape out before clicking 'add to cart.'
Kate says, 'The Ninja Creami Swirl is a substantial, heavy machine. However, it is easy to move around, with the weight nicely balanced and all components securely held. There is no rattling and the only bit that requires a little bit of extra maneuvering is the cord.'
'Having not used an ice cream machine in at least 35 years (if my old Snoopy Sno-Cone maker even counts) I am a bit intimidated by the very professional-looking setup.'
Kate says the Ninja Swirl is ultra-premium. 'It's wonderfully reminiscent of something you might find in Willy Wonka’s laboratory. But it definitely takes up a bit of space, so that might be a consideration if countertop real estate is limited. That said, I’m thinking it’s going to have a permanent spot on my counter this summer!'
What does the Ninja Swirl do?
It might be big, but there's tons of functionality on the Ninja Swirl ice cream maker. There are no less than six soft serve programs, as well as a new low calorie 'CreamiFit setting' and a frozen yoghurt function, too.
Whether you prefer dairy-free, low-sugar options, or more classic creations, the Ninja Swirl ice cream maker puts the power in your hands. From creamy chocolate to healthy matcha or strawberry sorbet, you can whip up flavors to suit your taste and dietary preferences. Plus, you also get to choose between a traditional scoop or a beautiful soft-serve swirl.
Kate says, 'Every component has clear labeling and directions on what it’s used for. In addition to the machine itself, also included in the box were two freezer pints, a special nozzle for the soft serve function, and a fantastic recipe book with full-color images and easy, step-by-step basic recipes for ice cream base and soft-serve.'
If the extra soft-serve features don’t sway you, the simpler and smaller Ninja Creami Deluxe is still well worth considering for your frozen treats. We rated it 4.5 stars in our in depth tests. Or, I've actually seen Ninja's simplest ice cream maker, the Ninja Original, in the February sales at Ninja Kitchen, discounted by a huge $100. It has seven functions including sorbet, ice cream, and milkshakes.
Can I buy the Ninja Swirl yet?
As with any hotly anticipated tech, the Ninja Swirl has sparked a lot of curiosity. Commenters on social media have been asking: What’s the price? Where can I buy it? Is it worth it?
Well, I have some answers. The Swirl Ice Cream Maker has launched on the Ninja Kitchen US, retailing for $349.99. To my surprise, it hasn't sold out yet – although the brand caution that there is a 'high risk of sellout.' The brand has sold out most of the Ice Cream Maker accessories, but a pack of four Ninja Swirl pints is available, if you're quick.
Our product tester, Kate, will have a full review to share with us soon, with more detailed thoughts on the taste tests, ease of use, clean up, and value for money. So stay tuned for the scoop (or swirl)!
H&G's top-rated dessert makers
If you're looking for more ice cream inspiration, we've tried and tested a wide range of machines (it's a hard job but someone has to do it!). We loved the Ninja Deluxe the most and thought the Cuisinart Soft-Serve maker wasn't a great investment. Here's the scoop on the Ninja Swirl competitors.
You'll recognize the classic Ninja Creami – but you won't recognize this price, as it's the lowest I've seen all year. This is because it's refurbished, but Amazon promises excellent condition. We loved making plant-based and low-sugar gelato in this one.
After the immense success of their original Creami ice cream maker, Ninja launched the Creami Deluxe. It's a bit more expensive, but it can make incredible frappes and milkshakes as well as frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream.
This soft-serve maker is the main competitor to Ninja's Swirl. Our tester Camryn put it to the test last July. She does warn, 'It makes truly delicious soft-serve ice cream, but it requires a lot of prep and you get limited servings per batch.'
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