Is the Ninja Creami Swirl Worth it?

Sharing is caring!

If you’ve seen the new Ninja Swirl by Creami, you may be wondering–is it worth all the hype?

Is the Ninja Creami Swirl worth it, especially if you already have a Ninja Creami machine? We’re sharing our experience to help you decide!

Note: This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. You can read our full disclosure policy here.

The Ninja Creami machine has become super popular over the last few years, and for good reason.

The handy appliance makes it super easy to whip up frozen treats of all sorts–ice cream, sorbet, gelato, milkshakes, etc., with an extremely wide variety of ingredients.

This makes it simple to customize desserts according to your dietary needs and preferences.

But recently, the Ninja company introduced their newest product in the Creami line, which is the Ninja Swirl by Creami.

This machine incorporates the traditional ability of a Ninja Creami to create scoopable ice creams, but it also includes a new feature–the ability to create soft serve ice cream!

However, that extra feature comes with an extra cost, so it’s important to consider whether it’s worth it before you shell out the extra money for the “latest and greatest.”

We’ll share our experience with the machine, which may be helpful as you’re making your own decisions!

This post is not sponsored–I purchased the machine with my own money and am sharing my honest opinions.

How the Ninja Creami Swirl Works

The Ninja Creami Swirl machine has two overarching modes: Scoopable or Swirl.

Once you’ve selected one of those modes, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of more specific modes, such as ice cream, sorbet, lite ice cream, etc.

Not every button works for every mode, though; for instance, Sorbet is not an available function for the Swirl mode.

Regardless of whether you choose Scoopable or Swirl, the process starts out very similar to that of the regular Ninja Creami.

You’ll create a base, freeze it for at least 24 hours, then insert the base into the outer bowl of the machine.

The base is them processed to a creamy texture. If you chose a Swirl mode, the paddle attachment spins faster and for a longer time, so the ice cream comes out softer than the Scoopable mode.

For Scoopable desserts, you can enjoy immediately.

If you’re going for the Swirl, you’ll take the prepared ice cream and attach a different lid to the container, then insert it into the other side of the machine, where it will be dispensed as a soft serve.

Soft Serve Recipes Using the Ninja Swirl by Creami:

• Ninja Creami Swirl Dole Whip Copycat
• Ninja Creami Banana Nutella Frozen Yogurt

Notable Differences Between the Original Ninja Creami and the Creami Swirl

There are a few notable differences between these machines.

• The Swirl is bigger than the traditional Creami, so it takes up more space on your counter or in storage.
• The pint containers for the Swirl are different than the original pint containers, and they are not interchangeable. So your old pint containers won’t work in this machine.
• The Swirl offers some new buttons: CreamiFit, Fruit Whip, Frozen Yogurt, and Frozen Custard.
• There are more pieces and parts to clean with the Swirl, primarily due to the different pint containers and the need to use a press lid when dispensing as soft serve.
• The Swirl pints are 16-oz, which is the same as the original Ninja Creami pints. However, this is smaller than the Ninja Creami Deluxe pints, which are 24-oz.

Is the Creami Swirl Worth it?

At the time of this writing, the Ninja Creami Swirl costs about $150 more than the original Ninja Creami, which is a decent chunk of change.

I think it’s important to look beyond the technical product specifications to the more practical aspects of an appliance.

First, I’ll share a few of my personal observations in terms of comparing the original Ninja Creami with the Creami Swirl.

Learning Curve

I do think the Swirl is a little bit more complicated to operate than the original Creami, simply because there are more options to choose from and more parts and pieces to deal with.

If you’re already used to an original Creami, this learning curve won’t be too steep. But if you’re brand new to the Creami in general, it may feel a little more overwhelming at first.

Once you get the hang of it, it’s not difficult at all! The machine also comes with a QR code that links to a few how-to videos that are helpful.

Additional Buttons

Although the Swirl machine does include some additional buttons, like Frozen Yogurt, CreamiFit, and Fruit Whip, these buttons aren’t entirely necessary.

I’ve been making frozen yogurt, protein ice cream, and Dole Whip in my regular Ninja Creami for years, without needing those new buttons, and it’s always worked just fine.

So while the buttons could be useful for new users (users won’t have to think much about which function is most appropriate), I wouldn’t let those new buttons sway you on their own!

Improved Texture After First Spin

When using the Soft Serve functions, I’ve found the texture is pretty much perfect after the first spin.

With my original Creami, the pints are almost always crumbly after the first spin. This is easily remedied by Re-spinning, but it’s still an extra step.

Since the Soft Serve function of the Swirl spins the ice cream longer, it pretty much has eliminated my need for Re-spinning.

More Features I Appreciate

• Although I haven’t measured the sound emitted from the machine, it does seem a little bit quieter to me (or maybe just less harsh of a noise?) than my original Ninja Creami.
• The outer bowl locks into the Swirl differently than the original Creami, and I think it’s much easier to get it in and out now. If you’ve ever had your Creami outer bowl not release properly, you know how annoying that is.
• I like the lids for the Swirl’s pints better than the lids for the traditional pints. They fit better and make it easier to stack pints in the freezer, in my opinion.
• You don’t need entirely different recipes for the Swirl. Traditional Ninja Creami recipes will work fine in this machine as well.

Should You Get the Ninja Creami Swirl?

I really like the Creami Swirl so far, but ultimately, whether or not it’s a good fit for you will boil down to what you’d prefer to use the machine for.

The Swirl might be a good fit for you if:

• You would really enjoy having the options to dispense a soft serve swirl of ice cream OR just make scoopable ice cream.
• You plan to serve a lot of your ice cream in a cone, since it’s easier to completely fill the cone with soft serve than with scoops.
• You prefer softer ice cream in general, whether in a bowl or a cone. The soft serve function creates a more delicate texture that some might find more appealing than scoops.
• You have adequate space to store the machine.

The Swirl might not be a good fit for you if:

• You don’t really care too much about the ability to dispense soft serve, and will most likely just be scooping your creations.
• You don’t have the storage space for a machine with a larger footprint.
• You don’t want to deal with washing the additional pieces and parts associated with this machine.
• You are easily overwhelmed by appliances and just want to keep things simple.

The Ninja Swirl certainly has some fun features that will definitely make it worthwhile for some users, but I don’t think it’s a necessary upgrade for everyone.

If you’re purchasing your first Creami, maybe it’s worthwhile to spring for the new model, just so you have the option for soft serve and scoops.

However, if you already have a Creami that works well, I don’t think there’s much of a reason to splurge on an upgrade–unless you just adore soft serve ice cream.

I hope that helps give you some insight into this new appliance and makes your decision easier!

Know you want one? Get your Ninja Creami Swirl Here!