Ninja Creami programs explained: which button to press

Programs by model

Ninja lists these one-touch programs in its product listings. Re-spin is a separate function on every model, and Mix-in is used after a pint has already been processed.

Note.Older and regional versions may have fewer programs. If a program named here is not on your panel, use the closest match described below.

The core programs and the base each one expects

• Ice Cream: full-fat dairy bases with cream, milk and sugar. The most forgiving program for rich recipes.
• Lite Ice Cream: bases low in fat or sugar, including protein shakes, skim milk bases and sugar-free recipes. These freeze harder, so the program processes them differently.
• Gelato: cooked custard bases with egg yolks. Expect a dense, rich result.
• Sorbet: fruit, fruit puree or juice with sugar, and fruit canned in syrup.
• Smoothie Bowl: frozen fruit and vegetable blends with a little liquid, served thick enough to eat with a spoon.
• Milkshake: a spun or frozen pint plus milk, added before processing.
• Mix-In: folds chocolate, cookies, nuts or fruit into a pint you already processed.

Ice Cream vs Lite Ice Cream

This is the most common question. Ice Cream is built for bases that have enough fat and sugar to stay relatively soft when frozen. Lite Ice Cream is built for lean bases, such as a protein shake, a sugar-free recipe or a skim milk base, which freeze into a harder, icier block.

If you run a lean base on Ice Cream, it often comes out powdery or crumbly. If you run a rich base on Lite Ice Cream, it usually still works, though it may come out softer. When in doubt, pick Lite Ice Cream for anything you would describe as low-calorie or high-protein, and Re-spin if the result is powdery. Our protein ice cream guide covers lean bases in detail.

Deluxe-only programs

• Frozen Yogurt: yogurt-based pints, especially Greek yogurt with sweetener. On older models use Lite Ice Cream instead. See Creami frozen yogurt.
• Italian Ice: thin, high-water bases like lemonade or fruit juice with sugar, for a firm, spoonable ice.
• Slushi: juice, soda or sports drink bases for a drinkable slush.
• Frozen Drink: frozen cocktails and blended drinks.
• Creamiccino: frozen coffee drinks.
• Recipes and tips for the drink programs are in Creami Italian ice and slushies.

Swirl soft serve programs

The Scoop and Swirl processes a pint and then dispenses it through a handle like a soft serve machine. Ninja lists six soft serve programs: Soft Serve for regular dairy bases, Fruit Whip for fruit-based soft serve, Frozen Custard for egg-rich bases, CreamiFit for lower-calorie, high-protein bases, Swirled Frozen Yogurt for yogurt bases, and Lite Ice Cream. Bases for the Swirl are covered in Creami Swirl soft serve recipes.

Re-spin and Mix-In: when to use them

Re-spin runs a second pass over a pint that is already processed. Use it when the result is powdery or crumbly. If one re-spin is not enough, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk or base and re-spin again. Do not re-spin just to make the pint softer if it is already creamy, because extra spins warm it and can make it runny. The re-spin guide explains when to stop.

Mix-In is for after processing. Make a well down the center of the pint, add your mix-ins, and run Mix-In. It folds them through without pulverizing them. Compare models in our Ninja Creami buying guide.

Which Creami to buy →

Frequently asked questions

What can the Ninja Creami make? Ice cream, light ice cream, gelato, sorbet, smoothie bowls, milkshakes and mix-in pints on the original. The Deluxe adds frozen yogurt, Italian ice, slushies, frozen drinks and frozen coffee drinks, and the Swirl adds soft serve.

Which program for a protein shake? Lite Ice Cream on most models. On models that have it, CreamiFit is built for lower-calorie, high-protein bases.

Can I use the wrong program? It will not damage the machine, but the texture may be off. Re-spin usually rescues a pint run on the wrong program.

Do all programs need a 24-hour freeze? Yes. Every program expects a pint filled to the MAX line and frozen solid and level, typically about 24 hours.