Do you often find yourself stuck in the middle of a social media rabbit hole? Do you spend hours scrolling through and learning about so many different things you often wonder how you even got there? One of the most recent loopholes could be identified as the Ninja Creami craze. I have taken it upon myself to crack this craze and find out what this gadget is all about. Will it become a common household item or will it be a short-term trend you scroll through? 

     For those of you who are unaware, the Ninja Creami is a kitchen appliance that claims to create ten different types of frozen treats. The ten functions are divided between Scoopable and Drinkable options. Scoopable programs include Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Frozen Yogurt, and Creami Italian Ice. The Drinkable Programs include Creamiccino, Frozen Drink, Slushi, and Milkshake. With so many functions the machine comes with not the most affordable price. Coming in at over two hundred and fifty dollars the appliance poses a serious conflict. Leaving consumers debating if it is really worth it. I asked some Creami connoisseurs their thoughts. When asked what her reasoning behind getting the tool was, Sophomore, Adalyn Brown said “I wanted to make protein ice cream.” Sophomore, Lauren Tocco, said, “My sister really wanted one, so my mom decided to buy one.” Both sources also said they like to make protein ice cream the most in their Creami.  To test out the different functions and resolve this price dilemma I conducted an experiment with fellow classmates and peers to put the Ninja to the test. I crafted three different recipes in the Creami. I made a smores protein shake, FROYO smoothie bowl, and tis’ the season, so I whipped together a protein pumpkin pie ice cream. The responses varied.  

     The taste test started off strong with the FROYO smoothie bowl. Consisting of half of a banana, strawberries, one-fourth cup of vanilla Greek yogurt, a splash of milk, and a tablespoon of peanut butter. The concoction had very mixed reviews. With an overall positive rating, the FROYO seemed to be a hit. With the majority of the reviewers enjoying the mixture, the smooth yet silky texture of the smoothie was an attribute that stood out the most. The Ninja was a key factor in achieving this.

      Next, the s’mores shake was tested. With it being the favorite of sophomore, Raegan Mundy, she said its “Great flavor and texture” qualities made this shake rise to the top of her leaderboard. Not only is it delicious and nutritious, but the shake is so simple, containing only two ingredients, milk and a scoop of s’mores protein powder.

      Finally, as the air gets crisper, pumpkin spice seasoning usage increases. With this, I put together a protein pumpkin pie creation.  Now, this recipe is a bit more complex but every ingredient adds to the amazing flavor melody of this ice cream masterpiece. All the creations were delicious, but the protein ice cream came in as number one on everyone’s list. Junior, Anna Hedrick, stated, “I feel like this one tastes the most like ice cream.”  Varsity Cross Country coach and nutrition enthusiast Denise Rush said, “The taste is more normal and most true to the name” leaving it number one on her list as well.  Keep in mind that all of the recipes that were made were somewhat health-related, so that could make them less appealing to the testers. 

     Now that we know the Creami holds true to its creation promises, the only question is, “Does the price really match up to its abilities?” Sophomore Creami user, Tocco, said, “I would recommend the Ninja Creami to others debating on buying one if they think they will get use out of it. It is a great appliance that has a ton of uses!” In contrast, Adalyn said, “Honestly I don’t use it that much anymore, so I would only recommend it if you are really going to use it.” Before the experiment, Rush was unaware of the product in general so when she was asked if she thought the product was worth the price she said. “I would have to test it out and try someone’s first because it is very expensive and I already have a Nutribullet that does the job for me.” The Creami also provides a healthier alternative to ice cream which is an appealing factor to Rush.

      Given the results of the experiments and responses, we can conclude that the Ninja Creami is worth the hype. So whether you’re an ice cream enthusiast or a health fanatic, this appliance promises a world full of tasty opportunities waiting to be created.