Best Ice Cream Makers · head-to-head

Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1 vs Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1 is cheaper at $89.99. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1 or Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301?

On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1 is the cheaper at $89.99.

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Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1 Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301
US price $89.99 $229.99
BrandCuisinartNinja
Released2021
Type freezer_bowl pre_frozen_pint
Capacity qt 1.5 1
Build in compressor No No
Wattage (W) 50 800
Preset programs 7
Timer No No
Keep cool function No No
Mix ins setting No Yes
Release 2021

Sources — Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1: target.com (verified 2026-06-20). Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301: sharkninja.com (verified 2026-06-20).

What's the difference between the Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1 and Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Type: Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1 freezer_bowl vs Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 pre_frozen_pint
  • Capacity qt: Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1 1.5 vs Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 1
  • Wattage (W): Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1 50 vs Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 800
  • Mix ins setting: Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1 false vs Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301 true

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE-21P1

Two whitelisted hands-on testers cover this exact machine: NYT Wirecutter names the Cuisinart ICE-21 its outright top pick, while USA Today's Reviewed names it Best Value (runner-up to the Ninja Creami). Both praise fast churning (~18-20 minutes to soft-serve), a simple one-switch design with a wide open top, and strong value (Wirecutter cites a typical ~$90). Both flag the small 1.5-quart capacity and the mandatory overnight (12-24h) bowl pre-freeze. No lab dB/noise data found. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)

Praised: Churns creamy ice cream fast (~18-20 minutes to soft-serve); Wirecutter calls the texture dense, chewy and rich; Simple one-switch (on/off) design with a wide open top for taste-tests and mix-ins; Strong value for the field; Wirecutter cites a typical ~$90 price.

Flagged: Small 1.5-quart capacity, prone to overflow when adding mix-ins to a full batch; Requires overnight (12-24h) bowl/canister pre-freeze before you can churn; Freezer bowl / machine is a bit bulky to store (long-term tester).

Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker NC301

Only one whitelisted tester, Wirecutter (NYT), published a hands-on review of the original Ninja Creami (NC301). Wirecutter found it makes surprisingly dense, smooth, ready-to-eat ice cream fast, but flagged a burning-plastic smell, icy unmixed edges, difficult cleaning, loud operation, and durability doubts at $200-plus with only a one-year warranty. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Produces dense, smooth, tasty ice cream that is ready to eat immediately, even from tricky low-fat bases; Fast: quickly spins a frozen pint of ingredients into mostly smooth ice cream in minutes.

Flagged: Shook and smelled of burning plastic during testing; a taster detected a burnt-plastic flavor; Blades cannot reach pint edges/bottom, leaving unmixed frozen base and crunchy, icy bits; Hard to clean thoroughly; ice cream gunk builds up in the sealed lid and around the spindle housing.

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