Best Laptops for Digital Nomads and Remote Workers in Australia
October 17, 2026
There is something different about making a frozen treat at home. You are not limited to the flavours sitting in a freezer aisle, and you do not have to wait for a trip to an ice cream shop or a summer fair to enjoy something cold and fun. With the right countertop appliance, an ordinary evening can turn into an excuse to experiment with ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes, frozen desserts and slushies.
That is where SharkNinja’s Ninja range becomes interesting.
The Ninja CREAMi family is designed around frozen bases that are transformed into different frozen treats, while the Ninja SLUSHi range takes drinks and turns them into frozen beverages without relying on ice. Together, the two families cover a surprisingly broad part of the frozen-treat category.
For Canadian households, SharkNinja offers several CREAMi models, including the CREAMi 7-in-1, CREAMi XL Deluxe 11-in-1, CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 in Navy and Ninja Swirl by CREAMi. There is also the SLUSHi range, including the larger SLUSHi XL and the two-flavour SLUSHi Twist.
The important thing is that these machines are not all doing exactly the same job. A compact CREAMi can make sense for someone who mainly wants individual frozen desserts, while a larger CREAMi model offers additional programs and larger tubs. The Swirl model adds soft-serve-style dispensing, while SLUSHi machines are designed specifically around frozen drinks.
So, rather than asking which Ninja frozen-treat machine is “the best,” it makes more sense to ask what you actually want to make at home.
The Ninja CREAMi works differently from a traditional ice cream maker.
Instead of pouring a liquid mixture into a machine and waiting for it to churn and freeze, the CREAMi starts with a frozen solid base. SharkNinja’s Creamify technology then processes that frozen base into a range of textures and treats.
That approach is one of the reasons the CREAMi has become such an interesting part of Ninja’s kitchen range. The starting point can be customised, and the finished treat can be adapted with different ingredients and mix-ins.
Depending on the model, CREAMi machines can make treats such as ice cream, sorbet, gelato, milkshakes, smoothie bowls, lite ice cream and other frozen creations.
The CREAMi 7-in-1, for example, has seven one-touch programs and comes with two 16-ounce pints. The NC301C also includes a Re-spin function, which can be useful when you want a different texture from the finished frozen treat.
SharkNinja currently lists the Ninja CREAMi NC301C at C$279.99.
That makes it one of the more straightforward ways into the CREAMi family if your main goal is experimenting with homemade frozen desserts rather than buying a machine with every available program.
The Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 is a good example of why choosing a machine should begin with your habits rather than the biggest specification list.
The NC301C provides seven one-touch programs and comes with two 16-ounce pints. Its listed programs cover ice cream, gelato, milkshake, sorbet, smoothie bowl and lite ice cream, along with the machine’s other CREAMi functionality.
The machine also uses Ninja’s Creamify technology to process a uniformly frozen base.
For someone who enjoys preparing individual portions, the 16-ounce pint format is practical. You can prepare a base, freeze it and then process it when you want a dessert.
The real attraction is the ability to customise the base and then add mix-ins. Chocolate pieces, fruit and other additions can change the finished result without requiring a completely different appliance.
The CREAMi also makes experimentation relatively approachable. One day the pint can become a straightforward vanilla-style ice cream. Another day it could be a fruit-based sorbet or a milkshake-style creation.
SharkNinja lists the Ninja CREAMi NC301C at C$279.99.
For shoppers who want the basic CREAMi concept without moving immediately into the larger Deluxe or soft-serve models, this is an important model to consider.
The Ninja CREAMi XL Deluxe 11-in-1 takes the concept further.
Model NC501C has 11 preset programs and comes with two 24-ounce CREAMi XL tubs. SharkNinja says the larger tubs provide 50% more capacity than the original Ninja CREAMi.
That difference matters when frozen desserts are being made for several people.
The XL Deluxe also expands the range of treats. In addition to familiar CREAMi creations such as ice cream, sorbet and gelato, the machine includes programs for treats such as Italian ice, frozen yogurt, Creamiccino, frozen drinks and Slushi-style creations.
Another useful feature is the ability to turn one frozen base into two finished flavours using the dual processing capability.
Imagine preparing one base for the family and then deciding that half should become one flavour while the other half gets a completely different mix-in combination. The XL format gives you more room to play with that idea.
SharkNinja lists the Ninja CREAMi XL Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream and Frozen Treat Maker, model NC501C, at C$329.99.
For households where the CREAMi is likely to become a regular part of the kitchen rather than an occasional appliance, the additional capacity and programs make the XL Deluxe a particularly interesting step up from the standard 7-in-1.
If appearance matters as much as functionality, SharkNinja Canada also offers the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 in Navy.
The Navy model is NC601C and has 11 preset programs, two 24-ounce XL tubs and the ability to turn one base into two flavours.
SharkNinja describes the model as adding programs including Dairy-Free, Smoothie Bowl and CREAMiFit to its frozen-treat capabilities.
That makes the Deluxe model particularly versatile for people who do not want to use their CREAMi only for traditional ice cream.
A frozen dessert appliance becomes more useful when different members of a household can use it in different ways. One person might want a conventional ice cream recipe, another might prefer a dairy-free option, while someone else may be interested in smoothie bowls or a lighter frozen creation.
The two 24-ounce tubs are also useful for advance preparation. Instead of making one small pint and immediately finishing it, you can prepare multiple bases and keep them ready for processing.
SharkNinja currently lists the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream Maker in Navy at C$349.99.
The C$20 difference between the listed NC501C and NC601C prices makes the Navy Deluxe an option worth looking at if the additional programs included with the NC601C fit your household’s preferences.
For some people, the most exciting part of having a frozen dessert machine at home is not simply making ice cream. It is being able to serve something that feels more like a soft-serve shop experience.
That is where Ninja Swirl by CREAMi enters the picture.
The NC701C is designed for both scooped and swirled treats. SharkNinja lists 13 automatic programs, including six soft-serve programs.
Those include Soft Serve, Fruit Whip, Frozen Custard, Swirled Lite Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt and CreamiFit.
The machine can therefore be used for more than a single style of dessert.
The Swirl by CREAMi also uses Creamify technology, with the frozen base processed before being dispensed as a scoop or swirl.
This gives it a different appeal from the standard CREAMi models. If the visual experience of serving a soft-serve-style dessert matters to you, the Swirl model has a feature set aimed directly at that experience.
SharkNinja lists the Ninja Swirl by CREAMi Soft Serve & Ice Cream Machine at C$449.99.
It comes with two 16-ounce pints.
There is also a Ninja Swirl by CREAMi bundle that includes two extra pints.
The bundle contains the Swirl machine and a two-pack of additional Swirl pints and lids. SharkNinja lists the bundle at C$449.99, with the page showing the two additional pints as a C$50 value.
This type of bundle can make sense for people who already know they want to rotate through several frozen bases.
Extra pints are especially useful with a CREAMi-style workflow because the preparation starts before the actual processing. Having additional containers means you can prepare different bases rather than waiting for one container to become available.
For a family, that can mean keeping several flavours ready in the freezer. For someone who likes experimenting with recipes, it can mean having different bases prepared at the same time.
The Swirl bundle is therefore less about adding another function to the machine and more about making the overall frozen-dessert routine more convenient.
Accessories are easy to overlook when buying a frozen-dessert machine, but additional pints can become useful very quickly.
SharkNinja lists the Ninja Swirl by CREAMi two-pack of pints and lids at C$49.99.
These are designed for the Swirl by CREAMi system.
Having extra containers means you can prepare more than the two pints supplied with the machine. It also makes it easier to keep different recipes organised in the freezer.
If you are buying the Swirl machine specifically because you want to experiment with several flavours, having additional pints available is worth considering as part of the overall purchase rather than as an afterthought.
The distinction between the regular CREAMi machines and Swirl by CREAMi is fairly simple.
The standard CREAMi models focus on transforming frozen bases into different frozen treats, with different models offering different programs and capacities.
Swirl by CREAMi adds soft-serve-style dispensing.
That difference should guide the buying decision.
If you mostly want ice cream, sorbet, gelato, milkshakes and similar creations, a conventional CREAMi model may provide everything you need.
If soft serve is one of the main reasons you are interested in buying a machine, the Swirl model deserves more attention.
The XL Deluxe models are particularly interesting for larger households because of their 24-ounce tubs, while the NC301C’s 16-ounce format keeps things more compact.
There is no need to pay for features you are unlikely to use. At the same time, if you already know that you want a broader selection of frozen treats or larger portions, upgrading later may be less appealing than choosing the right model from the beginning.
Ice cream is only half of the frozen-treat conversation.
Sometimes what you actually want is a cold drink.
That is where Ninja SLUSHi comes in.
The SLUSHi machines are designed specifically for frozen drinks and slushies. Unlike a blender-based drink that relies on ice being crushed into the beverage, the SLUSHi system is designed to create frozen drinks without ice.
The standard Ninja SLUSHi uses RapidChill technology, while newer models such as SLUSHi XL use SlushAssist technology.
This makes SLUSHi a different category of appliance from CREAMi.
A CREAMi is centred around frozen bases and desserts. A SLUSHi is centred around drinks.
If you enjoy frozen lemonades, slushies, frozen sodas, milkshake-style drinks or frozen cocktails, the SLUSHi concept can make much more sense than trying to adapt an ice cream machine to a job it was not designed around.
The Ninja SLUSHi XL is designed for larger batches.
SharkNinja lists the SLUSHi XL at C$399.99.
The machine has a 128-ounce vessel with a 96-ounce maximum liquid fill capacity and is described by SharkNinja as producing 10 or more nine-ounce servings.
It also uses SlushAssist technology.
The technology senses the ingredients and automatically adjusts the temperature, reducing the amount of manual adjustment involved in getting the drink to the desired frozen consistency.
There are six drink programs and 15 temperature controls listed for the SLUSHi XL.
That gives it a clear party-friendly purpose.
Instead of making one frozen drink at a time in a blender, you can prepare a larger quantity for guests. It is also useful for family gatherings, summer meals and occasions where people are likely to want a cold drink throughout the event.
The SLUSHi XL is therefore less about individual experimentation and more about making frozen beverages conveniently in larger quantities.
The SLUSHi Twist takes the idea in another direction.
Rather than preparing one frozen drink, the machine has two vessels and can slush two different drinks at the same time.
SharkNinja lists the Ninja SLUSHi Twist at C$549.99.
The machine uses Dual SlushAssist technology to manage the two sides independently.
That creates a particularly useful setup when everyone does not want the same drink.
You could prepare two different flavours and serve them separately, or use the machine’s SLUSHiTwist technology to combine the two frozen flavours into one drink.
For a household with different preferences, this is a significant difference from a single-vessel machine.
It also gives you more room for experimentation. Instead of deciding on one flavour for the entire batch, you can create two different combinations and allow people to choose.
SharkNinja describes the SLUSHi Twist as having two 48-ounce vessels and a capacity of 10 or more nine-ounce servings.
At C$549.99, it sits above the SLUSHi XL in price, but the second vessel is the main reason to look at it.
The choice between the two largely comes down to how you want to use the machine.
The SLUSHi XL has one large vessel and is designed around making a larger quantity of one frozen drink.
The SLUSHi Twist has two vessels and is designed around making two flavours at once.
If your household normally agrees on one drink, the XL format is straightforward.
If family members or guests regularly want different flavours, the Twist is more flexible.
The price difference is also significant. SharkNinja lists the SLUSHi XL at C$399.99 and SLUSHi Twist at C$549.99.
So the Twist’s additional cost should be considered alongside its two-flavour capability rather than simply treating it as a more expensive version of the same machine.
One of the easiest mistakes when shopping for frozen-treat appliances is assuming that every machine is interchangeable.
CREAMi and SLUSHi are complementary rather than identical.
Think of CREAMi when the starting point is a frozen base and the final result is something you eat with a spoon or enjoy as a milkshake or related treat.
Think of SLUSHi when the starting point is a drink and the goal is a frozen beverage.
This distinction can actually make the decision easier.
A household that mainly wants homemade ice cream does not necessarily need a SLUSHi.
A household that mainly wants frozen drinks does not necessarily need a CREAMi.
And a household that enjoys both may find that having the two systems opens up a much wider range of possibilities.
The appeal of these machines goes beyond their individual functions.
A CREAMi can turn dessert into something people participate in.
Instead of everyone eating the same tub of store-bought ice cream, different family members can choose different bases and mix-ins.
One person can choose fruit. Another can choose chocolate. Someone else can experiment with a lighter recipe.
The machine then becomes part of the preparation rather than simply another appliance sitting in the cupboard.
The same applies to SLUSHi.
For a gathering, one side of a SLUSHi Twist could be used for one flavour while the second side holds another.
That makes the appliance particularly suited to occasions where people have different tastes.
Another reason CREAMi has become appealing is the level of control it gives the person making the dessert.
You decide what goes into the base.
That can be useful for people who have specific ingredient preferences or simply enjoy creating their own recipes.
SharkNinja specifically highlights the customisation possibilities of the CREAMi range, including options for dairy-free, vegan, keto and lower-sugar creations depending on the model and recipe.
Of course, the final nutritional profile depends on the ingredients you actually use. A machine does not automatically make a dessert healthy simply because you made it at home.
The real advantage is control.
You can choose your milk or alternative, select the fruit, decide how much chocolate or other mix-ins you want and adjust recipes to suit your preferences.
One of the strongest reasons to look beyond the original CREAMi is the range of programs now available.
The CREAMi XL Deluxe 11-in-1 can make ice cream, sorbet and gelato, but its capabilities also extend into Italian ice, frozen yogurt, frozen drinks, Creamiccino and Slushi-style creations.
The Deluxe 11-in-1 in Navy adds programs including Dairy-Free, Smoothie Bowl and CREAMiFit.
That means the machine can have a place in the kitchen beyond dessert time.
A smoothie bowl can work as breakfast. A frozen drink can be an afternoon treat. Sorbet can be a lighter dessert option.
The broader the range of programs, the easier it becomes to justify keeping the appliance accessible rather than using it once every few weeks.
SharkNinja’s frozen-treat machines also fit into a much larger Ninja kitchen ecosystem.
A blender is an obvious companion.
Ninja blenders can be useful when preparing ingredients for frozen desserts, smoothies and drinks before they go into the CREAMi or when making other recipes that do not require the frozen-treat machines.
The newer Ninja CrushBOSS range is another example of Ninja’s focus on combining blending and food-preparation functions. SharkNinja lists the CrushBOSS 2-in-1 Blender & Tumbler at C$279.99 and the CrushBOSS Intelligent Blender at C$249.99, while the 3-in-1 Blender, Tumbler & Food Processor is listed at C$349.99.
That makes a blender a natural companion to a CREAMi-heavy kitchen.
There is also a simple reason to pair frozen-treat equipment with an air fryer.
The CREAMi and SLUSHi handle the cold side of the meal. A Ninja air fryer can handle many of the hot foods.
That combination can be useful for family meals where one appliance is preparing crispy foods while another prepares dessert or drinks.
Ninja’s air fryer range includes different formats and capacities, so the right model depends on how much food you typically prepare and what functions matter to you.
The point is not that you need every appliance in the Ninja catalogue.
It is that SharkNinja has built a broad kitchen range, and the CREAMi and SLUSHi can fit naturally into a wider setup.
If frozen drinks are only part of your beverage routine, another Ninja system worth knowing about is Ninja Thirsti.
Thirsti is designed around flavoured water rather than frozen slushies.
That makes it a different kind of appliance again.
A household could use Thirsti for everyday flavoured drinks, CREAMi for frozen desserts and SLUSHi for occasions when a frozen beverage is what everyone wants.
This illustrates one of the advantages of choosing appliances based on actual usage rather than buying a machine simply because it has the longest list of features.
Different systems are designed for different jobs.
If you are primarily interested in ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes and similar treats and want to keep the purchase relatively straightforward, start by looking at the CREAMi 7-in-1 NC301C.
At C$279.99 on SharkNinja, it provides the core CREAMi experience with seven programs and two 16-ounce pints.
If you want more capacity and more types of frozen treats, the CREAMi XL Deluxe 11-in-1 NC501C is the next logical step.
At C$329.99, it provides two 24-ounce tubs and 11 programs.
If you prefer the Navy finish and want the newer Deluxe model with its listed additional programs, the NC601C is listed at C$349.99.
And if soft serve is a major reason for buying a CREAMi, the Ninja Swirl by CREAMi is the model to investigate.
At C$449.99, it is more expensive, but its 13 programs and six soft-serve programs give it a substantially different purpose.
The same principle applies to SLUSHi.
The SLUSHi XL is aimed at larger batches of one frozen drink.
At C$399.99, it has a 128-ounce vessel and 96-ounce maximum liquid fill capacity, with SharkNinja describing it as capable of making 10 or more nine-ounce servings.
The SLUSHi Twist costs C$549.99 and has two 48-ounce vessels.
Its biggest selling point is not simply size. It is the ability to slush two flavours independently and combine them into a twist.
For households with different drink preferences, that distinction could be more important than the extra capacity of a single-vessel machine.
It is easy to get distracted by the number of programs on a kitchen appliance.
But the most useful feature is usually the one you will actually use.
For the CREAMi 7-in-1, the main attraction is the ability to create several types of frozen treats from frozen bases without buying a much larger machine.
For the XL Deluxe, capacity and the expanded program selection are the bigger story.
For the Navy Deluxe model, the added programs and 24-ounce tubs make it a broader frozen-treat machine.
For Swirl by CREAMi, the soft-serve capability is the defining feature.
For SLUSHi XL, it is the larger single-vessel format and automatic temperature adjustment.
For SLUSHi Twist, the two independent frozen-drink sides are what make the machine different.
Thinking about those differences is much more useful than simply looking at which model has the highest number on the box.
One of the most enjoyable things about a CREAMi is that it encourages experimentation.
You can start with familiar flavours and then gradually become more adventurous.
A basic vanilla recipe can lead to fruit combinations. A chocolate base can become a mix-in dessert. Sorbet can become a way to use seasonal fruit.
The machine does not dictate one finished product.
It gives you a way to transform a prepared frozen base.
That is why the CREAMi range has appeal beyond people who simply want an ice cream maker. It can become a small creative project in the kitchen.
SLUSHi has a different personality.
The attraction is less about preparing elaborate frozen desserts and more about making frozen drinks conveniently.
For a party, that difference is important.
You do not necessarily want to stand over a blender repeatedly crushing ice while guests are waiting for drinks.
A larger SLUSHi machine is designed specifically around frozen beverages, and models such as SLUSHi XL and SLUSHi Twist add automatic temperature management to make the process easier.
That makes them particularly relevant for people who frequently entertain or simply enjoy frozen drinks at home.
When comparing prices, remember that the machine itself is only part of the CREAMi experience.
Extra pints can make a difference if you are regularly preparing multiple flavours.
For the standard NC301C, SharkNinja lists compatible CREAMi pints and lids in a two-pack at C$29.99.
For the Swirl system, the two-pack of pints and lids is listed at C$49.99.
The XL Deluxe models use their own larger 24-ounce tubs, and SharkNinja lists a two-pack of CREAMi Deluxe pints at C$39.99.
It is worth checking compatibility before purchasing accessories because the CREAMi family includes different pint formats.
SharkNinja has built a large kitchen-appliance portfolio, but the CREAMi and SLUSHi families show two particularly different approaches to home entertaining.
CREAMi is about transforming prepared frozen bases into custom desserts.
SLUSHi is about transforming drinks into frozen beverages.
Swirl by CREAMi bridges the gap between homemade frozen desserts and the soft-serve experience.
That gives SharkNinja shoppers several ways to approach the same basic goal: making something cold, fun and customisable at home.
The important thing is to match the machine to the way you actually eat and drink.
The Ninja CREAMi family has grown well beyond a single ice cream maker.
The CREAMi 7-in-1 NC301C offers the core experience in a compact format. The CREAMi XL Deluxe 11-in-1 adds larger 24-ounce tubs and more programs. The Deluxe 11-in-1 in Navy adds another option for shoppers who want the expanded model in a different finish.
Then there is Ninja Swirl by CREAMi, which brings soft-serve-style dispensing into the CREAMi family and makes sense for anyone who sees swirled desserts as a major part of the appeal.
On the drink side, Ninja SLUSHi offers a different approach altogether. The SLUSHi XL is designed for larger quantities of one frozen drink, while SLUSHi Twist gives you two independent vessels so two flavours can be prepared at the same time.
The prices on SharkNinja range from C$279.99 for the CREAMi NC301C to C$549.99 for the SLUSHi Twist among the main machines covered here.
That is a wide range, but the products are also aimed at noticeably different uses.
If your priority is homemade ice cream and frozen desserts, start with the CREAMi family.
If soft serve is the feature you really want, look at Swirl by CREAMi.
If frozen drinks are the priority, explore SLUSHi.
And if you regularly entertain or have a family with very different tastes, the larger CREAMi and multi-flavour SLUSHi models become particularly interesting.
What makes the SharkNinja range appealing is that you do not have to settle for one generic frozen-treat machine. You can choose a system based on how you want to use it, whether that means keeping a couple of homemade ice cream flavours ready in the freezer, serving soft-serve-style desserts after dinner, or putting two different frozen drinks on the counter for a weekend gathering.
For Canadian shoppers, the SharkNinja range gives you plenty of room to build that setup gradually.
Start with the machine that solves the problem you actually have.
Then, if frozen treats become a regular part of your kitchen routine, extra pints, a larger model or another Ninja appliance can build on that foundation without changing the way you already enjoy making food and drinks at home.
Findestinations — Your trusted source for travel inspiration, destination guides, and expert tips to help you explore the world with confidence and curiosity.
