I've tested the ice cream maker taking on the Ninja Creami – and it's half the price

★★★★☆What we love: Great soft serve, delicious ice cream, perfect for individual portions, and great for kidsTake note: Can be hard to get used to, requires pre-freeze, bulky“I’ve had my Ninja swirl for over a year now. The real selling point continues to be the soft serve function, which is far more precise than others I’ve tried – it really does replicate a delicious 99 from an ice cream van. There are six programmes to choose from, including classic ice cream, frozen yoghurt and gelato, making it easy to tailor recipes to different diets and preferences (you can even choose a high-protein option).Sticking to Ninja’s recipes is important, as the soft serve needs the right ingredients to hold its shape. Once I got it right, the ice cream was deliciously smooth, creamy and much closer to a proper gelato than a standard homemade ice cream. Keep your hand firm on the lever, as portions are generous. Kids will love getting their hands messy and making their own individual portions with four tubs included.The machine is around double the width of the creami (£199, Sharkninja.com), so it’s not one for small kitchen countertops. That said, it’s definitely among the brand’s most stylish designs. The main body is pre-assembled and just a few parts to click into place, while the only preparation needed is similar to the creami – the tubs needing to be filled and frozen for 24 hours before use. It’s a bit annoying, but a familiar setup.” Capacity: 480ml (4 x tubs) Weight: 9.45kg Dimensions: H: 44.5cm x W: 38.5cm x D: 25.5cm Minimum churn time: 5-10 mins Pre-freezing required: Yes – 24 hours Included accessories: 4 x 480ml swirl tubs with nozzles and lids, dispensing lid with swirl press, outer bowl and lid, creamerizer paddle, pull-out drip tray, recipe inspiration guide