I'm pretty loyal to my Nutribullet blender, which is now over a decade old and survived my college years and multiple apartment moves. I wasn't surprised to see the brand expand its horizons into ice cream maker territory. Instant ice cream makers, like the Ninja Creami, which differ from traditional ice cream makers that focus on churning, are all the rage, making homemade ice cream a breeze. No more cooking custards on the stovetop or worrying about hours of churning.
But can a blender brand break into ice cream territory? These instant ice cream makers aren't so different from blenders, using blades to break up frozen confections to create deliciously creamy homemade treats. But how does Nutribullet's Chill ice cream maker fare in a crowded market already dominated by the Ninja Creami? Exceptionally well, if I do say so.
Nutribullet Chill at a glance:
Nutribullet, the brand behind beloved blenders, has debuted the Chill ice cream maker. It's a simple but powerful ice cream maker with five presets that produces creamy, smooth frozen desserts in just minutes. For those looking for mix-ins, the machine doesn't have a preset for it, and be prepared for noise, as it's extremely loud.
It's not too big for small spaces and is thoughtfully designed
As a product reviewer with access to a whole world of kitchen gadgets, I have to be picky about what stays in my kitchen because there's only so much counter and cabinet space. While I love the Ninja Creami Scoop and Swirl, it stays in storage most of the time because I just don't have the space for it. But the Nutribullet Chill ice cream maker might just be the device that earns some kitchen real estate.
The whole device comes in three parts: the ice cream maker base, the blade block, and the blade cover. The base is smaller than a kitchen stand mixer, taking up very little square footage as it's taller than it is wide. It's decently hefty at 10.5 pounds, but it is fairly easy to maneuver on the kitchen counter. When not in use, I can easily tuck it away on the counter without losing too much space.
The blade is sort of a plunger shape and screws onto the top of the pint containers. The blade attachment and pint container are then placed on the base, upside down, as the blade rises and spins through the ice cream.
It's a fascinating design choice compared to other instant ice cream makers I've tried, like the Ninja Creami or Cuisinart FastFreeze, which has a blade spinning down from the top. However, its unique design definitely works.
Perfectly creamy texture on the first try
The ice cream maker's efficacy ultimately comes down to how well it spins the ice cream, and the Nutribullet Chill does an exceptional job. I made four different mixes on this machine: a classic vanilla ice cream, a dairy-free protein ice cream, a chocolate hazelnut frozen yogurt, and a strawberry frozen yogurt with fresh fruit.
In most of Nutribullet's recipes, they recommend blending your concoctions before freezing — not entirely surprising from a blender company.
Across the board, the machine processed all of the flavors I made well. The textures were smooth and creamy, but to varying degrees of success. The vanilla ice cream was the least successful as it was surprisingly melted and loose in texture; however, I don't discredit the machine, it may have been a matter of the recipe, as other recipes fared much better.
The dairy-free protein ice cream had a lovely, fluffy texture, almost like a Wendy's Frosty. The frozen yogurts were the highlights, though, developing a texture between a hard and soft serve. As a frozen yogurt aficionado, I was extremely pleased with the results, excited about my next batch.
None of the mixtures needed a respin, and it was ready after just one spin cycle, which is better than most ice cream makers I've tested. But it's also for the best since it doesn't have a respin option.
Five pre-built settings — but no option for mix-ins or re-spins
Preloaded with five settings, the Nutribullet Chill comes ready to make ice cream, sorbet, gelato, smoothie bowls, and frozen yogurt. The different settings worked well for their designated types, but I did feel a few were noticeably missing.
I expect a respin sitting on preprogrammed devices in case it doesn't come out the right texture. However, Nutribullet may not need it, since all the recipes turned out well. But the most egregiously missing setting was a mix-in setting, which most ice cream mixes I've tested recommend.
Checking in with what the brand recommends, Nutribullet says to add in your mix-ins before freezing, which get blended and incorporated in when it processes. I took that route with the strawberry frozen yogurt, which had fresh fruit mixed in that got fully blended. If you want chunks mixed into your ice cream, then you'll have to fold those in after.
It sounds like a truck and gets...hot?
One thing that I've come to expect with instant ice cream makers is the machines' volume — they're extremely loud. The Nutribullet Chill is the loudest ice cream maker I've tested, and while I can't measure its specific decibels, I can say that it shocked me, sounding like a garbage truck was in my house, and making me wonder if I should be wearing earplugs while using it. Apartment dwellers, be warned — I'm lucky to have some very understanding neighbors.
What was most shocking was that for an ice cream maker, it gets pretty hot. The blade block has a metal shaft that slides into the machine, and after use, the shaft gets very hot. The ice cream maker has multiple "shaft hot" warnings (I know, I know), but it still surprised me how warm it was, and I wondered how that heat might affect the texture of the frozen treats, especially since the vanilla ice cream turned out so melted.
A total breeze to clean
Maybe I'm still salty about having to clean the Cuisinart FastFreeze, but cleaning the Nutribullet Chill components is a breeze. Luckily, nothing on the motor base needs cleaning, but the blade block, blade cover, and pint containers are all top-rack dishwasher safe. This was a pleasant surprise, considering most ice cream maker parts are not dishwasher-safe.
But if you don't have a dishwasher, don't fear. I hand-washed all the parts and found them very easy to clean.
Is the Nutribullet Chill worth it?
The Nutribullet Chill ice cream maker is a worthy rival of the Ninja Creami. It whips up perfectly creamy, smooth ice cream with no icy or watery texture. Be prepared for noise, as it's the loudest ice cream maker I've tested, but it's a nice option for people in smaller spaces, too.
If you just want the basics, making ice cream, sorbets, and frozen yogurt, then the Nutribullet Chill is a great machine and $30 cheaper than the Ninja Creami. But if you're looking for mix-ins or a milkshake option, the Creami may be more your speed.
