This Ninja Slushie Machine Has Me Taking All My Drinks Frozen, Thank You Very Much

(Alice Prendergast)

Ah, countertop appliances. Between air fryers, stand mixers, espresso machines, ice cream makers, and all the other gadgets that have found a place in your home, you might be feeling a little fatigued by the options, or even overwhelmed by all the single-use appliances that have somehow crept into your kitchen. I know I was. I truly wasn’t planning on adding another one to my collection until I stumbled upon Ninja’s new SLUSHi Twist Slushie Machine.

Now, you may be thinking, “Alice, is a slushie machine really a necessary appliance?” And granted, it’s not. It’s definitely not going to get the same amount of use as, say, my toaster or electric kettle, but it sure is fun. I’m also the type of person who lives to wax nostalgic, and one of my favourite treats as a child was a Slush Puppie. All that’s to say, when I saw this machine, it was love at first sight.

And Ninja isn’t new to the world of slushie machines, either. It launched its original single-barrel Ninja SLUSHi in 2024. Sure, it excited me at the time, but back then, I was all about the Ninja CREAMi and protein ice cream. But I’ve finally realized that one of the most joyful appliances you can have in your kitchen is a slushie maker. When Ninja introduced a two-chamber model this summer, it was finally time, and I’ve been reaping the benefits ever since it arrived at my door.

Using the Ninja SLUSHi Twist Slushie Machine

The maiden voyage for my Ninja SLUSHi Twist Slushie Machine was a friend’s birthday party. It took up a healthy chunk of counter space, so I moved the other party accoutrements out of the kitchen and into the dining room before setting out to try it. Refreshingly, it’s extremely easy to operate.

I had one large bottle of pink lemonade and another of limeade, which I poured into their respective reservoirs. I considered adding alcohol, but thought it would be best to give guests the option of making their drinks boozy or booze-free, so I left the mixing up to them. Once the reservoirs were filled, I pressed the Dual Slush Assist button and let the machine get to work. Impressively, my slushies were ready in under half an hour.

From there, serving was as simple as pulling down the handle to fill each glass. You can pour from either chamber individually or pull both handles at once to get the best of both worlds. There’s also a plate for your glass with a rotating wheel that lets you create a satisfying twist, but frankly, I skipped it because I found it a bit tricky to master. Instead, I used a simple layering technique, and it worked just fine.

One feature I really appreciated is the ability to control both chambers independently or together. Pressing Dual Slush Assist gives you a standard slushie texture, but you can also adjust the consistency to make your drinks more or less slushy. And importantly, you don’t need to add any ice. The machine freezes your drinks to the perfect slushie texture without watering them down.

Each reservoir has a 144-ounce capacity, allowing for more than 10 servings per chamber. I had about 15 people at my house for this particular event, and there was more than enough to go around. My machine kept churning all night, and my guests could not have been more impressed.

Since then, I’ve thought of plenty of other uses. On the horizon? A movie night with traditional red and blue ICEEs. Bespoke ice caps. Boozy beverages of all sorts. Truly, the world is my oyster, and I couldn’t be more excited.

One last thing to note in the pros column: cleaning couldn’t be easier. Just add water and run the rinse cycle, which has its own dedicated button. Once you’ve cleared out any remaining slush, you can run a second cycle with dish soap. Empty it again with a pull of the handles, then remove the vessels and give them a more thorough wash if needed.

The downside

I really do love the Ninja SLUSHi Twist Slushie Machine, but there are a couple of things to consider before hitting that buy button. Neither is a complete dealbreaker, but they’re definitely worth noting.

First, the price is a bit staggering. It rings in at $549 CAD. That cost is justifiable when you consider the tech, quality, and power packed into this machine, but if you don’t have half a grand to spare to scratch your slushie itch, you may want to look elsewhere. Luckily, the brand has a single-barrel model that’s $100 cheaper, and there are dupes on Amazon, though you may have to compromise on reliability and performance.

Second, this thing is big. And no, not big like your air fryer. I’m talking straight-up gigantic. To its credit, a lot of that space is dedicated to the spinning barrels that house your drinks, so you can fit a considerable amount of liquid. But the machine itself is still a honker. It also weighs a ton, so if you’re bringing it down to the basement to tuck away like me, you’ll want to tread carefully.

My final thoughts on the Ninja SLUSHi Twist Slushie Machine

All in all, I think the Ninja SLUSHi Twist Slushie Machine is a great option for anyone who really loves frozen drinks. Whether you want to make movie night more fun with classic red and blue ICEEs or wow guests with frosty margaritas and daiquiris, it has you covered. It’s also incredibly user-friendly and easy to clean, so you don’t need much skill to operate it. All you really need is a great mix and the ability to press a button or two. For me, it’s worth the investment, but if you’re not quite as invested in frozen drinks, you might be better off with the original one-barrel model or simply using your blender and some ice.

Ninja SLUSHi Twist Slushie Machine: To Buy or Not to Buy?

Why it’s a winner…

• Makes party-sized batches of slushies in under 20 minutes
• Can churn up two types of slushies at once
• Requires minimal ingredients, but you can make your recipes as complicated as you want
• User-friendly
• Easy to clean

Why you might want to keep on looking…

• Very expensive
• Takes up a significant chunk of counter space

What are reviewers saying about the Ninja SLUSHi Twist Slushie Machine?

The Ninja SLUSHi Twist Slushie Machine has an impressive 4.6-star rating on the brand’s website and a 4.4-star rating on Amazon Canada. Reviewers love how easy it is to use and say it works its magic surprisingly quickly. They also appreciate how easy it is to clean. The only real hurdle seems to be the price, but if you’re a serious slushie lover, it’s definitely a worthwhile investment.

Ninja SLUSHi Twist Slushie Machine Specs

• Weight: 15.66 kg
• Product Dimensions:44,4 cm L x 30,3 cm W x 41,3 cm H
• Capacity: 144 Fl. oz.
• Beverage Types Supported: Frozen Slush, Alcoholic Slush, Milkshake
• Cooling Type: Thermoelectric
• Dispenser Type: Lever
• Water Source: Manual Fill
• Warranty: 1 Year