Ninja Slushi: worth the hype?
18.7.2025
Translation: Julia Graham
Pictures: Lorenz Keller
Slushi fever is whipping everyone into a frenzy here too. The semi-frozen drinks hit the mark in this review, but do you really need a new kitchen appliance just to make them?
I predict this machine will become a summer hit in Switzerland, at least as far as kitchen appliances are concerned. The Ninja Slushi is already one of the best-selling ice cream makers in our store – even though it doesn’t make ice cream. In the US, the hyped Slushi machine has already been on the market for a year and has often sold out.
Since the company’s announcement at the IFA last September, I’ve been eagerly waiting to test the Slushi to see if it’s worth the wait and find out what you need to consider before buying.
How does the Slushi machine work?
The concept is simple. You fill the top of the tank with liquid and start the Ninja Slushi. You can use a maximum of 1.9 litres and the minimum is half a litre. In the middle of the container is a metal cylinder which is cooled by a compressor and allows the liquid to crystallise.
To prevent the liquid from freezing, it’s constantly circulated with a stirring rod. Five presets are available at the touch of a button: slush, frozen cocktail, frappé and frozen juice. There are also ten coldness levels to make the drink thicker or less frozen.
The machine works automatically and cools to the desired consistency. Depending on the quantity, initial temperature and type of drink, this takes around 30 minutes to an hour. The temperature is then kept constant and the liquid is circulated further. The machine switches off automatically after twelve hours.
What can you make in the Ninja Slushi?
One option is the classic slushie or granita that I remember from my childhood and that are still available at swimming pools and cinemas. In theory, you can turn any liquid into a semi-frozen drink, providing there are 5 g of sugar per 100 ml. Or if you use an alcoholic drink, the content has to be between 2.8 and 16 per cent.
If you want to use artificial sweeteners, you need to add lemon juice and salt. You can find tips, tricks and tables with quantities and mixing ratios in the detailed instructions. This also shows which slush setting is suitable for different drinks.
I tested this kitchen appliance with coke, fruit juices, milkshakes and alcoholic cocktails. Frozen margaritas and icy tropical juices are very tasty.
My favourite was a simple lemonade recipe using water, sugar and the juice of lemons and limes. This thick, crystalline lemonade is particularly refreshing on hot summer days – and easier to drink than crushed ice. Compared to a drink with standard ice cubes, slushies have the advantage of not being watered down when the ice melts.
The Ninja Slushi also makes iced coffees, milkshakes, frozen spritzes and mojitos, strawberry rosés and semi-frozen espresso martinis. You can find recipes for these in the instructions. Or do what I do and try out recipes you find online. It’s just a shame that the company hasn’t opted for a community concept that would involve a large recipe database.
However, the Ninja Slushi isn’t the only appliance that can make iced drinks. There are already copies, such as the model from the German brand Klamer. These achieve equally good results, but are more expensive. This video shows a comparison between the Ninja Slushi and the Klamer slush machine.
How easy is it to clean?
Play now, work later: as soon as I've finished my drink, I have to clean the machine. If I want to prepare a new flavour straight away, I just rinse out the Ninja Slushi. I fill the container with lukewarm water and press «rinse». The water is then circulated, but not cooled. Watch out: if you drain the water via the tap, it comes out quickly and pressurised. The first time, it made quite a mess.
I repeat this process – and then I can add a new flavour. After 30 minutes to an hour, I already have another slushie.
Overall, cleaning is refreshingly simple, as the liquid container, tap, drip tray and roller can all go in the dishwasher. It’s only the metal cylinder that just gets a wipe with a cloth.
How much energy does the Ninja Slushi need?
At first glance, the concept of cooling without insulation seems sustainable. But how much energy does the appliance really need? I measure the consumption when making a milkshake.
My electricity meter shows that the slushie maker needs 130 to 160 W of power to freeze, with a maximum of 200 W being possible. The drink is ready after about 35 minutes. According to the meter, 0.08 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy were consumed.
After that, the appliance’s output drops to 40 W, so I consume around 0.04 kWh per hour. In this specific case, the Ninja continued to run for another six hours – equivalent to a further 0.24 kWh.
For comparison: making 1.5 l of milkshake, including six hours of cooling, consumed about the same energy as blow-drying my hair for ten minutes, watching TV for around two hours or making two to three cups of coffee from the coffee maker.
What are the appliance’s weak points?
What I immediately noticed is that the Ninja Slushi is loud. I measure just over 61 dB, which is equivalent to a robot vacuum cleaner or a kettle. It’s tedious as the noise of the compressor and roller can be heard while the appliance is running. And in reality, that’s a few hours, as you don’t always drink the entire slushie at once.
But the appliance doesn’t just attract attention in the kitchen because of the noise. Weighing around 11 kg and measuring 41 cm in height, it’s pretty large and heavy. I can only just place it below the wall cupboards and I always have to pull it out when I want to pour liquid into the top.
The biggest question for me is: do I need an extra kitchen appliance like this? Not really. It’s fun and I’ve used it every week for the last two months – even when I haven’t had to test anything. But realistically, after the first summer, the slushie machine will end up in the cellar where it’ll collect dust next to the chocolate fountain. That being said, this appliance could be a good buy for clubs or smaller parties, providing it’s used regularly.
In a nutshell
Perfect slushies for at home
The Ninja Slushi does exactly what it’s supposed to: make any flavour of semi-frozen drink with a crystalline liquid consistency. The machine is easy to operate and after 30 minutes to an hour, your fruit slushie, frozen cocktail or iced coffee is ready to drink. Refreshingly, the machine is also easy to clean. The only thing you have to compromise on is the sound level.
The device can only do one thing, but it does it very well. The question is whether you really make slushie drinks often enough to warrant investing in this large, heavy kitchen appliance.
Pro
- Perfect slushie consistency
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Countless recipes available online
- Reasonable energy consumption
- A range of consistency levels
Contra
- Quite loud
- Only worth it if used frequently
- Ninja doesn’t provide recipes
Header image: Lorenz Keller
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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