Ninja Slushi review: Just how badly do you want little treats on demand?

Desk of Contents

The quintessential little deal with is subjective. Some will say iced espresso, others will argue ice cream.

However we are able to all most likely agree that most of the largest little treats of all of them are the elusive ones — those that are not out there at your fingertips year-round, or those that may’t precisely be introduced dwelling and saved for a later time. Take into account the Shamrock Shake or the $16 frosé that one bar solely has in the summertime.

After the success of the ice cream and different frozen dessert-making Creami, Ninja is exploring the frozen drink facet of little deal with tradition. The Ninja Slushi is knowledgeable frozen drink maker that has bought out greater than as soon as since its debut in July 2024. The Slushi is just not solely a vessel for making a do-it-yourself Slurpee with out leaving the home however can be a chance to treat-ify mundane drinks, like a morning protein shake or afternoon pre-workout electrolyte combine. A slushy in hand simply appears like an acceptable accent to brat summer season.

TikTok, a large group of little deal with enablers, naturally ate this shit up. I needed to get my arms on one, too.

How does the Ninja Slushi work?

Although they each can finally whip up frozen drinks, the Ninja Slushi is way completely different than a blender as a result of the Slushi does not require ice.

Moderately, the Slushi achieves that chef’s kiss chilled consistency by way of Ninja’s RapidChill Expertise, which includes an auger spinning round a cooling cylinder. This method can take room temperature components from liquid to, effectively, slushy, in below an hour (give or take a couple of minutes, relying on the alcohol and sugar content material, in addition to the dimensions of the batch).

And even in case you can obtain that with a blender, it is ephemeral; frozen margs go to melted margs in a matter of minutes after they’re simply hanging out in a blender pitcher. The Slushi, nevertheless, retains drinks frozen. As soon as it hits optimum temperature for the recipe in query, the Slushi beeps and switches from a blinking gentle to a gradual gentle, however continues spinning and cooling, maintaining your recipe completely slushied for as much as 12 hours. Simply thoughts the condensation.

What are you able to make within the Ninja Slushi?

Formally, there are buttons on the entrance for slush, spiked slush, frappé, milkshake, and frozen juice. I hesitate to say that you would be able to make actually any frozen drink that pops into your mind, however it mainly appears like that. And in case you hatched the concept for one thing however aren’t certain of the precise components, somebody has most likely already tried to make it on TikTok.

Simply open the hatch and pour ’em, no must stir.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

In case your drink comes out too thick or too melty, you’ll be able to alter the temperature with arrow buttons.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

My first endeavor was frosé following the precise recipe within the Ninja booklet: actually simply rosé, juice, and slightly bit of straightforward syrup. It was really easy, so fast, and so rattling good — identical to the overpriced ones on the bar.

Different enjoyable experiments included Slushi’d White Claws plus easy syrup (which turned out to style extremely bland and decarbonated after being frozen), a humble can of Pepsi to play out my roommate’s dream of an on-demand cola slushy, a blueberry vanilla protein milkshake I noticed on TikTok, and a slushy model of my pre-workout electrolyte powder drink. Previous this week of testing, I may completely see the Slushi getting weekly use in my family.

As knowledgeable Black Cherry White Claw enjoyer, you understand I needed to.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Making an attempt to make a small batch on this factor is nearly unimaginable.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

When making an attempt frappé mode, I noticed that I am personally form of turned off by the concept of espresso in that thick consistency. After the primary batch was completed however I nonetheless hadn’t emptied something, I simply added extra almond milk and a few chocolate protein powder to show it right into a café mocha milkshake.

The Slushi must be cleaned after each use to stop sticky, rotted residue buildup. After utilizing the rinse cycle button on the machine itself, there are 4 tremendous fundamental components to disassemble and wash — both by hand or within the dishwasher if there’s room. After coping with the removable components, wipe down the steel base and inside of the machine, after which click on the components again on.

Slushi upkeep is slightly tedious in case you’re utilizing it typically, however tremendous simple.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Ninja Slushi vs. Ninja Creami

Earlier than there was the Slushi, there was the Creami. Ninja’s 7-in-1 ice cream maker blew up on TikTok when it first got here out in 2021 — possible the factor that tipped Ninja off to how profitable the Little Deal with Pattern could possibly be.

The Slushi and Creami are roughly the identical top, however the Slushi is heavier.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Whereas many drinks with that solid-but-not-solid consistency might be made in each machines, the primary distinction between the 2 lies in preparation. The Creami can solely begin with stable bases that you simply freeze for twenty-four hours forward of time, whereas the Slushi can solely begin with liquids. These liquids do not have to start out frozen, giving the Slushi the leg up with regards to spontaneity.

Downsides: What cannot the Ninja Slushi do?

A profitable slush is dependent upon a couple of fundamental ingredient parts, one in every of them being sugar. Although I usually like to trash directions earlier than studying a single phrase, I’ll say that the Slushi booklet is one that you will positively truly must learn. Any Slushi recipe wants a sure ratio of sugar to coagulate — if there’s not sufficient within the components you’ve got dumped in, the machine will beep at you and cease transferring.

On the flip facet, a stoppage additionally happens if the Slushi senses that the alcohol content material is simply too excessive in comparison with the opposite components. In any case, the lights on the entrance will flash in a manner that coincides with every error so that you could make a fast repair.

I want you can all see the defeat on my roommate’s face after we realized you truly cannot merely pour Weight-reduction plan Coke into the Slushi as a result of Weight-reduction plan clearly has no sugar. The booklet does present a workaround for this, together with methods to subtly add sugar and the suitable measurements. Nonetheless, there’s far more math concerned than I’d have anticipated — keep in mind when third grade me cursed fractions as a result of “I’d by no means use them in actual life?”

As a result of the Slushi does not have blades, it can not crush stable components. To make some type of wholesome frozen smoothie from complete components like frozen berries or kale, they’d must be in puree type first. I blended these up in our blender forward of transferring the contents to the Slushi afterward, however at that time, you might as effectively simply add ice to the blender and keep away from washing each machines by hand.

Is the Ninja Slushi value it?

The Ninja Slushi’s splurge-worthiness is dependent upon how a lot of a frozen drink fanatic you could be. I imply, folks drop double the coin to deliver a flowery espresso machine dwelling, so spending a couple of hundred {dollars} on a distinct segment kitchen equipment positively is not unparalleled. If you happen to’re somebody who must have three drinks inside attain at any given second, absolutely the 2 that are not plain water could possibly be slushed, and does not that simply open up a world of potentialities? Plus, anybody who struggles with getting their fruits or veggies or protein would possibly keep on high of it extra with a drink extra appetizing than a room-temperature chalky combination. Is it too far to dub the Slushi a wellness hack?

The Slushi would even be a assured hit in a house with children who’re far more prone to drink their wholesome fruit juice if it mainly appears like a Slurpee. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles, that is positively easy methods to turn out to be the favourite.

At any price, the serotonin increase of one in every of life’s simplest treasures — a enjoyable little drink — is priceless, as is the bonding (and cash saving) that might include staying in with mates and having a frozen marg social gathering in your PJs.