Latest news with #SLUSHi
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Ninja SLUSHi review: the gadget that'll make you everyone's favourite host
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As T3's Home Living writer, I'm lucky enough to test out all sorts of weird and wonderful kitchen gadgets – from cocktail makers to soda machines and everything in between. However, there's one type of gadget that's really having a moment, and if you're even slightly plugged into the world of home appliances, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about. When the Ninja SLUSHi first hit the market, it pretty much invented a whole new category, giving everyday users the power to create frozen drinks at home with ease. Since then, more brands have jumped on the slushie machine bandwagon, but I still think Ninja's model still sits at the top of the pile. Keep reading for my full thoughts, including whether it's actually worth the investment. Ninja SLUSHi review: price and availability The Ninja SLUSHi comes with an RRP of £349.99/$349.99, which definitely puts it at the premium end of the slushie machine spectrum. However, there's currently 20% off with the code NINJA20 on Ninja's online store, bringing it down to £279.99. So, if you've been eyeing it up, now's actually a pretty great time to grab one. It also now comes in four gorgeous colourways beyond the standard grey, and they're proving to be seriously popular already. Ninja SLUSHi review: design and features In true Ninja fashion, the SLUSHi feels like a high-end machine. It's sturdy, made with premium materials, and strikes the perfect balance between compact and substantial. It measures 41cm x 16.5cm x 43cm and weighs about 10kg, so it's not lightweight, but it doesn't feel bulky either. The front panel is laid out with illuminated LED buttons, and the controls are nicely intuitive. You get five different drink programmes and a texture control, so you can decide exactly how frozen you want your drink to be. You've got presets for Slush, Frozen Cocktail, Frappé, Milkshake and Frozen Juice, and the machine won't start the cycle if your mixture doesn't have enough sugar or has too much alcohol, meaning you can fix it. The self-serve spout is a nice touch too, especially for entertaining, and there's a drip tray underneath to catch spills. It holds up to 2.5 litres, which makes around 7 to 12 servings, depending on what you're making. You can also scale the ingredients down for just two or three people, or maximise them depending on how many people there are. It even plays the signature Ninja jingle when it's done, which is a fun touch. The machine has a rinse cycle, and most of the removable parts are dishwasher safe. However, I found cleaning the main body by hand a bit fiddly due to the opening being so small, which is something to be aware of. On the plus side, it's surprisingly quiet when running – somewhere around 45-55 decibels. I genuinely expected it to be much louder, but it sounds pretty similar to one of the best fans. Ninja SLUSHi review: performance If I'm being honest, I wasn't sure how to start this part, because everyone's experience with the Ninja SLUSHi is going to be different. That said, if you're not a 'drinks person', this probably isn't the appliance for you. My partner and I definitely are, meaning our fridge is pretty much always stocked with cans, juices and bottles of all sorts. We've also got about five bottles of squash on the go at any one time, so I kind of knew this machine was going to be a hit in our house. I've honestly loved every second of using the SLUSHi, and once I found a couple of recipes that worked for us, it's been incredible. I've also had a lot of fun experimenting with frozen cocktails, and a frozen mojito recipe I came up with has become a firm favourite with friends. It's important to know that each programme takes a different amount of time. Alcoholic drinks take longer (my mojito mix took around 50 minutes to get to the perfect consistency) and squash or coffee-based drinks are quicker – 25 minutes or less, in most cases. You should also be mindful of how much liquid you're putting in, as it's easy to overdo it if you're not following a recipe. I'd really recommend checking out Ninja's own recipe hub, as there's loads on there and they're actually really easy to follow. The Ninja SLUSHi is a bit of an investment, which is why I'd say it's not for everyone. However, if you've got kids, throw regular parties, or just love a good frozen drink, it's so worth it. If you're the type of person who only reaches for a slushie once in a blue moon, this probably isn't going to be a good value-for-money buy for you. Ninja SLUSHi review: verdict The Ninja SLUSHi is a premium, high-performing frozen drink maker that's perfect for anyone who loves slushies, frappés or cocktails on tap. It's easy to use, surprisingly quiet, and delivers consistently great results. Yes, it's expensive and a little tricky to clean, but if you're someone who regularly enjoys icy drinks – or loves to host – it's 100% worth it. Ninja SLUSHi review: alternatives to consider There aren't many alternatives on the market that compete with the SLUSHi right now, but there are a few emerging. The Cuisinart Frost Fusion is one of them, but the mixing happens entirely inside the machine, so you don't get that satisfying visual of your drink swirling around. Another option is the Inoviva Slushie Machine, which is a bit cheaper and still pretty decent – so worth a look if you're trying to save a few pennies.
Daily Mirror
31-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Ninja's SLUSHi is 'the ultimate party gadget' and £70 off in flash sale
Move over Slush Puppy - Ninja's latest gadget is a summer party must-buy and has been slashed to its lowest ever price for shoppers who do one thing While kitchen gadget brand Ninja first became a staple in British kitchens thanks to its air fryers, it has increasingly gained a reputation for outdoor entertaining. The Woodfire Barbecue launched last year and is now officially the UK's bestselling outdoor grill, alongside a host of other party essentials, including high tech coolers and pizza ovens. This summer's latest addition to the brand's huge portfolio is also perfect for summer, although it needs to stay inside on a kitchen counter while using it. Move over Mr Frosty, shove off Slush Puppy, the Ninja SLUSHi sold out instantly when it launched in the UK and has already become a TikTok favourite with fans sharing recipes for frappes, slush cocktails and mocktails and even frozen pink wine christened, of course, Frosé. I first got a chance to see the SLUSHi in person earlier this year at a special Ninja launch and, as a woman whose parents were never taken in by the marketing around Mr Frosty, it was top of my gadget wishlist. But at a launch price of £349.99 it's been a sizeable investment, until now as shoppers can currently save a chunky £70 just in time for any bank holiday weekend get togethers. Debenhams has launched a huge site-wide sale on Ninja products that gets shoppers 20% off everything if they use the code NINJA20 at checkout. This not only includes the SLUSHi, which goes down to its lowest ever UK price of £279.99, but also other favourites like the Double Stack airfryer (now £183.99), the CREAMi ice cream maker (now £200) and even the brand's bean to cup Luxe Premier Cafe coffee machine (now £440) which works out as another UK lowest ever price. Debenhams is not the only retailer offering some tempting discounts this summer on the iconic brand. Ninja's summer sale is also offering '20% off almost everything' for shoppers using the code NINJA20, while Amazon has taken 15% off the brand's much-loved fastboil kettle, taking it down to £84.87 for a limited time. Pros: Ninja has literally bought the first industrial strength slushie maker into UK homes Fun and quick to get started with Versatile and great for entertaining. Cons: The size means storage needs to be thought about To make the most of it will need some experimentation Some users might consider the full RRP expensive - definitely one to look out for on offer For me, though, it's definitely not the season for hot drinks. My summer plans involve experimenting with the Ninja SLUSHi with a combination of child-friendly and grown-up drinks during the warmer weather. The gadget can make up to five different variations, including slushes, frozen cocktails, frappes, milkshakes, and frozen juices, so there are plenty of options to practice, too. What's more, there is very little out there of a similar build quality and level of versatility, arguably making it the ultimate party gadget for this summer. The Inoviva Slush Machine is another option available in this high-end slush market niche in the UK market and while that has an average of 4.5 stars out 80 reviews on Amazon it's still £349.99 at full RRP, although Amazon Prime members can get it for £239.99 for a limited time. The first thing I noticed about the Ninja SLUSHi is that it's quite a big piece of kit on the counter. This is great news on one hand because everything is sturdy and looks like it will be long-lasting, but once I'd got it out of the box, my first thought was where I would be storing it when it wasn't in use. It is very easy to set up, with breaking down the boxes for the recycling taking longer than attaching the drip tray and getting it ready to go. It comes with both a quick start guide and a recipe book to help inspire once you've mastered the basics, although there's also a handy QR code on the machine, which can be scanned on a phone and link to videos on how to use things. To start things off we went for a simple frozen juice, putting in a carton of freshly squeezed but pulp free orange juice. A couple of button pushes later, the motor was running and the juice began freezing and within twenty minutes the machine beeped to say it was ready. I'd deliberately chosen something quite simple to start with, but the kids were still giddy to try their slushes. They were happy the juice was proper slush rather than tiny gritty pieces of ice and we were able to add the wow factor with exotic looking glasses and straws to make them look suitably mocktail-like. In the hot weather, the kids are constantly asking for slushes, and I'm always put off by the expense, colouring, and other nasties you can get in drinks like this when out and about. While I wouldn't want them to be drinking large amounts of fruit juice either, in moderation, this has become a firm favourite with pineapple juice, which needs to be frozen at a slightly colder temperature, the current flavour of choice. However, the SLUSHi really comes into its own for the grown ups. With up to eight servings per batch and the drinks freezing in around half an hour this is perfect for summers in the garden with friends and family. For the ultimate easy cocktails, any wine, beer, cider, alcoholic lemonades, pre-made G&Ts, pina coladas, mojitos, or margaritas can be put straight in and frozen using the frozen cocktail preset, although the temperature it needs to be used at will vary depending on alcohol content. There are plenty of other options which can be experimented with, although these can be a bit fiddlier as you need to make sure there's not too high an alcohol content, as this can make it difficult for things to freeze. In a similar fashion, there's an optimal sugar level when you're freezing drinks. Most pre-made frappes, fruit juices and soft drinks sit within the right level but diet fizzy drinks won't freeze effectively without adding an alternative. Ninja recommends using Erythritol, a low-calorie sweetener and sugar substitute. I've ordered some from Holland and Barrett but haven't experimented with it yet. Instead, I'm turning my attention to frozen pina colada and sangria recipes, which use pineapple juice, coconut milk, and orange juice, respectively, to help dilute to a good sugar and alcohol level for optimum slush. It's early days and I freely concede that the SLUSHi is a novelty in our house, but it's the perfect mixture of fun for experimenting with but also (so far for us at least) bringing out decent results. I've already invested in some funky drinkware to help szush up my bank holiday entertaining when friends visit for pina coladas over the long weekend and will be continuing to improve my repertoire in the meantime (that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it). My two minor quibbles with the SLUSHi so far are the cupboard space it will take up once I put it away and the fact cleaning it feels a bit fiddly. It needs to be mostly empty before you take it apart and it's best to take it apart before allowing any remaining drink liquifies as that makes things exponentially messier. There is a rinse cycle you can run on the machine which is a great touch and the main vessel is also apparently dishwasher safe although I'm not sure I'd be risking that in case it causes warping. Overall, foodies who love to host and want a conversation starter and some next level cocktails at their next get together will find the SLUSHi a great addition to proceedings. While the price point makes it an investment I think, much the same as their high tech coolers, if you're going to use them often it's worth going for it.
