Latest news with #Slushi
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I tested budget slushie makers against £350 Ninja gadget – a £10 high street dupe is just as good & the kids'll love it
WHEN the sun comes out, so do the pleas from kids for ice creams, slushies and sugary summer treats. With school holidays around the corner and temperatures finally set to climb, frozen drinks become a household essential. Advertisement 9 The Sun's Lynsey Hope puts slushie makers to the test while Fabulous Food Editor Kirsty Spence has two great recipes Credit: Oliver Dixon But after concerns over Enter Ninja's Slushi. The sleek, high-end gadget went viral, with foodie influencers around the world showing off their bar-quality frozen cocktails and perfectly textured slushies. The hashtag #ninjaslushie has already racked up more than 15,000 TikTok videos. Advertisement read more on fabulous It has launched in the UK just in time for the sunshine. But at nearly £350, this machine is anything but cheap. So, is it worth the hype, or can budget-friendly versions deliver the chill for less? Lynsey Hope puts them to the test while Fabulous Food Editor Kirsty Spence has two great recipes. NINJA SLUSHIE FROZEN DRINKS MAKER, £349.99, THE first thing that hits you is the price – and then the size. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Exclusive This is a huge appliance and even getting it out of the box was a mission. 9 The Ninja Slushie Maker is huge but easy to use Credit: Oliver Dixon But it is very easy to use. Just add your ingredients to the plastic vessel and choose what type of drink you would like on the control panel. Mum shares genius hack to make slushies for your kids in seconds Unlike other slushie makers, this one doesn't need ice. The compressor in the machine cools the ingredients as it churns away. Advertisement Once your drink is ready, it will keep it cold for up to 12 hours. You do have to keep it running, though, and it is not silent. I was very impressed with the drinks that came out. The texture of the frozen cocktail was restaurant or bar quality, although you do have to select the right temperature. Even simple tropical fruit juice and cola came out as a perfect slushy for kids. Advertisement The recipe booklet was really helpful to get you started. Any drinks you add to the machine do need at least 5g of sugar per 100ml. If you want to make diet drinks you must add erythritol – a sweetener – which you can buy online or at supermarkets. It is £3.35 for 250g at Tesco. You also need lemon juice and salt but the instructions in the manual are easy to follow. Advertisement I loved it. The only downside is the size. You need a decent bit of counter space if you want it out all the time and as it is so big, it is hard to store. The main drinks vessel was also quite hard to clean by hand but it can go in the dishwasher. Rating: 4/5 CHILLFACTOR SLUSHY MAKER, £9.99, IF you only need a single serving, this is a great option and especially fun for kids. But it does require a bit of prep. Advertisement You have to put the cup in the freezer for eight to ten hours before you want to make your slushie. 9 Chillfactor slushie cup is especially fun for kids Credit: Oliver Dixon Then simply add a chilled drink of your choice until the cup becomes two-thirds full, screw the lid on and squeeze the cup. It was pretty easy to do, although my younger daughter did need a bit of help with this step as some of the liquid spilled over the top. Advertisement But this simple process freezes your drink into a thick, slushie texture in about a minute. The children were amazed by how easy it was and loved that they could do it themselves. 9 The cup freezes your drink into a thick, slushie texture in about a minute Credit: Oliver Dixon They thought they were getting a cafe-quality slushy at home and yet I could make it healthier, with fruit options and less sugar. Advertisement You cannot put the cup in the dishwasher, although it is easy to wash by hand. You really need to keep it in the freezer so it is always ready to go when you need it. I found it took up quite a lot of freezer space. The serving size is also limited. But if you don't want a bulky appliance and want something cheap, this is a fun and wallet-friendly alternative. Advertisement Rating: 4/5 LIVIVO ELECTRIC ICE CRUSHER, £39.99, MARGARITAS came out watery and the cola slushies were flat after adding a can of it and some ice. The steel blades did a great job of chopping up the ice. 9 The Livivo ice crusher didn't blend the drink too well Credit: Oliver Dixon Advertisement But the ice and liquid didn't really blend properly when I poured it out of the machine. It only took a minute, but I'd rather wait a bit longer and get something drinkable. None of it can go in the dishwasher, either, and it was a right faff to wash by hand. While quick and relatively compact to store, it is also very noisy to use. Advertisement It probably made around four small cups in one go. For nearly £40, I did not think much of it. Rating: 3/5 SLUSH PUPPIE SLUSHY MACHINE, £34.99, I ALWAYS wanted this as a child and now in my forties, I was still pretty excited to try it out. Advertisement Sadly, my childhood dreams were crushed and I was left disappointed. 9 The Slush Puppy slushie maker was nothing like you would get from a machine in a cafe Credit: Oliver Dixon All the slushies that came out of this were very watery and didn't have the blended, icy texture I had been hoping for. It was nothing like you would get from a machine in a cafe, or what I remember as a kid. Advertisement And it was pretty noisy to use, although it only took a minute or two to prepare as the plastic mixer quickly ground through the ice. There are two settings so you can have the ice fine or coarse. Both were too runny, leaving large uneven chunks in the drinks. It was easy to clean and relatively compact to store, especially compared to the Ninja. Advertisement Rating: 2/5 ANDREW JAMES ICE CRUSHER SLUSH MACHINE, £32.99, HERE is a super-quick and convenient way to make an icy drink. All you have to do is add ice to the compartment at the top and this is then crushed into the liquid in the main blending container at the simple press of a button. 9 The Andrew James slushie maker is cheap and simple but very average Credit: Oliver Dixon Advertisement Quick and easy to do but the quality of the drink wasn't a patch on those from the Ninja. They were on the watery side and lacked the thick, slushie-like texture. I tried adding shaved ice afterwards but it didn't blend in very well and spoilt my enjoyment. The kids still liked it. Having a slushie at home was a real winner, even though it wasn't perfectly blended. Advertisement Simple, wallet-friendly but very average. Rating: 3/5 LYNSEY'S VERDICT: IT'S A DRAW MOST of us don't have £350 to spend on a whopping great machine, or a place to store it. So while the Ninja was brilliant, the ChillFactor cup is fun for the kids and costs less than a tenner. Advertisement 9 Find out where Lynsey thinks you should spend your money Credit: Oliver Dixon It would make a great gift if you have lots of parties over the summer and it comes in a lovely range of colours. If the Ninja was cheaper it would definitely be a winner. But I had to knock a point off because it is so bulky and takes up so much room in my already jam-packed kitchen. Advertisement The bonus is that it can also make cocktails and frappes for the grown-ups, which would be difficult with the ChillFactor cup. If you spend a lot on these overall, it might be a worthy investment. Two iced coffees a week at £4 a go would cost you £416, so it might save money if you spend a lot on iced drinks out and about. But if all you are after is a bit of fun on a hot day, the ChillFactor is a brilliant and affordable option. Advertisement FROSE 9 A Forse mixes Sparkling Rosé, Martini Fiero, and lemon juice Credit: Paragon Brands Serves 1 YOU NEED: 60ml Martini Sparkling Rosé 15ml Martini Fiero 30ml water 30ml sugar syrup 30ml freshly squeezed lemon juice METHOD : Add the ingredients to the slushie machine until blended. Advertisement Garnish the drink with a dried grapefruit slice. Pina colada Serves 1 YOU NEED: 50ml Bacardi coconut rum 37.5ml Coco Real 37.5ml pineapple juice METHOD : Combine all ingredients in the machine and blend. Advertisement Serve in a highball glass, garnished with a pineapple wedge plus a 'cherry flag' – a cherry and orange slice on a cocktail stick. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
You can now buy the Ninja Slushi XL — and it's cheaper than the original
When Ninja first launched its viral Slushi machine, the brand hinted that an XL model would be on the way. But over a year later, we've still not seen the Slushi XL drop on NinjaKitchen. But, because we're pretty eagle-eyed for all things Ninja here at Tom's Guide, we've spotted the elusive machine available to buy for the very first time. There's only one catch — the 96-oz Slushi XL is a Costco member exclusive. And while you can't see the price until you log into your account, we're seeing the price at $329 — that's $20 less than the standard model Ninja Slushi, available at Amazon for $ we're excited to hear about Ninja's Slushi XL, the frozen drinks maker is not that easy to get your hands on unless you're a Costco member. Still, we're hopeful that this is a sign it will be more widely available soon, and we'll keep you posted about the latest stockist news. So, what makes the Ninja Slushi XL such a good buy? The professional-level frozen drinks maker can turn all sorts of liquids into servable slush in 15 minutes, thanks to its RapidChill technology. But unlike the standard Ninja Slushi, which only launched in July last year, the Slushi XL increases on the standard capacity of 64-ounces to 96-ounces. That's a whole lot more slush for a crowd. What's more, for $329 you don't just get the Slushi XL, you come away with two highly desirable slushy cups, so you can sip your iced drink in true Ninja style. The cups match the Ninja Slushi colorways, and have clear lids and drinking straws. As with the standard Ninja Slushi, you get five settings to choose from, including slush, spiked slush (for those who like to add a drop of alcohol), frappé, milkshake and frozen juice. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Whatever chilled or ice drink you or your guests fancy, there's a whole load of choice and you'll be guaranteed a perfect summer party.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
The best Walmart weekend deals from Dyson, Keurig, Ninja, PlayStation and more
March may be making its lamb-like way to the door, but we all know that that's no guarantee of clement weather from here on in — you just know there's gonna be at least one more multiple-day blast of frigid air and, in some places, a final multi-inch snowfall, before we're truly locked into the warmth and sun of spring. But let's be aspirational, shall we, and use Walmart's Super Savings weekend deals to gear up for those more glorious days ahead. Speaking of lamb: What's a backyard cookout without some tasty animal flesh on the grill? This propane number is $23 off. Not baaah-d, eh? Maybe you'd like to enjoy a nice frozen dacquiri or margarita while the baby sheep sears away. This Slushi frozen-drink maker from Ninja is marked down a very cool $50. And these sheer curtains, just $8 a pair, will ensure that that one stubborn vegetarian in the family will be able to clearly see you all mocking them out on the patio while you devour every last delicious chop, cutlet and kebab. And that's to say nothing of the tech, beauty and style deals that await. Seriously: Get your spring and summer outfitting sorted while the weather's still making up its mind what season we're in. Top Walmart Super Savings weekend deals: Dyson Digital Slim Cordless Vacuum for $280 ($220 off) Untimaty 6-Inch Mini Chainsaw for $30 ($30 off) Inse Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for $90 ($230 off) Steelite 2-in-1 Cordless Pole Saw & Electric Mini Chainsaw for $75 ($75 off) Skechers Summits Slip-On Shoes for $45 ($20 off) Keurig K-Express Essentials Single Serve Coffee Maker for $35 ($24 off) Ninja 4QT Air Fryer for $69 ($20 off) PlayStation 5 Digital Console Slim Bundle for $399 ($111 off) Want to save even more? Make sure you're signed up for Walmart+. It's easy to sign up for your free 30-day trial here. You'll get free shipping and grocery delivery, savings on gas and prescriptions, exclusive access to major deals, and more. The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
