What Is the Ninja SLUSHi Professional Frozen Drink Maker?

The Ninja SLUSHi is a countertop appliance that turns sugary beverages into slushies, frappés, milkshakes, and frozen juice — no ice and no blender required. A rotating chilled drum inside the machine cools whatever liquid you pour in until it reaches full slush consistency, typically in 15 to 20 minutes. Starting with a pre-chilled drink speeds that up, and every batch after the first chills even faster since the machine is already cold.

Real-World Test: One Week, Five People, Every Kind of Drink

This wasn't a one-off test. Over one week, this machine ran roughly 20 times for a household of seven, split across:

• Milkshakes made with heavy cream — rich, creamy, and only needed about a cup of cream for 4-6 servings
• A fresh peach-and-mango juice slush for a Mother's Day brunch
• Sherbet-based Hawaiian Punch slush poured straight in for an evening treat
• Virgin piña colada and daiquiri mixes for a family that doesn't drink alcohol — though the machine handles spiked versions just as easily for those who do
• Powdered pink lemonade mixed and poured in like a regular pitcher
• Leftover ice cream blended into slushed soda for an improvised treat

The vessel holds up to 88 oz total, though the fill line used throughout this test topped out around 64 oz for the smoothest results — at that fill, a family of seven gets a solid serving each; for full 8-9 oz portions all around, running it twice works better.

Key Features

• 88 oz vessel capacity — 7+ servings per batch, with a 16 oz minimum fill
• 5 preset programs — dedicated settings for slush, frappé, and milkshake, plus manual thickness control to make a batch slushier or more liquid
• Anti-drip spout — pours cleanly with no mess, even mid-batch
• Dishwasher-safe parts — the vessel, lid, and drip tray all detach for easy cleanup
• Included recipe book — with tested recipes like the chocolate milkshake
• Travel bag included — makes it portable for parties, classroom events, or anywhere with a power outlet
• Built-in rinse cycle — hot water run through the machine cleans the internal chilling drum

Cleaning: The Part I Was Most Worried About

Going in, cleaning was the biggest concern — and it turned out to be one of the easiest parts of owning it. The process: power off, unplug, run hot water through on the "rinse" setting to clean the internal drum, then dump the rinse water. The vessel and lid detach fully for a wash with mild dish soap, and the drip tray underneath slides out completely for cleaning any condensation or spills. No step required tools or excessive disassembly.

Who This Is (and Isn't) For

This is a strong fit for larger families, anyone who hosts regularly, or households that go through gas-station slushies and milkshakes often enough that the machine pays for itself in convenience and savings over time. It does need counter space — it's tall enough that it won't tuck under standard cabinets — so measure your space first.

One functional limit worth knowing: drinks need roughly 4% sugar content to slush properly. Most standard sodas and juices clear that easily, but zero-sugar drinks need a tablespoon or two of added sugar to work in the machine.

Frequently Asked Questions