Ninja Slushi Evaluate

Once I was a child there was nothing fairly like an ice-cold blue raspberry comfort retailer Slurpee to get me by the day. (It’s powerful being a five-year-old.) That blue, saccharine slushie was nearly creamy, with a fizzy tang from the neon syrup combined in. It was an enormous deal with since my dad and mom have been staunchly anti-junk meals, save for the occasional field of mac and cheese. 

I nonetheless love a very good slushie, and whereas blue raspberry will all the time maintain a spot in my coronary heart, I’ve additionally developed a liking for extra grownup frozen treats: icy margaritas, frosé, or a luscious, creamy piña colada. Whereas these are often reserved for restaurant orders, the Ninja Slushi has been making waves on-line for its capability to whip up tasty frozen treats at dwelling. So, within the spirit of my five-year-old self, I gave it a strive, utilizing it to make frozen juice, a slushy, a frappé, and a cocktail to see if it was any good. 

The Assessments

• Frozen Juice Take a look at: I used the Frozen Juice operate to show orange juice into an icy combination, noting how straightforward it was to fill and dispense from the machine. I additionally evaluated the ultimate texture and style, and if the machine was straightforward to wash. 
• Slushie Take a look at: I made an apple cider slushie utilizing the Slushie operate. I famous how lengthy it took to freeze, the ensuing texture, and if the machine was straightforward to make use of and clear. 
• Frozen Cocktail Take a look at: I adopted a Ninja recipe for a frozen Painkiller. I needed to see how the Ninja Slushi carried out when making an alcoholic beverage since alcohol can inhibit freezing. 
• Frappé Take a look at: I adopted a Ninja recipe for a pumpkin spice frappé to see how the machine dealt with a dairy-based drink. 

What We Discovered 

It Was Straightforward to Use, and the Outcomes Had been Surprisingly Good 

I went into testing anticipating to need to pore over the handbook. However the Slushi proved straightforward to make use of. I simply poured liquids into the tank, turned the machine on, after which chosen the operate (slush, spiked slush, frappé, milkshake, or frozen juice) and freeze degree (one to 10). The auger inside began spinning, splashing the liquid over a relaxing steel cylinder, slowly freezing it into chilly, crystalline items. As soon as it reached the correct consistency, the machine beeped to let me realize it was completed. 

Whereas not precisely as clean and silky as a drink made with an industrial machine, all the treats I made have been frosty and scrumptious. The cider slushy was frozen into small, even flakes, whereas the pumpkin spice frappe had a chunky however flaky texture that was straightforward to sip by a straw. I used to be most impressed with the Painkiller spiked slush, which had a near-creamy texture with very fantastic ice flakes. General, whether or not it was juice, a dairy delight, or a frozen cocktail, the Ninja efficiently froze every little thing I put in it. 

A fast observe about alcoholic drinks: Since alcohol inhibits freezing, a spiked slushie made with the Ninja can solely be gently alcoholic. Ninja’s Painkiller recipe referred to as for 1 / 4 cup of rum, and the drink served two to 3 folks, which shakes out to a bit over a tablespoon of rum per individual (manner lower than the customary two ounces). 

It’s Massive—However Quiet 

The slushie machines I’ve seen in eating places and comfort shops are massive; they need to be since they maintain gallons of slush able to serve all day. Whereas the Ninja Slushi is much from as large as its industrial cousins, it nonetheless takes up a very good quantity of counter and cupboard space. It’s 16.3 by 6.5 by 17 inches and has an 88-ounce-capacity tank (about 11 cups), that means when you’ve got low cupboards, it may not match. I fortunately had cupboards that have been tall sufficient to accommodate it, however storage proved harder. I wound up relegating it to the basement after use. So, for those who really need the Ninja Slushi, be prepared for its massive dimension. 

Contemplating how large it was and the way lengthy it ran when chilling liquids, the Slushi was surprisingly quiet. Assume dishwasher-running background noise—hardly the screech of the Ninja Creami, one other icy deal with machine. 

It Can Take a Lengthy Time 

The manual notes that “creating drinks can take as much as 15–60 minutes relying on substances, quantity, and beginning temperature.” I’d err on the aspect of warning right here, particularly for those who’re planning to serve a bunch. Once I made a cider slushie with the Slush operate on degree six (the frozen-level vary is from one to 10), it took about an hour for the two.25 cups of juice to turn into a cohesive slush. Whereas the frozen Painkiller got here collectively in about 45 minutes, the cider slushie saved churning for an additional 30, which was puzzling. The machine didn’t beep and as a substitute robotically shut off when the combination turned too thick. (I’m probably not positive what occurred right here.) The frappé bucked the longer timeline pattern and took a mere 18 minutes to coagulate right into a slurpable deal with. 

Along with planning your recipe forward of time, Ninja recommends preserving the machine “upright for no less than 2 hours earlier than first use.” That is its pure state, so it needs to be straightforward sufficient to do. 

The Verdict 

The Ninja Slushi machine was straightforward to make use of and produced properly textured frozen drinks. It labored nicely with quite a lot of substances, even dairy and alcohol. The machine is massive, although, so if storage or counter house is a matter, be warned. 

Execs

The Ninja Slushi does its namesake job nicely. It efficiently made frosty frozen juice, slurpable slushies, and frothy frappés. I preferred how straightforward it was to make use of: Simply open the latch on the tank, add your substances, choose your operate and freeze degree, and the machine will begin whirring. The rinse operate was useful, too, making it simpler to totally clear the tank of any sugary residue. 

Cons 

It’s not all enjoyable and video games with the Ninja Slushi—there are a number of pitfalls. First, its massive stature makes it tough to retailer, and when you’ve got low cupboards, good luck becoming it in your countertop. Second, the dispenser isn’t tremendous environment friendly—you must preserve the machine operating to serve slushies, which plop and glop right into a glass fairly than stream easily. The feel of the frozen drinks, whereas good, wasn’t fairly as silky as ones made by an industrial machine. It was a bit messy to wash too. Some liquid collected within the catch basin beneath the tank and spilled all over the place after I eliminated it. Lastly, it’s costly contemplating it probably gained’t be used each day—until you’re a slushie fiend. 

Key Specs 

• Dimensions: 16.3 x 6.5 x 17 inches
• Weight: 24.25 kilos
• Wattage: 200 watts
• Tank capability: 88 fluid ounces (11 cups)
• Features: Slush, spiked slush, frappé, milkshake, and frozen juice
• Cleansing: Run rinse cycle to wash nooks and crannies. Then, take away the tank and wash with heat, soapy water. Rinse completely and permit to air dry. 

Why We’re the Consultants

• Grace Kelly is an editor at Critical Eats, the place she focuses on all issues kitchen gear. 
• She’s been reviewing kitchen gear for about three years. 
• She labored in restaurant kitchens and bars and has been a journalist for practically 10 years.  
• For this evaluate, Grace examined the Ninja Slushi by indulging her childhood hankering for slushies and testing practically each operate.