From frosé to frappes, this iced drinks maker is the most refreshing way to stay cool

As temperatures soar and the nation collectively searches for ways to stay cool, the Ninja Slushi Max is absolutely the most fun way to beat the heat. In as little as 15 minutes, it transforms juice, coffee, wine, cocktails, and soft drinks into perfectly chilled frozen treats, whether that's an iced frappe first thing in the morning, a frozen margarita for a garden party, or a fruity slushie for the kids on a sweltering afternoon.

Frozen drink makers are undoubtedly a luxury purchase, but after testing the Ninja Slushi Max through one of the hottest spells of the year, I'm convinced it's more than just a novelty. Every time I switched it on, people gravitated towards it. There's something irresistible about a perfectly smooth frozen drink when your kitchen feels like a greenhouse and even the best cooling fan is struggling to keep up.

I'll take you through every setting, from frozen cocktails and frappes to slushies and frosé, but here's the headline: the Ninja Slushi Max is a sensational addition to your outdoor kitchen essentials. Pour in your juice, select a preset, and minutes later you'll have a smooth, ice-cold drink that tastes like it's come straight from a beachside bar. After weeks of testing, I can completely understand why this machine has gone viral: it's an absolute joy to use.

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Ninja SLUSHi MAX Frozen Drink Maker review

• RRP: £349.99
• Dimensions: 50.2 x W: 21.8 x 43.5cm
• Weight: 14.55 kgs
• Capacity: 4.4L (12 260ml servings)
• Functions: Frozen Juice, Frozen Cocktail, Frozen Cocktail Max, Slush, Milkshake, SlushAssist
• Cord length: 151.89 cm
• Wattage: 280 watts
• Guarantee: 2 year

Who would the Ninja SLUSHi MAX Frozen Drink Maker suit?

The Ninja SLUSHi MAX is perfect for anyone who loves entertaining. If your ideal summer involves friends gathered in the garden, family barbecues, or children's birthday parties, this machine quickly becomes the centre of attention. I found it just as useful for making colourful fruit slushies and frozen lemonades for younger guests as it was for whipping up frozen margaritas, piña coladas, and frosé for the adults. The fact that it can handle water-based, dairy-based, and alcoholic drinks opens up plenty of possibilities, whether you're hosting a casual afternoon get-together or a full-blown summer celebration.

That said, this isn't the appliance for minimalists. The SLUSHi MAX is relatively large, and it performs one main task: making frozen drinks. If you're tight on kitchen space or prefer multi-functional gadgets, it may feel like a luxury rather than a necessity. However, if you entertain regularly or know you'll use it throughout the warmer months, the convenience and crowd-pleasing results make a compelling case for giving it a permanent spot on your countertop.

What is the Ninja SLUSHi MAX Frozen Drink Maker like to use?

The Ninja Slushi Max couldn't be much easier to use. Once I'd given all the removable parts a quick rinse, I slotted the auger into place, locked the vessel onto the motor base, and poured my chosen liquid into the top. The machine works by freezing liquid onto the chilled cylinder in the centre, while an auger continuously scrapes, stirs, and churns the mixture into a smooth frozen drink. It's mesmerising to watch and really reminds me of trips to the cinema when I was younger. The liquid looks like nothing is happening and then, all at once, you'll see it begin to thicken and turn to ice. Who needs Netflix when you have the Slushi?

There are six dedicated presets to choose from, plus adjustable freeze levels if you want to tweak the consistency. If I'm honest, I found myself relying heavily on the SlushAssist function, which automatically adjusts the settings based on your ingredients and takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process. Most of my drinks were ready in around 15 minutes, and none took longer than 20, which is super speedy. Competitors normally take around 30 minutes for comparable tasks and, when you're hosting, an extra ten minutes is really nice to have. Once the cycle finishes, the machine keeps turning the mixture to maintain the perfect texture until you're ready to serve, so there's no rush to gather everyone around.

Straight out of the box, the machine feels impressively robust. Everything clicks and locks into place with a reassuring firmness, from the vessel to the drip tray underneath. It takes up a fair amount of countertop space, but given that it can make up to 12 portions (around 260ml each), it's clearly designed with family gatherings, garden parties, and entertaining in mind. I can already imagine it at home in a luxury outdoor kitchen.

Can I use juice in the Ninja Slushi Max?

This was one of my favourite modes to test. It's perfect for creating alcohol-free frozen drinks that both adults and children will enjoy. I had the best results using fruit juice drinks with a higher fruit content, which produced vibrant flavours and a lovely smooth texture. Homemade juices and more "pure" premium juices work too, although I'd recommend straining them first if they contain lots of pulp, as this creates a more refined finish.

The resulting frozen juice was noticeably smoother than anything I've made by simply blending ice and juice together. There was none of the watery dilution you often get as ice melts; instead, every sip tasted intensely fruity and properly frozen from start to finish. I never knew a healthy drink could taste this good.

Can i make frozen cocktails in the Ninja Slushi Max?

One of the most exciting features of the Slushi Max is its ability to freeze alcoholic drinks. Most frozen drink makers struggle with alcohol because it lowers the freezing point, but Ninja has clearly engineered this machine to handle it.

I tested several classic frozen cocktails and was impressed by the consistency. The machine produced bar-style frozen drinks with a smooth, spoonable texture that held together beautifully. Whether you're making frozen margaritas, daiquiris, or experimenting with your own recipes and frozen wines, this setting takes a lot of the effort out of achieving that perfect slushy consistency.

Can I freeze drinks with high alcohol content in the Ninja Slushi Max?

The Frozen Cocktail Max setting is designed for stronger drinks with a higher alcohol content, and it's a surprisingly rare feature to find in a home machine. Again, the results exceeded my expectations. Drinks still froze evenly and maintained a satisfyingly thick texture, even when using recipes that would normally be difficult to turn into a frozen serve.

If you enjoy entertaining, this is the setting that will probably get the most attention. It feels a little bit like having a frozen cocktail machine from a holiday resort sitting on your kitchen counter.

What's a slushie like in the Ninja Slushi Max?

The Slush preset turned sparkling grape juice, lemonade, and cola into wonderfully fine, icy drinks with very little effort. What impressed me most was how evenly textured the slush was. Instead of large ice crystals or clumps, the machine creates tiny frozen flakes that give drinks a smooth, almost snow-like consistency.

Again, because the liquid itself is frozen rather than blended with ice, the flavour stays concentrated and doesn't become watered down over time. It's an excellent option for children's parties, summer gatherings, or simply cooling down during a heatwave.

Can I make milkshakes and frappes in the Ninja Slushi Max?

The Milkshake preset proved far more versatile than I expected. Using recipes from the included booklet, I made both a strawberry milkshake and a frozen iced coffee. For the richest results, I'd recommend using whole milk, plant-based barista blends, or adding a splash of cream.

The texture was wonderfully thick and creamy, sitting somewhere between a traditional milkshake and a frozen dessert. My frozen iced coffee in particular felt like something you'd buy from a coffee shop rather than make at home, with a smooth consistency and no icy chunks.

There are a couple of quirks worth mentioning. The machine isn't whisper-quiet, so you'll certainly hear it working, but it's not so loud that it drowns out conversation in the kitchen. Ninja also recommends using liquids containing at least 5% sugar, as sugar helps balance the freezing process. This means many zero-sugar soft drinks won't work particularly well without adjustments.

There's also a minimum fill line, although during testing I found the machine could handle slightly smaller quantities. That said, the best textures consistently came from filling within Ninja's recommended range. Given the generous 0.5L to 1.9L working capacity, it's particularly well suited to households that regularly entertain or families looking to keep everyone cool during warmer weather.

What is the Ninja Slushi Max like to clean?

Cleaning frozen drink makers can often be the least enjoyable part of ownership, but Ninja has made the process refreshingly straightforward. Once I'd finished serving, I filled the vessel with water and ran the dedicated rinse cycle, which flushes water through the system and cleans around the auger.

For a deeper clean, the machine disassembles easily. The removable parts slide apart without requiring much force, and I found it simple to access all the areas where residue could build up. The drip tray lifts away for washing, and the dispensing handle can be removed too. Considering how complex the freezing process seems, the cleanup was surprisingly low-maintenance.

How does the Ninja SLUSHi MAX Frozen Drink Maker compare?

I've also tested the GreenPan Frost alternative, which has one major advantage over the Ninja Slushi Max: it can make soft serve and ice cream as well as frozen drinks. That extra versatility makes it more useful as an all-in-one dessert machine, and it’s also smaller and more affordable, which will appeal if you’re working with limited counter space or trying to keep costs down. If you’re someone who likes the idea of one appliance covering multiple bases, from milkshakes to frozen desserts, it’s an attractive option.

However, in day-to-day use, the Ninja Slushi Max is the more polished and effortless machine. It’s noticeably quicker, easier to clean, and far more intuitive, with automatic settings that consistently deliver smooth, evenly frozen drinks without any fiddling. The GreenPan can feel a bit more hands-on by comparison, whereas the Slushi feels foolproof, which also makes it more kid-friendly. If frozen drinks are your main priority, the Ninja wins on ease and consistency, but if you want a smaller footprint and the bonus of ice cream-making alongside it, the GreenPan is a solid alternative.

Should you buy the Ninja SLUSHi MAX Frozen Drink Maker?

Overall, the Ninja Slushi Max is one of those appliances that's a bit indulgent on paper, but utterly justified once you start using it. It’s fast, intuitive, and consistently delivers smooth, ice-cold drinks that genuinely feel like something you’d order on holiday. Whether it’s morning frappes, garden-party cocktails, or late-afternoon slushies for the kids, it turns everyday moments into something a bit more special.

It’s not without compromises. It’s large, it only really does one job, and it comes at a premium price. But in testing, I found those drawbacks faded quickly once I saw how often it got used.

If your priority is fun, consistency, and ease, especially in the middle of a heatwave, the Ninja Slushi Max is hard to beat. It’s not essential, but it is exactly the kind of appliance that makes summer feel like a small celebration.