Ninja Slushi Twist review: Frozen cocktails just got a lot more interesting

Slushie machines might still feel like a relatively new phenomenon for the at-home hosts amongst us, but there's no denying how popular they've become – especially with the string of heatwaves we've had recently. In fact, they've recently become one of my favourite categories of gadget to test, aside from the best fans, of course.

The Ninja Slushi Twist arrived back in May this year, designed as a dual-vessel frozen drinks maker that can create two different flavours at the same time before twisting them together into one drink.

After multiple gatherings – and forcing plenty of friends to get involved in the testing process – my full thoughts are finally in.

Price and availability

The Ninja Slushi Twist is priced at £419.99/$399.99 and is available through Ninja's online store, as well as Currys, John Lewis and Amazon. It comes in three colours – Mocha, Potion Purple and Green – and I've been testing the Mocha version.

Ninja also sells a selection of accessories designed to accompany the Slushi range, including insulated cocktail cups and an insulated bubble cup. Replacement parts for the machine can also be purchased separately, which is useful if anything gets lost or damaged over time.

Design and features

The Ninja Slushi Twist takes the idea behind the original Slushi and makes one very obvious change – there are now two separate frozen drink vessels sitting side by side. Together, they have a total capacity of 2,840ml, allowing you to make two completely different flavours at once before dispensing them separately or twisting them together.

The two transparent vessels sit either side of a central control panel, with separate augers and chilling systems allowing each side to work independently. The clear design also means you can watch both mixtures gradually freeze, which is handy when you're impatiently waiting for the first round.

Rather than simply applying the same settings to both sides, the Ninja Slushi Twist uses Dual SlushAssist Technology to sense what's inside each vessel and adjust the temperature and freezing process accordingly. This means you can have two very different drinks on the go without having to manually work out the right settings for each one.

Interestingly, Ninja has also moved away from the five named presets found on the original Slushi, which included Slush, Frozen Cocktail, Frappé, Milkshake and Frozen Juice. Instead, the Ninja Slushi Twist relies much more heavily on SlushAssist to detect what you've added and make the necessary adjustments automatically. However, you can still make your drink softer or firmer using the temperature controls if you want more say over the final consistency.

The Ninja Slushi Twist also works with drinks containing up to 20% alcohol, compared with the original Slushi's 16% limit.

There's a difference between individual and Dual SlushAssist too. When you're using one vessel or dispensing the two flavours separately, the individual setting creates a smoother, more drinkable consistency. Dual SlushAssist makes things slightly thicker, helping the two mixtures hold their shape when they're dispensed together rather than immediately blending into one.

You also get straight and angled dispensing spouts, depending on how you want to serve your drinks. The straight spouts dispense each flavour separately, whilst the angled pair brings both together in the centre. There's also a rotating platform underneath the glass, which turns as you pour to create the two-colour twisted effect.

Performance

There's no getting around the fact that the Ninja Slushi Twist is a sizeable machine, but after using it for a few different occasions, I've really come to appreciate having those two separate vessels. The obvious appeal is twisting two flavours together, but I've actually found the ability to make two completely separate drinks at the same time just as useful. Better still, it's easy to switch between the two depending on what you're serving.

For one batch, I made an alcoholic strawberry daiquiri on one side and frozen peach juice on the other, twisting them together to create a cocktail that wasn't quite as strong. At a party, I filled each side with a different frozen cocktail so everyone could choose between the two, and whilst at a family barbecue, I had a frozen mojito for the adults on one side and a non-alcoholic slush for the kids on the other. It's this flexibility that I've ended up liking most about the Ninja Slushi Twist.

SlushAssist also makes the whole process very straightforward. Instead of working out which preset or temperature you need, you can pour in your mixture and let the machine make most of those decisions for you. Each vessel can be adjusted individually when you're making separate drinks, whilst Dual SlushAssist changes the consistency when you're planning to twist them together.

The machine will even let you know if your mixture needs more sugar or more water to reach the right consistency, which really helps when you're experimenting with your own recipes. It's also particularly useful with cocktails, where changing the amount of alcohol can easily affect how well everything freezes.

I was also impressed by the speed. Most of the frozen cocktails I made were ready in around 25 minutes, whilst some of the non-alcoholic mixtures were finished even sooner. Obviously, timings will vary depending on what you pour in and its starting temperature, but I rarely felt like I was waiting particularly long.

The different spouts might seem like a small detail, but they also make a lot more sense once you start using the machine regularly. You can go from serving two individual drinks to creating a twisted combination without having to empty either vessel or start again, which is exactly what I ended up doing when people wanted different things.

Cleaning is probably my least favourite part, although that's something I found with the original Ninja Slushi too. Sugary mixtures get sticky very quickly, particularly if you leave everything sitting around after serving. The removable parts can go in the dishwasher or be washed by hand, but there are quite a few components to deal with when you're giving it a proper clean.

There is a built-in Rinse option, which flushes water through the system to clear leftover syrup, sugar and drink residue between batches. I found it useful when switching drinks or doing a quick clean after use, but I wouldn't rely on it completely. Mine was still slightly sticky afterwards, so I'd recommend giving everything a proper wash once you're finished for the day.

Verdict

The Ninja Slushi Twist is sizeable, pricey and still a little fiddly to clean, but the dual-vessel design gives it a level of versatility I wasn't expecting. Twisting two flavours together is undeniably fun, but having two completely different frozen drinks ready at the same time is where it really earns its place. For parties, barbecues or simply households with very different tastes, having that extra choice makes a surprisingly big difference.

Alternatives to consider

The original Ninja Slushi will always be where it all started, but Ninja has released a few newer models that could make more sense depending on what you're looking for. The Ninja Slushi Max is worth considering if the twisted drinks aren't particularly important to you and you'd rather prioritise capacity. It can make up to 12 drinks, compared with up to 10 from the Ninja Slushi Twist.

If you're working with a smaller budget but still want something that'll impress guests, the Inoviva 2.6L Slush Machine is another option to consider. It's obviously much simpler than the Ninja Slushi Twist and is closer in concept to the original Slushi, but its lower price makes it an appealing alternative if you don't need two flavours on the go at once.