Once a seaside treat, slushies can now be made at home thanks to a new wave of kitchen appliances. The Ninja Slushi, launched in late 2024, became a viral sensation. Now, British brand Salter has released a rival slushie machine at almost half the price. Both are compact and multifunctional, capable of making soft drinks, milkshakes, frappés, and frozen cocktails. We put them head-to-head to see which offers the best value.
Salter Slushie Maker
Why we love it: Image-led control panel, easy to clean.
Take note: Heavy and bulky, texture can be inconsistent, slightly noisy at times.
At first glance, the Salter slushie maker resembles the Ninja Slushi. It has a 2.5-litre tank (1.9-litre max drink capacity, same as Ninja) and five preset programs: slushie, frosted cocktail, frappé, milkshake, and chilled juice. The large numerical display shows the drink temperature decreasing. A successful freeze depends on ingredients and desired texture. Following the recipe booklet, making a drink is straightforward: pour premixed liquid (no ice required) into the tank, select a program, and the machine churns the liquid around a central cylinder to chill it. You can customise the temperature along a horizontal sliding scale. A squash-based slushie took about 20 minutes. You must judge when it's ready and dispense while the machine is still in motion. Serving is done by pulling down a chunky handle. A child lock button prevents unauthorised use. A frappé worked well, even without sugar. A frozen margarita had a smooth texture and was ready in about 20 minutes. There's a 12-hour keep-cool function. Cleaning is easy: rinse with warm water, or remove the tank, auger, and condensation catcher for a quick wipe (not dishwasher-safe). However, sometimes the texture was inconsistent. On a couple of occasions, an error message appeared due to too little sugar or ice formation, but this was easily fixed by adjusting the temperature.
Ninja Slushi Frozen Drink Maker
Why we love it: Can make smaller batches, easy to clean and use.
Take note: Expensive, heavy and bulky.
Ninja's best-seller is marginally more stylish. It has the same five preset programs, rinse, and 12-hour keep-cool functions. The customisable sliding temperature scale is vertical, which feels more intuitive. Creating a frozen drink is just as easy: pour in premixed liquid and press the required program. The minimum fill line is lower (475ml vs Salter's 555ml), making it good for one or two drinks. The Ninja produced a much better milkshake than the Salter, which became too icy. Frozen margaritas were equally smooth. Serving is the same: pull down the handle while the auger is swirling. After serving, pressing the program button again stops the machine, which was simpler than on the Salter. Cleaning is also easy: the tank releases with a light pull, and parts can be rinsed or placed in the dishwasher (bottom rack). At nearly £300, it's expensive and cumbersome, but it delivers consistent results.
Salter vs Ninja: Which Is Best?
There is very little separating these two slushie makers. Both are easy and fun to use. However, the Ninja Slushi edges ahead due to consistently great results and a slightly better design. The Salter's minor flaws—inconsistent texture and occasional errors—can be overcome by adjusting temperature settings. If you're on a budget, the Salter offers excellent value, but for reliability, the Ninja is worth the extra cost.
How We Tested
We used both machines to make a range of drinks from the brands' recipe cards, including soft-drink slushies, frappés, milkshakes, and frozen cocktails. We considered ease of use, quality of drinks, cleaning, and size. Both machines were tested in a home kitchen with the help of children.
