The brutal New York heatwave last weekend had me craving an ice cold drink almost every afternoon. Normally, that would mean sweating through a trip to 7-Eleven for a slurpee. This time, though, I stayed home and installed the new one Ninja Slushie Twist in the test.
Ninja’s latest slushie machine builds on the popularity of the original Slushi, but with a major upgrade. Instead of a single mixing chamber, the Slushi Twist has two 48-ounce containers that can make two completely different frozen drinks at once. As well as classic slushies, it can also make frappes, milkshakes, iced coffees and smoothies – and because the two sides work independently, you can even keep one alcohol-free for mocktails while the other side mixes cocktails.
For fun, this machine solves a real problem. Instead of making multiple batches or asking everyone to agree on one flavor, both chambers work simultaneously, making enough frozen drinks for a crowd. Ninja says it can make more than 10 drinks per batch — plenty for summer parties or family gatherings.
The standout feature is what Ninja calls “Dual SlushAssist” technology. Simply put, the machine senses what’s in each chamber and automatically adjusts the freezing temperature for that side. This means a creamy milkshake can stay smooth on one side, while a fruit slush freezes to the perfect frozen consistency on the other.
My favorite feature, though, is the twist dispenser. You can pour each drink individually or turn the dial on the drain tray to swirl both flavors together in one glass, which is great for making layered drinks that look far more impressive than the effort they put in.
Cleaning is also easy. Just press the flush button and keep adding hot water until it runs clear.
There are two things to keep in mind before you buy. The Slushi Twist is noticeably larger than the original model, so you’ll need to make sure you have enough counter or storage space. At $399.99, it’s also a significant investment. If you only make the occasional frozen drink, it may be more machine than you need. But for larger households or anyone who loves hospitality, the double deck design makes a strong case.
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