Slushie machines have taken the internet by storm. As the weather is heating up, people are rushing into stores to get their hands on the perfect summer frozen drink maker, and there’s a variety of options on the market. We called in a few slushie machines to see what the fuss was about, and after a successful trial run, we understand the hype.
Introducing our contenders: The viral Ninja SLUSHi professional frozen drink maker ($499) and the Kogan slushie frozen drink maker ($289). One is more expensive than the other, so we thought we’d compare them to see if that price difference really does make a difference, and the results were surprising.
Were they much different? Keep reading to find out.
Meet the reviewers and taste-testers
Jada Susas, Content Producer, is a self-proclaimed slushie-expert, having had plenty of experience enjoying icy drinks on hot, summer days.
Jade Coull, Senior Content Producer, loves testing out small appliances, particularly if they’re having a moment on socials. She knows exactly what to look for and loves a product that’ll make life easier (check out her Ninja espresso machine review here!).
Sarah Murphy, Senior Food Editor, has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to kitchen appliances (read her Thermomix review here) and she’s created an abundance of delicious recipes.
The slushie recipe
Jada and I popped down to the kitchen for the battle of the slushie machines. We were eager to see which one would hold up better.
Sarah gave us the perfect summer slushie recipe to try: a mango coconut slushie. The recipe includes:
1L Cocoabella coconut water
1L mango nectar
Coconut shavings, to garnish
Lime wheel quarter, to garnish
Our Kogan vs. Ninja pros and cons
After we set up both machines and waited about 15 minutes, the mango coconut slushies were ready for taste testing!
“I’d rate both of them an 8/10,” Jada said. “While the Kogan may have gotten cold faster, the Ninja stayed cold much longer, which is perfect if you like your slushies with a bit of texture and crunch. The Ninja SLUSHi looked sleeker despite the undeniable similarities in design. If you’re someone who cares about the aesthetic, the Ninja is probably for you.”
She added, “I found the handle on the Kogan much smoother to operate – I was able to serve up slushies and clean it out with little resistance. The Kogan is a bit too loud, and what lets both of them down for me is the way you pour things in. If the catchment was bigger, or if there was a funnel, perhaps, that could make it less messy.”
“I also prefer the screen on the Kogan as I found it a bit easier to use, the Ninja confused me slightly as theres no obvious start/stop button, so if you tend to glaze over the instructions as I do, the Kogan touch panel is much easier to understand and navigate,” Jada said.
For me, there was a clear difference between the two slushies: The Kogan slushie melted quicker and became quite watery, while the Ninja held its shape for much longer. However, both tasted good – the ice had a fine, gentle texture that I didn’t find too crunchy, and I quite enjoyed it.
The Ninja was quieter, emitting a calming white noise instead of a loud, distracting hum, and I agree with Jada that the interface is less complicated on the Kogan machine. And for the price difference? The Kogan is the way to go for those on a tighter budget. It just depends on your price range and how much you care about those smaller details.
However, we needed an expert in the kitchen to taste-test it and see if we were on the right track. That’s where Sarah came in.
“For the Kogan, it came out so easily without too many drops once you move the glass. It was really good, and I loved the coconut water in the recipe with mango nectar, which tasted more genuinely mango than I expected, so that means you don’t need to blitz anything up. The texture of the slushie was icy, but I like that, the slush puppy old days, I love the crispy icy versions.”
“The Ninja looked more frozen than the Kogan did. Visually, they kind of look the same; they are very similar in texture. If I were doing it blind, I’d think they were out of the same slushie machine, which is great for the Kogan with the price difference. It would have been so good on the 38-degree day we had over the weekend!”
Watch us make the mango coconut slushies
Ninja vs Kogan: Which slushie machine was actually better?
- Our Ninja rating: 8 out of 10
- Our Kogan rating: 7 out of 10
- Why we rated this:
The Ninja slushie machine scored one point higher for a few reasons. For context, we used the same ratio of coconut water and mango nectar in each machine and maintained the same level of icy-ness. We left it running for the same amount of time, so all variables were consistent for a fair review.
While the Kogan appeared to turn into a slushie more quickly, we found that when taste-testing, the Kogan slushie melted much faster than the Ninja slushie did – the Ninja slushie held its shape for much longer.
Both the Ninja and Kogan are user-friendly and easy to navigate. They have touch buttons on the interface, where with only a couple of touches, the slushie machine begins the transformation. The Ninja is quieter than the Kogan, more of a hum of white noise rather than a loud machine sound.
However, in saying that, the price of the Kogan is lower than the Ninja, and the Kogan created an almost exact slushie upon appearance and taste.
Let’s break down the features
Ninja SLUSHi
- 5 drink settings – slush, frozen cocktail, frappe, milkshake and frozen juice
- 1.9L max fill
- 11kg weight
- 200W motor base with RapidChill technology
- Comfort handle and anti-drop spout
- Condensation catch
- 2-part drop tray
- Inspiration guide with 10 recipes
- Rinse mode to rinse the machine after use (you still need to clean it properly afterwards)
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- 2-year warranty
- BPA free
Kogan Slushie Machine
- 5 drink modes – slushie, frappe, milkshake, cocktail and wine
- Rapid chill technology (delay start and 12-hour keep cool mode)
- 1.5L max fill
- 10.8kg weight
- Touch control panel
- Quick clean mode to rinse the machine after use (you still need to clean it properly afterwards)
- Child-lock feature
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Barrel, mixing blade & drip tray
- 1-year warranty
How did it feel using the products?
Both slushie machines were SO easy to use! We were impressed by how fast the mango coconut turned into a slushie – in just over 15 minutes. It kept it cool and was easy to dispense. The touch interface was easy to navigate, and it made audible sounds to indicate when it was ready or if something was wrong. For ease, we’d give it a 4.5/5.
Cleaning the machines
Ninja and Kogan slushie machines both have a self-cleaning mode that rinses the tank after use. While it does flush out some of the remaining liquids, it’s still dirty, so you need to disassemble it. You can pop it in the dishwasher or wash it by hand. While the function seems helpful, neither Jada nor I saw the point in it if we need to take it apart to clean anyway.
Who would use the slushie machines?
The slushie machines would be perfect for those who love to host parties. Want a frozen cocktail or alcohol-free frozen drinks for kids? This is the ideal product.
The Kogan has an option to delay start, which means you can prepare it and have it start when you’re ready, and it keeps the slushie cold for 12 hours. They both hold up to 2L of slushie (with 1.5L for Kogan max fill and 1.8L max fill for Ninja), and you can easily top it up as it gets low. For the recipe we tested, it was very quick to turn into a slushie.
I couldn’t see myself whipping it out on a hot summer’s day just for myself – but if I had family and kids over? Absolutely.
Overall, it’s definitely worth the hype and whether you go for the Ninja or Kogan – it doesn’t matter. They both do the same job, with a few minor differences.
Where to buy slushie machines?
- NINJA, $499.99
- Kogan, $289
- Amazon Ninja, $474
- The Good Guys, $479
- Dick Smith AU Kogan, $289
