Best slushie machines 2026: our top picks for frozen drinks at home
The Good Food team reviewed slushie machines to find out which models are the best for performance, design and ease of cleaning
If you only read one thing
Want the best all-round slushie machine? Go for the Ninja Slushi — it's the most capable machine we tested, with the largest capacity and the most consistent results. On a tighter budget? The Tower Slushie Fusion delivers solid performance for £70 less, and is a strong pick if you don't need all the extras.
There's a reason slushie machines are becoming a staple in modern kitchens, and it's not just about fun (though that's a big part of it). The best slushie machines can make everything from frozen lemonade and frosé to frappés, frozen cocktails and coffee-based drinks, meaning your worktop space is working hard for the whole family. Some models can even double as ice cream makers, making them one of the more versatile gadgets you can buy.
Most slushie machines are also designed to store drinks once made, with some keeping them frozen for up to 16 hours, so you can prep ahead for guests without losing precious freezer space. Rinse cycles on most models make cleanup straightforward, too. Whether you're after something for summer entertaining or an easy way to make frozen drinks at home, there's a machine here to suit most budgets and kitchens.
How we tested slushie machines
Annie Collyer, testing expert, carried out all testing.
I tested each slushie machine straight from the box, assessing performance, ease of use, design, cleaning and value. Every machine was put through the same testing process so results were comparable across the guide.
Real drinking test scenarios
Rather than relying on controlled conditions, I made the kind of drinks that expose a machine's real strengths and weaknesses:
- Water-based drink (frozen lemonade): The baseline test. I made a frozen lemonade in each machine using the same quantity of liquid and the same freeze level, where possible. A good machine produces a smooth, even slush without ice clumps or uneven freezing. Machines that struggled with consistency or took significantly longer were marked down.
- Alcoholic drink (frosé or frozen cocktail): The alcohol test. Alcohol freezes differently compared to water-based drinks, so this revealed how well each machine handled a lower freezing point. I looked for an even, pourable texture without separation or excessive iciness.
- Milk-based drink (frappé or milkshake): The texture test. Thicker liquids are more demanding and show up weaknesses in motor power and consistency. A good result should be smooth and creamy with no unblended lumps or separation.
Timings varied depending on liquid quantity and freeze level selected, so I tested each machine across different settings to get a proper sense of how customisable and consistent it really was in practice.
We also assessed each machine for:
- Setup: I unboxed each machine and noted the packaging, how recyclable it was and whether anything felt excessive. Setup included building the machine and pre-washing the parts before first use. I also noted first impressions of build quality and whether it looked good enough to live on a worktop.
- Ease of use: I paid close attention to how intuitive each machine was from the first use. This included how clear the controls were, how many programmes were available and whether the manual was needed to get good results. Machines that required significant trial and error before producing a good drink were marked down.
- Consistency and customisation: I noted how many freeze levels each machine offered and whether the results were noticeably different across settings. Machines that produced reliably consistent results across multiple drinks scored higher.
- Cleaning: After each session I assessed how easy the machine was to clean, including whether a rinse cycle was available and how effective it was. I also noted whether removable parts were dishwasher safe and how straightforward hand washing was.
- Storage and footprint: I considered how much worktop space each machine required and whether it could be stored away easily when not in use. Cord length was also noted, since most machines require a mains socket nearby.
- Design and build quality: I considered the overall look and feel of each machine, including the quality of the materials, the clarity of the controls and whether it felt durable enough for regular use.
- Value: Finally, I weighed up whether the price felt justified by the performance. A slushie machine is only worth the investment if the results back it up.
Best slushie machines at a glance:
- Best slushie machine: Cuisinart Frost Fusion, £299.99
- Best slushie machine for large families: Ninja Slushi, £239.99
- Best affordable slushie machine: Tower Slushie Fusion, £165.60
Jump to section:
Best slushie machines to buy 2026
Cuisinart Frost Fusion
Available from Lakeland (£249), Amazon (£249.99), Cuisinart (£299.99)
Best slushie machine
Pros:
- Can keep drinks frozen for up to 16 hours
- Very intuitive
- White design
- Dual purpose — it can make soft serve ice cream, too
- Rinse program for cleaning
- Impressively fast
Cons:
- Can only keep ice cream cool for 30 mins
- Only available in white
Star rating: 5/5
If you want a slushie maker that goes beyond the basics, the Cuisinart Frost Fusion is the one to beat. It offers six programmes including slushy, sorbet, cocktail, frappé and frosé, with five texture levels so you can dial in exactly how frozen you want things. The 1.6L capacity makes it well suited to both solo drinks and batch-making for guests, and Cuisinart claims it can keep drinks frozen for up to 16 hours.
It's genuinely intuitive to use. Once you've added your ingredients, it does the hard work and automatically keeps your drink churning once you've finished serving. I made a pink frozen lemonade in around 20 minutes and a batch of margaritas shortly after, both of which came out well. My frozen coffee took just 14 minutes and has quickly become a firm favourite.
The removable parts are plastic rather than glass, which does feel slightly less premium, but they're easy to clean and the self-rinse programme takes care of the interior. A strong mid-range pick if you want something fast, versatile and genuinely fun to use.
Available from:
Ninja Slushi FS301UK
Available from Amazon (£239.99), Ninja Kitchen (£240), Very (249), Argos (£249.99)
Best slushie machine for large families
Pros:
- Can make a variety of drinks
- Produces great texture drinks
- Easy to use
- Simple instructions
- Large capacity
Cons:
- Large footprint
- On the expensive side for a single-purpose gadget
Star rating: 4.5/5
If you're after a slushie maker that's easy enough for the whole family to use, the Ninja Slushi is a strong contender. It features touch-button operation with five modes including slush, frozen cocktail, frappé, milkshake and frozen juice, plus 10 freeze levels for a fully customisable result. The 1.9L capacity is the largest in this guide, making it well suited to batch-making, and Ninja claims it can keep drinks chilled for up to 12 hours.
In testing, it was impressively quiet, which makes a difference if it's going to live on the kitchen counter. I made four drinks across multiple sessions including a frozen lemonade, frosé, a pumpkin spice latte and a cola slush. All took around 20 minutes and results were consistently good, with a smooth, even texture across the board. The pumpkin spice latte worked best with a slightly sweeter base, which is worth bearing in mind for coffee-based drinks. The cola produced a particularly fine, well-textured slush.
At £349.99, it's the most expensive machine in this guide. As the brand that pioneered domestic slushie machines, you're partly paying for that reputation, but the performance and capacity back it up.
Read our full review of the Ninja Slushi FS301UK.
Available from:
Tower Slushie Fusion
Available from Amazon (£165.60), AO (£166), Tower (£179.99)
Best affordable slushie machine
Pros:
- 5 presets for different drinks
- Customisable thickness options
- Keeps drinks frozen for up to 12 hrs (within chamber)
- Self-cleaning function
- Generous capacity
Cons:
- No countdown timer or indication in manual of how long slushies take to make
- Non-recyclable packaging
- Only available in one colour (black)
Star rating: 4/5
The Tower Slushie Machine is the most affordable option in this guide, sitting significantly cheaper than the Ninja and offering a similar feature set. It has five programmes including slush, cocktail, frappé, milkshake and wine, plus adjustable thickness settings and a 1.6L capacity. The self-clean button is a genuinely useful touch.
The touchscreen is less intuitive than the other machines in this guide and you'll need the manual to get a proper grip on the settings and sugar to liquid ratios, which is worth factoring in before your first use. Getting the ratio wrong on a cola slushie caused it to freeze solid before the timer went off, but adding more liquid and running it again produced a smooth, even result with no ice clumps. A caramelised biscuit milkshake took around 20 minutes and was a winner, with every ingredient coming through clearly.
It's only available in black and the packaging used an excessive amount of non-recyclable plastic, which feels at odds with what you'd hope for at this price. But if you want solid slushie performance without stretching to the Ninja, it gets the job done.
Available from:
How to use a slushie machine
This will depend solely on your type of slushie maker, but most require you to pre-mix ingredients, and in some cases, you might even need to boil ingredients. Otherwise, they go into the machine via the ingredient funnel, then you need to select a pre-set programme. Most machines offer "levels of frozenness", so that you can customise your drink. Once you’ve selected these, press the start button and the machine should, in most cases, beep once it’s ready for drinking.
Most slushie makers have the ability to keep your frozen beverage cool after it’s ready to drink. This requires leaving the machine on, so that every few minutes, the ingredients can be churned. How long your machine can keep your drink frozen will depend on its type. Most are more than 10 hours, with some even claiming to stay cool for 16 hours.
How to clean a slushie machine
Most slushie makers benefit from having a self-clean cycle, for easy cleaning after each use. Be sure to check your manual before cleaning, but most of the time you need only fill the ingredient funnel with warm water, to its max fill line. Then, go ahead and press the cleaning button and it will run this water through the pipes to clean the machine internally. You’ll need to dispense the dirty water out of the machine, just like you would do with your slushie, so keep a cup or bowl at hand to catch this. Otherwise, most slushie makers do boast dishwasher-safe accessories, like a drip tray, but some parts cannot be cleaned in hot water, so be sure to check your parts before you clean.
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