One drink that pretty much everyone can enjoy with nostalgic glee is a slushie. Slushies are great fun and always go down a storm. Whether at the movie theater, at a ball game, or a gas station.
Slushies are essentially just ice, flavoring, and coloring. But, every now and then, all you want is a cold sugary drink that turns your tongue purple.
If you’re considering buying a slushie maker for your movie theater or event space, then we absolutely recommend you do so.
Anyone who goes to the movie theater and doesn’t have the option of buying a slushie is going to be disappointed. Even if they don’t buy one, the expectation is there and the slushie maker adds to the nostalgia which is a big part of watching a movie.
If you’re considering buying your child (or yourself) a smaller slushie maker, then we also absolutely recommend you do so. A slushie maker will be the most exciting present. Or, it can be the best appliance you ever bought for your kitchen.
But, it can be difficult to determine which is the best for you. Especially if you’re trying to discern which are intended for commercial use and which for home use. So, to help narrow down your choices, we’ve found the best slushie makers available.
Want to be making slushies ASAP and don’t have time to browse? No problem, check out our top pick for the overall best slushie maker.
OUR TOP PICK
Our top pick for the best slushie maker is this electric countertop slushie maker from Elite Gourmet. It is super affordable and does everything you need it to.
This is a fantastic choice if you want a slushie maker that is super easy to use. Unlike other devices that require a lot of work to understand their complex mechanisms, this slushie machine is very simple.
One really nice feature of this slushie maker is that it’s super cute. Like a lot of other kitchen devices, many slushie makers are stainless steel and look similar to a blender or smoothie maker. But this is something that will look great at a party.
This slushie maker comes in a light, almost turquoise blue color. This slight difference from other appliances in your kitchen will let you know that it’s summertime and it’s time for slowly sipping slushies in the sunshine.
As well as looking great, this slushie maker is also super practical. A lot of other slushie makers try to double up as snow cone makers. This means that they are difficult to pour into glasses and actually drink.
But, this slushie maker has a jug that the crushed ice and flavoring pour directly into. Then, you can directly pour this into your and your friends’ glasses.
Although this slushie machine doesn’t churn the slush itself as a commercial slushie maker does, it does include a stirring paddle. This means that you can churn it yourself once it has been poured.
Once you have carried the jug of slush over to the table, you can leave the stirring paddle in and regularly stir it so that it doesn’t settle.
This slushie maker also gives you more control as you can choose whether you want a coarse or fine texture. This is great for making different drinks.
Pros
- Bright summery exterior - This slushie maker will look great on the table at a party. Or just on your kitchen worktop.
- Slushie dispenses into serving jug. - This will make it much easier for serving.
- Includes two ice-crushing options. - This will allow you to choose your preferred consistency. Plus it means you can use the slushie maker for making normal crushed ice.
EDITORS CHOICE
This might seem like a bit of an extravagant purchase. But it will make a fantastic addition to any party or game room. This slushie machine is essentially a scaled-down version of a commercial slushie machine.
It works in a very similar way and will properly churn your slushie. You will even be able to see the slushie as it is churned within the machine (for some reason, this is part of the fun of a slushie!)
This slushie maker is very easy to use. You simply need to press “Mix”, add salt, water, ice, and syrup to the main chug. Then wait for it to crunch and churn into a delicious slushie.
Once the slushie is ready, press the “dispense” button and turn the handle. The slushie maker will then dispense your slushie just as a commercial slushie machine would.
This slushie maker is more expensive than most other options on this list. Although it definitely isn’t the most expensive. This is a slushie maker that is somewhere between a commercial machine and a kitchen appliance-style machine.
Due to its size, this slushie maker will be best suited to a home kitchen. It has a relatively large capacity. But it won’t be large enough to keep up with demand in a commercial setting.
Pros
- Churns slushie like a commercial slushie maker - This will give the user a sense of nostalgia and keeps the slushie from freezing solid.
- Easy to use - Any user can make a slushie in just a few minutes.
- Medium Sized - Large enough for a party but not as big as a commercial slushie maker.
Cons
- A little more expensive than other slushie makers.
BEST VALUE
This is one of the most compact and easy-to-use options on this list. It doesn’t rotate and churn the slushie as commercial slushie makers do. But it will still provide you with that deliciously cold and sugary drink.
This slushie machine can also be used for making snow cones. This is essentially due to the simple design of the machine. The ice is poured through the top, crushed, and then poured down into a bowl.
This means that you can make whichever flavors you want and easily clean out the bowl. Cleaning out a standard slushie machine that churns the slushie with blades can be very difficult.
But, the inside of this machine will only have water in it. This means you won’t have to spend ages cleaning out the sticky flavoring and coloring.
This slushie maker is also super affordable. It is nowhere near as expensive as a commercial slushie machine.
Nor the slushie machines that mimic the mechanism of a commercial machine but are intended for the home. (Scroll down or read on to our Buyers’ Guide for more information on the differences between commercial and countertop slushie makers).
Pros
- Includes drinks recipe book - So you can make more than just blue or red “flavors”.
- Affordable - You won’t have to break the bank to make a professional standard slushie.
- Compact - Can be easily stored on a kitchen worktop or in a cupboard.
Cons
- Doesn’t churn the slush.
RUNNER UP
This is a very standard and traditional commercial slushie maker. Although it might be tempting, this definitely isn’t suited for home use.
This slushie maker has a very high capacity. The two separate chambers will allow you to provide multiple flavor options.
Dispensing these flavors will also be super easy as the slushie is simply dispensed by pulling the lever. This will be very quick and won’t leave any customers waiting.
This is definitely the most expensive option on our list. But, when its overall capacity and the fact that it is intended for commercial use is considered, this is definitely a fair price. This is the perfect slushie maker for a movie theater or another commercial setting.
Or, if you run an events company, this would also go down a storm. The dispenser does not require a professional so guests will be able to pour their own drinks.
But, this would also work well behind a fully-stocked and tended bar. As mentioned in our FAQs section, alcoholic slushies always go down well.
Pros
- Large capacity - Will be able to keep up with a long line of customers.
- Very easy to use - Once set up, the slushie is easily dispensed through a lever tap.
- Strong and sturdy construction - This is an investment but will last a long time.
Cons
- Not suitable for a non-commercial environment.
RUNNER UP
This “Concoction Maker” is a little different from most other options on this list. And not just because of its price (this is definitely the most expensive option on our list).
This is much smaller than a commercial slushie maker. But it is still sizable and expensive. So this is best-suited for parties.
This is an especially great choice if you regularly have parties or put on events. This will definitely be one of the stand-out options at the bar.
Practically speaking, this is a very impressive slushie maker. It has a large capacity and a range of settings. This is pretty unusual for a home slushie maker.
Most slushie makers will have one setting. Some slightly more sophisticated slushie makers will allow you to choose between coarse or fine ice.
But, this slushie maker allows you to choose between specific settings for daiquiris, margaritas, Piña Coladas, and smoothies. This means that you can use it to make a wide range of fun summer drinks in the evening.
And you can then use the same machine to make your hangover smoothie the next day.
One of the defining features of this is that the slushie is easily dispensed. Similarly to a soda machine at a restaurant, this slushie maker requires you to simply push your glass against the dispenser button and the slushie will automatically dispense.
This is ideal for parties as it means guests can get their own drinks and won’t need a bartender. The only attention it will need is when it needs topping up!
Pros
- Self-dispensing - No need for a bartender and party guests can serve themselves.
- Affordable - Commercial quality at an affordable price.
- Multiple blending settings - Easily switch between consistencies for different drinks.
Cons
- Expensive.
Best Slushie Maker Buying Guide
Syrups
When you buy a slushie maker, there is a chance that some syrups will be included. But this isn’t always the case and you will need to buy more anyway.
Colored and flavored syrups are the key ingredient added to a slushie that makes it fun. Otherwise, slushie is just some half-melted crushed ice.
Syrups come in a wide variety of flavors and lots of different kinds can be found online. If you can’t find a flavor or color that you like, you can easily make your own.
Renting vs. Buying
If you’re looking for a slushie machine for a party, it can be tempting to rent a large commercial slushie maker. But renting is expensive and there’s a good chance that not everyone at the party will want a slushie.
We suggest that the best compromise is buying a smaller version of a slushie maker. Slushie makers are fantastic at parties and will be very popular. But, usually, once someone has had one, they likely won’t want another and will move onto more normal drinks.
So, we recommend a compromise. The best option is to buy a smaller and less commercial slushie maker. There are plenty of options that will look great at a party. But are small enough and fun enough to use every summer. And they can be easily stored away in a kitchen cupboard.
Snow Cone vs. Slushie
You might have been surprised to see snow cone machines included on this list. But, all of the “snow cone” machines can easily be used to make slushies.
Snow cones are essentially more solid and denser versions of slushies. So, you won’t have to worry that you’re not getting what you really want.
When looking online for a slushie maker, you will be presented with a lot of snow cone makers as well. This might be fine, as mentioned above snow cones and slushies are pretty similar, but they will likely have some important differences.
One of these will be consistency. A slushie generally has finer ice than a snow cone. This is an important difference as you eat a snow cone. Whereas you drink a slushie.
Another difference is dispensing. On a snow cone machine, the ice will generally need to be scooped out and then flavored. This would be awkward with a glass and ruins the effect a little.
A slushie is more associated with a relaxing summer’s day. So you don’t want to be messing around trying to squash dense and coarse ice into a glass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you turn soda into a slushie?
Sort of. You can turn a soda into a slushie. But only if it’s flat. Otherwise, it will begin to fizz inside the slushie machine.
You will likely have noticed that sodas fizz when you add an ice cube to them. So just imagine the amount of fizz you would get from mixing and churning a fizzy soda with a glass full of ice.
But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t make a slushie that tastes just like your favorite soda. The best thing to do is to transfer the soda into a glass or container and leave it open in the refrigerator. This will be the fastest way to make it go flat.
Then, once you are sure that the soda is completely flat, you can add it to the ice to make a thin slushie.
Alternatively, you can freeze the soda in an ice cube tray and crush it directly in the slushie maker. This second option will likely provide the best result.
Do you have to put salt in a slushie machine?
This can depend on the type of slushie maker you choose. But most slushie makers do require salt. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that your slushies will be salty.
The salt doesn’t go into the same section as the slushie. Instead, it goes into a separate section which usually surrounds the slushie. Salt keeps the slushie from freezing completely solid.
Are slushies healthy?
This mostly depends on what you add to the ice. Slushies, as mentioned above, are essentially a combination of crushed ice and flavoring.
But, it is possible to add other ingredients to certain slushie makers. The flavoring usually used in slushies is a syrup full of refined sugar or artificial sweeteners and artificial flavoring.
So, if you’re considering a traditional slushie, then the answer is no. But, there’s no harm in having one every now and then. But, if you are considering buying a slushie maker, you’re probably going to want to use it more than every now and then.
Especially if you plan to invest a lot of money. But don’t worry, you can easily make a slushie healthier. You can do this by adding fresh fruit juice, a smoothie, or blended smoothie ingredients. The only essential ingredient in a slushie is the ice. The rest is up to you.