I tried Salter's affordable alternative to the Ninja Slushi – it's £100 cheaper and has been the star of every BBQ I've attended this summer

Even though it sounds quite boastful, there really has been no better job than testing out the Salter Slushie Maker (£179.99) this summer. Accompanying me to BBQs, parties and family get-togethers, it’s proved to be the ultimate party essential.

Following the success of the Ninja Slushi and how much our Kitchen Appliances Editor raved about it, I’ve been dying to get my hands on a frozen drinks maker. So, when the opportunity came up to test Salter’s more affordable alternative, I leapt at the opportunity.

Not only was the Salter Slushie Maker easy to use, producing delicious frozen drinks quickly, but it was a real crowd pleaser, too. Now, I doubt I'll ever be found hosting or attending any summer get-togethers without it. Here’s why.

It was incredibly simple to get the Salter Slushie ready to go. Salter states you should let the machine stand for two hours before use to let the refrigerant settle, and then it’s good to go. The main thing you need to remember is that each drink serving should have at least 10g of sugar, which means you should avoid using sugar-free sodas or ingredients. Also, you must never add hot or solid items like ice cream and frozen fruit, as it can damage the machine.

For my first test, I went straight for a frozen cocktail. It was a hot Friday night, and having promised frozen cocktails at a party the following day, I wanted to give it a spin first. Opting for a frozen Cuba Libre, I added rum, ‘full fat’ cola and lime juice to the machine. Then, all I had to do was press the ‘frozen cocktail button’, and I was off.

All I had to do was wait. The machine made a little noise, but this was to be expected, and after just 40 minutes, the temperature on the control panel had dropped from around 20 degrees to -5. And the results were delicious. The slushy mix is smooth, without chunks of ice, giving that cocktail bar experience.

Since then, I’ve got to work testing the other presets - slushy, frappe, chilled juice, smoothie and milkshake. During this summer’s hellish heatwaves, I have to say that the smoothie and slushie functions were incredible for helping me and my partner stay cool.

But the Salter Slushie really came into its own when it came to hosting. Its large 1.9L capacity meant it was more than capable of hosting eight (thirsty) adults, and every single friend or family member I served a frozen drink to was impressed.

Taking it to parties, the compact size of the machine made it easy to transport. Its slim size makes it easy to fit in the car (yes, it has its own seatbelt), and so far, it has fit easily in my friends’ kitchens.

I won’t lie, it does look a little bulky in my kitchen. But I have an unbelievably small kitchen - to the point where I lack the space for one of the best air fryers - so I think this is more a ‘me’ problem than a problem with the slushy maker.

I was also impressed with how easy the Salter Slushie maker is to clean. It has a preset rinse function, which is great for loosening slushy debris, and ideal if you want to switch to a different drink recipe. Then, the slushy maker is easily disassembled for deeper cleaning.

I have found a few of the edges a little tricky to scrub due to the shape of the dispenser, but this really hasn’t bothered me. Plus, you can reassemble the machine in *literally* a minute.

The Salter Slushy is the first frozen drinks maker I’ve made, and I have to say I was impressed. While the Ninja Slushi offers frozen results in just 15 minutes, I don’t think this is enough of a pull for me to stray from Salter. Like Ninja, the Salter Slushie Maker can also keep drinks cool for up to 12 hours, has one more preset (smoothie) and is more affordable to boot.

Not only has the Salter Slushie Machine kept me cool and hydrated with delicious frozen drinks all summer, but I suspect it has improved my social life, too!