This Slushie Maker review is a collaboration with Inoviva. All opinions and pictures are my own. You can buy the Inoviva 2L Slushie Maker on Amazon here. It has an RRP of £319.99 but if you use the code 10INOVIVA on Amazon it comes down to about £260. This post contains affiliate links.
Why I needed a slushie machine (and didn’t know it)
I’m not usually one for kitchen gadgets. With the toaster, the kettle, the microwave, the airfryer, the stand mixer, the waffle maker-cum-toastie machine etc etc I don’t have that much counter space that isn’t already covered in stuff and particularly, I usually scoff at the idea of a big kitchen implement with just one use (how many of you have spiralisers or juicers sat unloved in cupboards, be honest?).
But the Inoviva 2L Slushie Maker slid into my life like a frost-covered miracle. It definitely only has one job, but honestly? Life before it feels unnecessarily warm and overly sober.
Whether you’re trying to entertain kids without handing over a device, or you’re an adult who enjoys their drinks cold, strong, and fruity (hi, it’s me), this machine delivers. And it does it in style.
What Is the Inoviva Slushie Maker?
The Inoviva 2l Slushie Machine is a plug-in, counter-top appliance designed to make slushies in a matter of minutes. It’s very similar to a brand which we won’t mention but you all know what I’m talking about. As per all slushie machines, it works by freezing and stirring your chosen liquid (water, juice, fizzy drink, cocktail mix, etc.) into a glorious frozen slush. Think Slush Puppie, but make it Instagrammable and possibly full of vodka (and less likely to turn your tongue blue).
It works with sugar-based liquids – diet drinks don’t freeze properly, so you do need a bit of sugar in there to get that perfect texture. But once it gets going, it churns and chills and suddenly you’ve got a drink that feels like summer in a glass.
You can check it out here.
How do you use it?
Honestly? Even I managed it, and I once managed to burn pasta.
To make a slushie:
- Plug it in and switch it on at the wall. You’ll hear it start to chill. It works best and more quickly with pre-chilled drinks so keep your juice in the fridge before if possible.
- Pour in your chosen beverage. As mentioned previously, it needs to contain at least 5% sugar – so any juice, soft drinks or alcohol (up to 16%) is fine. Don’t use diet or sugar-free drinks, they won’t freeze properly and will be messy and disappointing.
- Select the option – you can choose Slushie, Frappe, Milkshake, Wine, Cocktail (there is also a cleaning mode) and the thickness on the smart little LCD panel at the front – and press play to watch it whirr into action.
- Wait around 15–20 minutes, depending on how cold your mix was when it went in. At some point it will beep and a snowflake will appear on the control panel to signal that the drink is ready.
- Place your glass under the dispensing nozzle and pull the lever down to dispense.
- Give it a shake. Add a fancy straw. Take a picture. Drink.
That’s it. You’re now a slushie wizard. Congratulations.
Cleaning is also easier than I had suspected. There is a cleaning mode which you can use between slushies so it doesn’t cross-contaminate; pour in a few pints of water and then once it has finished and beeped, dispense it like you would a drink and discard. If you want to give it a good scrub (recommended if you’re not going to use it for a while and essential if you used milk in it) everything comes apart with a bit of twisting and rinsing, and the freezing chamber doesn’t have any of those weird corners that require a toothbrush to get at. You do get some bottle brush cleaners with it, just in case you need them.
Is it just for kids?
Absolutely not.
Sure, my kids love it. They’ve had lemonade slushies, orange and pineapple juice slushies, weird mixes of three random squash flavours and a sugar high I won’t talk about here. But let’s be honest: this machine’s true potential is in grown-up drinks.
Enter: the French Martini Slushie
Vodka, Chambord, pineapple juice. Slushed to perfection. Tastes like a holiday. Serve in a martini glass if you’re fancy, but maybe keep a teaspoon to hand.
Honorable mentions:
- Frozen margarita (obviously) – if you’ve not made margs in your slushie maker, why do you even have it?
- Strawberry or pineapple daiquiri – you can buy pre-mixed cocktail packets for a quid in Aldi and you can pour them straight in the slushie maker so you don’t even have to get all the ingredients in separately.
- A can of cider (normal or fruit flavoured) chucked in is a quick and easy way to make a lovely adult drink to sip in the sunshine.
- Milkshakes – bit of milk, stir in some Nequik and slush; just make sure you dispense them within 30 minutes or they get weird and foamy.
Things you should not slush (a cautionary tale)
Once again for the cheap seats at the back – you cannot slush diet drinks. It just won’t work. Also, if you’re making cocktails, you need to ensure that it’s between 2.8% and 16% alcohol or it won’t slush. If you have put too much vodka in and nothing is happening, you may need to balance it out with more juice. And probably have a glass of water between cocktails too – that’s STRONG.
Also: Avoid slushing wine.
I had a vision; it was chic. Refreshing. Elegant.
It was none of those things.
The texture was weird. Eating wine with a spoon is weird. The flavour was like wine but not as nice. I took one sip and heard the ghost of every sommelier that’s ever lived gasp.
I still drank it, but I will not be doing it again – particularly not with a decent Sauvignon Blanc.
Slushed wine is wine wasted. Don’t do it.
Is a slushie maker worth the space on the counter?
Kitchen countertop real estate is valuable and there’s seemingly a new must-have gadget out every week, with very few lasting the distance (air fryer, I’m looking at you, with heart emoji eyes).
Because of the lack of space, I had very much intended to try the slushie maker out and sell it on or give it away, but in part thanks to the kids begging and also because I just LOVE a frozen cocktail, it looks like it’s staying.
It’s actually heavy but not as massive as the box implies, and even though we are making the most of it right now with the sun being out all day, I feel like it will be useful all year round; summer parties, kids’ birthdays, Christmas cocktails, or just a Tuesday that needs a little razzle-dazzle. The kids are capable of using it without my supervision; if only they’d clean up after themselves too, everyone would be happy.
Final verdict on the Inoviva 2L Slushie Maker
If you like your drinks cold, your kids distracted, and your kitchen vaguely resembling a tiki bar, the Inoviva 2L Slushie Maker is an excellent addition.
Yes, it’s a bit of a luxury and it’s not a must have implement that’s going to solve a kitchen dilemma. But compared to how much I’ve spent on iced drinks, disposable joy and cocktails over the years, it doesn’t seem bad.
In summary:
- It’s really easy to use – I didn’t cry once while setting it up, and that’s saying something.
- Easy to clean – no faff, no weird unreachable corners, and you don’t need to dismantle it like a mechanical Rubik’s cube.
- Great for kids AND grown-ups – mine have become tiny slushie connoisseurs, and when they’re in bed it’s all mine.
- French Martini slushie is an elite-level life experience.
Highly recommend. Just don’t slush the wine. Trust me.
How much and where to buy the Inoviva 2L Slushie Maker
You can buy the Inoviva 2L Slushie Maker on Amazon here. It has an RRP of £319.99 but if you use the code 10INOVIVA it comes down to about £260 (almost £100 less than its brand name rival).