After every batch
- Serve or discard what is left — don’t top up an old batch with a new one.
- Run the rinse cycle if your machine has one (Ninja’s stirs without cooling; Tower’s and Cuisinart’s self-rinse do a similar job).
- Take the vessel, auger, spout and drip tray apart as your manual shows, and wash them.
- Use the dishwasher only for parts the maker says are dishwasher safe.
- Dry everything before reassembling, and empty the condensation catch.
Dairy batches (frappés, milkshakes) should be cleaned out promptly: Ninja’s 12-hour hold claim excludes dairy recipes.
The Ninja SLUSHi’s warning lights (FS301UK)
| What you see and hear | What it means | What Ninja says to do |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature lights flash one at a time downwards, preset lights flash, two beeps every minute for 15 minutes | Not enough sugar | Add 15–30 ml of syrup, juice, sugar, honey or similar per serving, mixed in first; press the preset to reset, then again to restart |
| Temperature lights flash one at a time upwards, two beeps every minute for 15 minutes | Too much alcohol | Dilute with about 59 ml of water per 237 ml of mix, then press the preset twice |
Other models have their own alerts — the SLUSHi Twist, for example, tells you when to add water or sugar. Check your manual.
Common problems
- Icy or freezing solid: not enough sugar. Check the label (at least 4 g sugars per 100 ml for Ninja) or use the calculator.
- Never thickens: too much alcohol, or the mix started warm. Dilute cocktails; chill ingredients first.
- Slow: big batches and warm ingredients take longer — Ninja quotes 15 to 60 minutes depending on ingredients, volume and starting temperature.
- Foams over: fizzy drinks foam when poured; pour slowly down the side and don’t overfill.
- Tap blocked or spitting: fruit pulp, seeds or herbs. Sieve purées and strain syrups.
- Water on the worktop: the condensation catch or drip tray needs emptying.
Spare parts
Ninja sells SLUSHi parts such as the auger and condensation tray on its UK site. Use the maker’s parts, and stop using a machine with a damaged cable or base.