Commercial milkshake makers and mixers

A commercial milkshake maker is a specialised machine designed to mix and blend ingredients to create a smooth and creamy milkshake. Here's an overview of how a traditional spindle milkshake mixer works:

1. The ingredients for the milkshake — such as ice cream, milk, flavorings, and syrups — are added to a metal or plastic mixing cup before it’s fitted securely onto the machine. (The cup is usually large enough to hold one or more milkshakes at a time.)
2. The mixing spindle — a long, thin rod that extends from the machine’s motor into the mixing cup and which holds the cup in place — is turned on, causing it to rotate rapidly.
3. The spinning action of the spindle creates a vortex in the cup, pulling the ingredients down towards the spindle and mixing them together into a smooth, creamy consistency. (The run time can be adjusted to control the thickness and texture of the milkshake.)
4. Once the milkshake is fully mixed, the mixing cup is released from the milkshake maker using a lever or button and the milkshake is poured into a glass or other container for serving.

The two most popular types of commercial milkshake mixers are spindle milkshake mixers and blender milkshake mixers.

Spindle mixers are the more traditional type of milkshake maker and are often found in fast-food restaurants, takeaways, and other foodservice establishments.

A spindle is the vertical shaft that extends from the milkshake mixer’s motor into the mixing cup, where it rotates at high speed to blend the ingredients together. A spindle mixer typically has 1–3 spindles, each of which can hold a cup or container (hence the terms ‘single milkshake maker’, ‘double milkshake maker’, and ‘triple milkshake maker’).

Blender mixers are more versatile and can be used not only for making milkshakes, but also for blending other frozen beverages like smoothies and frappes. They’re commonly used in cafes, juice bars, and restaurants.

It’s important to consider your specific needs when choosing between the two.

Here are the main differences between the two types of milkshake makers:

Mixing mechanism: Spindle milkshake mixers use a rotating shaft with a blade on the end to mix the ingredients, while blender milkshake mixers use a blending blade similar to a traditional kitchen blender. Spindle mixers tend to be better for mixing thinner liquids like milk and syrup, while blender mixers are better for
blending thicker ingredients like ice cream and frozen fruit.

Consistency: Spindle milkshake mixers tend to produce lighter, frothier milkshakes, while blender milkshake mixers produce thicker, creamier milkshakes. The consistency of the milkshake depends on the ingredients used and the amount of time the mixer is run.

Volume: Spindle milkshake mixers are typically smaller and can make one or two milkshakes at a time, while blender milkshake mixers are usually larger and can make multiple milkshakes at once.

Applications: Ideal for
creating light and frothy milkshakes, spindle milkshake mixers are commonly
used in fast-food restaurants, takeaways, and other foodservice establishments
that serve milkshakes in smaller volumes. Blender milkshake mixers are used in
cafes, juice bars and restaurants that serve thicker and creamier milkshakes.
They’re also used to blend frozen beverages like smoothies and frappes.

When choosing
between a spindle milkshake mixer and a blender milkshake mixer, consider the
volume of milkshakes you plan to make, the consistency and texture you want to
achieve, and the other types of frozen beverages you may want to make with the
machine.

Some commercial milkshake makers are programmable.

The programmable ones have controls and settings that allow you to pre-program blending cycles or customise blending times and speeds for consistent results.

You can even choose from preset programs tailored for different types of drinks.

This can be beneficial in a commercial setting, as it helps ensure consistent quality and reduces the need for manual adjustments.

The exact time it takes to make a milkshake using a commercial milkshake machine depends on the type of machine being used and the complexity of the
recipe.

In general, commercial milkshake makers can produce a milkshake within a
few minutes.

A basic milkshake made with a spindle mixer takes only 1–2 minutes to mix; a more complex recipe with additional ingredients may take a few minutes longer.

Blender milkshake mixers processing thicker ingredients like ice cream and frozen fruit take 2–3 minutes to produce a milkshake, depending on the ingredients and the desired consistency.

Yes — as well as milkshakes, a blender milkshake mixer can make:

• smoothies
• protein shakes
• frappes
• slushies (if you plan to make lots of slushies, a slushie machine would be a better choice than a milkshake blender)
• cocktails (if you plan to make lots of cocktails, a frozen cocktail machine would be a better choice than milkshake blender).