Milkshake Makers & Milkshake Machines

Milkshake Makers: What You Need to Know

Commercial milkshake mixers make it easy for ice cream parlors, cafes, and bars to treat their customers to creamy, frozen drinks. They can be placed on a countertop or mounted on the wall, and come in configurations of one, two, or three spindles per unit. Many options feature adjustable speed settings and automatic timers that control mixing cycles, enabling uniformity from one order to the next. Typically made of stainless steel and rugged die-cast metal, these machines are built to withstand the demands of high-volume shake production.

Common Questions About Commercial Milkshake Mixers

What is a milkshake machine called?

A milkshake machine can be called just that, or it can be called a milkshake maker, milkshake mixer, or spindle mixer.

How do you use a milkshake machine?

Most commercial milkshake mixers operate with a spindle. First, the milkshake ingredients are added to the cup; then the spindle is inserted into the cup to smoothly froth and mix the ingredients. Some models start automatically when a cup is added, and some are started manually with a button or switch. Many units have preset or programmable timers that will automatically stop the machine, and some have adjustable speed settings for different types of milkshakes and mix-ins.

Should I invest in a commercial milkshake mixer?

Many locations can benefit from offering milkshakes to customers. Ice cream shops, bakeries, and sweet shops already have a built-in customer base as well as related supplies and equipment, making it simple to incorporate a commercial milkshake maker and expand the menu. Other locations, such as fast food establishments, burger joints, coffee shops, delis, and cafes, often sell milkshakes alongside hot menu items as part of a meal or alone as a dessert option. For some bars, nightclubs, and beachside hotels, milkshake mixers can be useful for blending alcoholic beverages, such as frozen mudslides, Irish cream shamrock shakes, or coconut rum milkshakes.

What kind of commercial milkshake mixer should I buy?

Shake mixers are available in a few different configurations. The type of milkshakes and volume of sales at a location will determine which type of model is the best fit.

Some models are designed for placement on tables and countertops, enabling relocation as workflows change. Others are wall mounted, ensuring secure installation, conserving countertop space, and preventing the unit from being knocked over or dropped on the floor. Some units use stainless steel malt cups that are typically provided with the machine, while others can mix milkshakes in disposable plastic or polystyrene foam drinking cups to streamline drive-through service.

Commercial milkshake mixers can have one, two, or three spindles for simultaneous preparation of multiple milkshakes. Locations that sell a high volume of milkshakes or offer layered milkshakes with two or more flavors may want to invest in a unit with multiple spindles. Locations selling a low volume of milkshakes or only offering them seasonally can save money by purchasing a machine with a single spindle instead.

Some commercial spindle mixers feature removable, replaceable motors that enable users to quickly repair the machine at a reduced cost instead of replacing the entire unit when the motor burns out. Options with adjustable, automatic timers and programmable settings are also available, as well as attachments for crushing mix-ins and blending hard or soft ice cream.

Can I use a blender instead of a milkshake mixer?

Some blenders can be used to make milkshakes but aren't purposely built for the job like shake machines, so they won't produce the same caliber of product.

Commercial milkshake mixers have a long spindle that reaches deep into the container to blend milkshakes smoothly and evenly, while blenders have small blades at the unit's base designed to chop product without penetrating very far into the mixture. Shake makers also froth and aerate product as it's mixed, creating a light and airy texture that's still thick and reminiscent of ice cream. By aerating the product in this fashion, shake mixers can almost double the volume of the ingredients, filling a larger cup for the same cost. Blenders tend to warm up and liquify the ice cream as it's blended, producing a thinner, runnier product than a milkshake maker.

Although many commercial spindle mixers have attachments for blending ice cream with chunky fruit and mix-ins, blenders are much more effective at chopping and grinding whole toppings into bite-size bits. However toppings can be prepped in the blender ahead of time as a way to get around this.