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A slush machine is an easy way to make frozen drinks and it is often found in convenience stores, milk tea shops and other places with cold drink recipes. This equipment works by means of a compressor and condenser to freeze the drink in the tank into a soft smoothie mixture, adjusting the freezing mode's settings to achieve the desired hardness. However, how long does a slush machine freeze drinks?
The freezing time of a slush machine depends on the efficiency of the machine. But this is not the only factor that affects the freezing time, there are many others, which we will continue to explore in the following pages.
The machine is designed to mix a certain proportion of water, syrup, flavourings and colourings to create the perfect slush. The freezing temperature is usually set to a "4" setting which is best and they will operate at -3 degrees Celsius.
Most frozen drink machines take around 1 hour or 45 minutes to freeze, while some of the more efficient machines only take 20-30 minutes to freeze. Therefore, when buying a commercial granita maker for your café or restaurant, it is necessary to go through the specifications of the machine to find out how long it will freeze. This will help you in many different situations.
Similar to other performance machines, many factors will affect the efficiency of the machine, including ambient temperature, air circulation etc. Some of the following factors can affect the freezing time of a smoothie.
Ambient Temperature
The Location of The Machine
Volume of Mixture in The Tank
Content of The Mixture
Initial Temperature of The Mixture
Sugar Content of The Mixture
Make and Model of Machine
The ambient temperature has a great influence on most machines and it largely determines the length of time the machine will freeze drinks. Ambient temperature refers to our surroundings or the climate in general. Too high an ambient temperature can damage the machine and cause it not to operate properly, greatly affecting efficiency. Therefore, when you make frozen drinks or smoothies, how long it takes for your machine to churn out frozen drinks depends on the ambient temperature around the machine.
If you make your smoothie drinks indoors with the air conditioning on, the production time will be shorter and faster than if you are outside in a tropical environment.
Before installing the machine, you should think through its placement, as the location of the slush machine will also change the freezing time of the drink. If the machine is placed outside in direct sunlight, you will not be able to make the slush in the required time. However, this does not mean that your machine cannot be placed outside, but rather find a nice shady spot for it or put a shelter/tent on your food truck.
Also, do not install the machine in a kitchen where the ambient temperature is too hot and never try to place the machine close to a wall. This is because the machine emits heat during operation and if there is no space for hot air to pass through, the heat will be transferred back to the original appliance, increasing the freezing time of the machine. Therefore, always keep enough space around the machine, about 30 cm from the wall, so that its refrigeration system can be used to maximum effect.
The volume of the mixture in the tank will definitely affect the freezing time of the smoothie. If your machine is only half full, it will take less time to freeze, whereas a fully filled tank will take longer to freeze.
However, you need to be aware that the volume of the mixture in the tank must be more than the minimum capacity and no more than the maximum capacity. Otherwise, the machine may malfunction.
The ingredients of the mixture play a key role in influencing the freezing time of smoothies. A few examples are given below:
Fructose lowers the freezing point of water, which means that at lower temperatures, it makes it easier for water to freeze into ice crystals. Because of its lower freezing point, it thaws more quickly. Fructose also increases viscosity, which means that if the syrup contains more fructose, such as high fructose corn syrup, it will take longer to freeze.
Watermelon contains a citrulline amino acid component, an enzyme that causes blood vessels to dilate and relax when a person consumes it. As a result, the body absorbs watermelon juice more quickly than it does most other juices. Therefore, if more watermelon juice is used in a smoothie, the drink will freeze more quickly.
Chilling the mixture in the refrigerator for a few hours in advance to keep the solution temperature at 0 degrees Celsius will significantly reduce the freezing time of the drink. If the temperature of the slushy mixture is high, the machine will need more time to freeze.
The slurry machine works best when the initial temperature of the slurry mixture is low. If the temperature is higher, the freezing process requires the machine to lower the temperature of the solution to a certain value before it can start freezing, a process that consumes more energy.
How much sugar is present in the mixture also determines the freezing time of the slush machine. To create the perfect smoothie you need to check the sugar content of the liquid. Usually we recommend a sugar content of around 13% in the mixture for frozen drinks. If the solution contains too little sugar, the machine may freeze; if it contains too much sugar, it will take longer to freeze the drink. It is therefore essential to obtain the correct sugar to water ratio for your business and customer service in order for the machine to freeze faster and to obtain the desired slush consistency.
Different brands of slush machines have different freezing times, and even different models of the same brand differ.
There are many factors that influence the freezing time of a slush machine, including the size of the beverage container you buy the machine from, the contents of the mixture, the initial temperature of the mixture and the quantity. The amount of sugar present in the mixture is the most important factor to be aware of, as it greatly affects the speed at which your slush mix can be frozen.
If your slurry mixture isn't freezing, then these may be the reasons you need to be concerned.
Incorrect ratio of water to syrup (too much sugar)
No air circulation (not enough space around the machine)
Broken main mixer or stand mixer
Dusty condenser, not cleaned regularly
Faulty thermostat
Excessive freezing of slurry machines happens from time to time. It is a common problem, but as a result it destroys all the work of the slurry machine and you cannot get the desired consistency.
Overfreezing occurs when the level of sugar in the mixture is low. The correct ratio of water to sugar syrup is therefore essential to prevent excessive freezing in smoothies. The sugar in the mixture acts as an antifreeze agent and does not allow the mixture to become solid.
Make sure that the blender or mixing blade is constantly moving.
Never leave the slushie machine on for too long when not in use. This can also lead to excessive freezing.
Always use good quality slush syrups as they have the right amount of sugar and will prevent the slush machine from over freezing.
You can also prevent your slurry machine from overfreezing by carrying out regular maintenance. Maintenance should include cleaning the different parts of the machine and lubricating the moving parts.
It is best not to. A muddler is a specialised frozen drink machine which has a fixed drink. The drinks contain a certain amount of sugar which prevents the machine from over-freezing. Whereas alcohol has a lower sugar content, he may prolong the freezing time of the drink.
