In today's catering industry, adding frozen drinks is considered to increase sales and is very popular with customers. Slushies or slurpees are a popular novelty drink for outside and special occasions, so many catering businesses or convenience stores invest in frozen drink items to expand their menus, increase foot traffic and improve profits.

But commercial frozen beverage machines can break down, even good brands. Over-freezing often occurs in commercial activities, which may affect the overall taste of the product and the efficiency of the equipment. For this situation, here's a list of tips and strategies to ensure your machine continues to work properly.

Double Check Machine Settings - Most Important

Checking your machine settings is the most important tip you can take to prevent your slushy machine from overfreezing. Some machines have dials or adjustment switches. Usually the softness and hardness of the smoothie is adjusted by adjusting the freezing time of the machine. Adjust the machine to the appropriate gear according to different beverage recipes to obtain the desired smoothness hardness. And always evaluate the machine for switch failures or unexpected changes to settings.

Double Check Machine Functions

Only after understanding the machine's functions and various applications can you make the machine work properly. Please read the machine's instructions carefully and ensure that you follow the correct procedures before use to avoid machine failure caused by incorrect operation. Leaving the machine on for too long can also cause excessive freezing, so turn the machine off when not in use and remove any residue from the cylinder to ensure the machine is clean the next time it is used.

Check the Mixture Carefully

The slushie mix must have the correct dilution or water to sugar ratio. The sugar ratio in the solution will also affect the efficiency of smoothie making. Too high a sugar content will prevent the smoothie from freezing, and too low a sugar content will cause the smoothie to freeze solid, causing the machine to jam. Optimum flavor requires the right slushie consistency, and your machine specifications will determine this ratio. Always evaluate your mix to ensure you get a high-quality slush texture.

For the proportion of sugar in the mixture, you can use a Brix refractometer to measure it. Refractometers work by refracting light as it passes through a liquid containing dissolved or suspended solids. The refractometer uses the refractive index to convert the original Brix scale measurement into a weight percent of sucrose content, displayed as Brix percent.

Double-check Your Cleaning Routine

Proper cleaning and maintenance prevent overfreezing. Please be sure to keep the slush machine clean and hygienic, and clean the barrel after each use to ensure that no contaminants remain in the machine. Pay special attention to cleaning the sealing ring, discharge port and drip tray. These places are high-risk areas for bacterial growth. And it is recommended that the machine be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed once a week.

Double Check the Settings

Use different gear settings for different areas, and don't forget to set the best gear for your machine in the kitchen or outdoors. The placement of the machine will also affect its functionality. Avoid placing the machine in a place that is too cold, and also make sure there is enough space around the machine for air circulation. Temperature also affects the freezing time of slush. Too high or too low temperature will prolong the freezing time, so you should place it in a location with the right temperature.