Best Frozen Drink Machines
There’s something special about the cool bliss of a frozen cocktail – the sweetness of fruit, a shot or two of your favorite spirit all swirled together with a crush of ice and garnished with a paper umbrella. It’s a refreshing drink that conjures up the beach at sunset.
These days, you don’t have to travel to a tropical island – or even to your neighborhood bar – to whip up a batch of frosty cocktails. With your own frozen drink machine, you can have a party right in your backyard any time you like.
This handy kitchen appliance is equipped with a strong motor and sharp blades that cut ice and frozen fruit down to the perfect consistency for a delicious cold drink. Not fond of alcohol? These machines also appeal to non-drinkers who enjoy a cool fruity drink, and it’s good for making slushies and smoothies, too.
We narrow down the best frozen drink machines that you can buy online. So read on and find the machine that best suits your needs.
1. Top Pick: Margaritaville DM0500 Bahamas 36-Ounce Frozen-Concoction Maker
Nothing captures the casual islands’ attitude quite like a refreshingly cold cocktail. If you love to spend your weekends sipping frosty margaritas in your backyard with friends, then you’ll want to have this frozen drink machine in your arsenal of kitchen appliances.
The Margaritaville DM0500 Bahamas 36-ounce Frozen Concoction Maker is your passport to the Caribbean, without leaving the comfort of your home. This frozen drink machine is easy to use; simply fill the top reservoir with ice, pour your favorite ingredients into the jar and at the touch of a button, the Shave-N-Blend controls churn out a pitcher-perfect 36 ounces of frozen deliciousness in one easy step. Or, customize your drinks using the shave only or blend only manual options.
We recommend this machine because it’s the only frozen drink maker that shaves ice instead of crushing or pulverizing it, creating drinks with better consistency. Now you can say goodbye to ice chunks or watered down drinks.
This model has dual motors for shaving ice and blending drinks, and comes with an ice reservoir. For manual control, there’s a handy “blend only/shave only” toggle switch, which lets you add more ice and blend it as long as you want.
The Margaritaville DM0500 Bahamas 36-ounce Frozen Concoction Maker has a durable, shatter-proof plastic blending jar with measuring marks up the side, and a generous easy-grip handle. Both the mixer and the blending jar and lid are dishwasher-safe for a quick cleanup.
This powerful machine is made of stainless steel, measures approximately 14 by 8 by 18 inches and weighs only 8 lbs. Included in the package is a quick start guide, a frozen drink recipe guide, an instruction manual and a shot glass for easy portion control to blend that perfect mix.
Oh, and did we mention that it also makes great non-alcoholic frozen fruit beverages and smoothies, too? Now everyone is ready for a tropical escape.
Pros:
- Makes shaved ice, instead of crushing ice
- 36-ounce shatter-proof plastic blending jar
- Easy-grip handle
- Blending jar and lid are dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Blades are sharp and can cut fingers when cleaning
- More expensive than other brands
2. Most Versatile: Ninja Professional 72-oz Countertop Blender with 1000-Watt Base and Total Crushing Technology
It’s party time in the backyard on a hot, sunny afternoon. You and your friends want to relax and cool off with a cold frozen cocktail. The kids want something cool and refreshing, too. You’re picturing a deliciously frosty watermelon-inspired drink with a splash of rum, and they’re clambering for mango and strawberry slushies. If you’re looking for a mid-priced kitchen appliance that can serve up both, then this is the machine for you.
Be the ninja at your backyard parties with the Ninja Professional 72-ounce Countertop Blender with 1000-Watt Base and Total Crushing Technology. This sleek machine is perfect for crushing ice to make some of the best smoothies and frozen fruit cocktails you’ll ever taste, right in the convenience of your home. Satisfy the adults and the kids at the same time.
This model packs an impressive 1000 watts of professional power, with a maximum liquid capacity of 64 ounces. With Ninja’s sharp 6-blade assembly, you’ll be on top of your game crushing, blending and pureeing your favorite ingredients into resort-style frozen drinks. When you’re not in the party-mode, this versatile machine also quickly and easily blends foods into delicious dips, sauces and smoothies.
Four manual settings lets you control how much, or how little, you want to process the food, and the four automatic settings lets the machine do all the work.
Measuring 9.50 x 7.50 x 17 inches and weighing just 7 lbs., this frozen drink machine stores nicely away in a cupboard, but with so many good reasons to use it, you just may want to give it a place of honor on the kitchen counter.
Pros:
- 4 manual speeds for controlled processing.
- 1-year limited warranty.
- The pitcher and Stacked Blade Assembly are dishwasher safe. Place on the top rack.
- Motor base wipes clean with a damp cloth
Cons:
- Warranty only covers the motor and base. Lid and plastic pitcher not covered in warranty.
3. Best Priced: Nostalgia MSB64 64-Ounce Margarita & Slush Maker
You love the idea of making your own thirst-quenching slush drinks but don’t want to spend a lot of money. Plus, you’re not interested in a multi-purpose kitchen appliance. If you’re looking for an easy to use, uncomplicated way to occasionally blend your own frosty beverages, then this is the machine for you.
The Nostalgia MSB64 64-Ounce Margarita & Slush Maker is perfect for anyone who wants a frozen drink machine that doesn’t have a long list of bells and whistles, but does what it claims to do, and does it well.
The powerful motor on this model quickly shaves ice to the perfect consistency and makes up to 64-ounces of your favorite slush drink. With an easy-flow spout, you will happily be able to dispense consistently smooth frozen drinks every time.
Use crushed ice or small ice cubes from your freezer to make fantastic margaritas, daiquiris or other favorite frozen drinks and for the kids, super cool slushies. We love this machine because it’s designed for the kitchen or bar, but it can also be used in the family room, the dorm, the office or a clubhouse.
While it doesn’t have any bells and whistles, this model has a 64-ounce clear mixing chamber, ideal for small groups. Measuring 7.8 x 17.6 x 8.1 inches and weighing only 11 lbs., its slim upright design won’t take up much room on the counter. Other cool features include a patented dual swivel system that pulverizes and shaves ice, dispensing consistently smooth frozen drinks, and a detachable cup rest and drip tray. And here’s a bonus: the blending chamber detaches from the base for easy cleanup.
Pros:
- Convenient on/off dial
- 64-ounce clear mixing chamber
- Tank detaches from base for cleanup
Cons:
- Makes small quantities
- Can only be used to make frozen drinks
4. Best Family-Size: Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker
If you’re looking for big impact and a large reservoir then the Margarita Tahiti Frozen Concoction Maker is for you. Using three distinct chambers means you can produce a whopping 72 oz of your favorite frozen drinks. This is particular great for large families, or for those looking to dish out margaritas all evening long. As a bit of a fun bonus the ice chute rotates between each chamber, adding to showmanship if that happens to be of interest. Having three distinct chambers also means that you can make three different mixes at once provided you’re comfortable with the manual settings.
In terms of practicalities, Sous Vide Guy was impressed by extremely high build quality compared to other items on this list. A bamboo and brushed aluminum finish add a touch of class while the stainless-steel accents and die-cast mechanical components inspire a high degree of confidence. With that said, this is a substantial unit coming in at 19.3 inches x 19.5 inches x 19.5 inches. Make sure you’ve got your counter space pre-saved before picking this one up!
Pros
- Attractive design with high-quality materials.
- Can make 72 oz of your favorite frozen concoctions.
- 1-year warranty.
Cons
- Finding replacement chambers is a challenge.
- Can be difficult to clean due to all the moving parts, and relies heavily on regular maintenance to stay operational.
Things to look out for:
Consider these things when choosing a frozen drink machine so you will choose a model that will work best to suit your needs:
The Motor and Blades:
Frozen drinks, whether you’re making cocktails, smoothies or slushies, need crushed or shaved ice. Using a regular blender to crush ice is not a good idea if the blades are not sharp enough, or if the motor is not strong enough. In fact, if the machine’s blades are too small, or the motor too weak, you can end up damaging or breaking the blender. Instead, look for a frozen drink machine that is made specifically for crushing ice for frozen drinks and is equipped with a powerful motor and blades.
The Capacity:
Like any other kitchen appliance, first evaluate what you will use it for. If it’s just for you and perhaps when a friend or two visit, a smaller, individual-use machine will do. Or, some larger machines come with a smaller pitcher accessory for the times when serving a big crowd is not the goal.
If you throw lots of parties where frozen drinks are front and centre, then choose a larger capacity machine. If you want to make frozen beverages, soups, dips, sauces, smoothies and other foods with the same machine, make sure to find a model that has the capacity to do all of these things well.
Finally, consider your living space to decide what size would fit the best either on your kitchen counter or tucked neatly away in a cupboard. Some of these machines come in cool colors and can add a touch of pizazz to your kitchen or backyard party.
Price:
Luckily, frozen drink machines come in a wide range of prices. But like many things, you often get what you pay for. So while paying more than you budgeted for is never a good idea, if you make a list of all the features that you desire in a frozen drink machine, you can then look for models in different prices ranges that fit the bill. The good news is, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a commercial grade frozen drink machine to churn out restaurant-quality cocktails.
How It Chops Ice
All frozen drink machines claim to chop ice, but it’s how well it does the job that’s important. The outcome of a frozen beverage, no matter how skilled you are and no matter how delicious the ingredients, really comes down to how well the machine carves up the ice. If you end up having pieces that are too big, your drink will have chunks in it and be difficult to drink. If the ice is cut up too small, your mixture will be cold, but mostly liquid.
FAQ
What is the best margarita machine to buy?
Although this depends on your usage, Sous Vide Guy can confidently recommend both the Margaritaville Bali Margarita Machine and the Ninja Master Prep Margarita Machine. Ninja is a particular favorite. This is due to the added versatility that Ninja is known for. With that said, you really can’t go wrong with the Margaritaville Bali Margarita Machine provided your wallet can stretch wide enough.
How do you use a frozen margarita machine?
Using a margarita machine is as easy as 1-2-3. Step one, load up the ice tray if necessary. Step two, pour in your liquid components into the blender chamber. Step three, hit your favourite pre-set button and let the machine do its thing! Keep in mind that if you’re not happy with the density of your drink most margarita machines also include a manual blend option. This was you can tap the manual blend button to reach your desired consistency after running a pre-set, or just cut out the middleman entirely.
How much does a margarita machine cost?
Margarita makers are specialty kitchen products that combine many functions under one hat. As a result they tend to be priced towards restaurant quality price ranges. This is because margarita machines produce much smoother, less chunky drinks than even a high-quality blender. Expect to spend a minimum of $200 USD on an entry-level machine, and up to $400 for higher build quality. Beyond this range is where you begin to run into ‘Chef Branded’ products, which can be high quality or cash grabs depending on the Chef in question. If you find margarita machines for less than $200 USD you’ll want to double check that they have a separate ice chamber from the blending chamber. This is, generally speaking, the big difference between margaritas made at home and those concocted by a bar-side wizard.
How do you clean a Margaritaville machine?
Cleaning a margarita machine is as easy as warm soapy water plus holding blend. To begin with move your ice chute away from the central chamber. This will allow you to pour your mix of warm, soapy water directly into the blender portion of the machine. Next hit blend for between 20-30 seconds until sudsy. Dispense this mixture as you would regularly and then purge the chamber with hot water without any soap. This will wash away any residue left over from the cleaning so you don’t end up with soapy drinks – margarita or otherwise!
Can you put frozen fruits in a Margaritaville machine?
Absolutely! Fresh and frozen fruit are both great options for a margarita machine. This can be a great way to work in extra, fruity flavor kicks during the blending process. One of the best parts about owning a margarita machine is that you can get really creative with not just margaritas, but with smoothies and the like too! This is all possible thanks to margarita machines splitting the ice shaving process and blending process for a perfect, fluffy drink.
Can you use a margarita machine as a simple blender?
Margarita machines are designed to do two things; 1) shave ice and then 2) blend this ice with liquid to make your favorite cocktails or smoothies. If you want to use your margarita machine just to blend then you will have to select a special option that bypasses the ice shaving part of this process. Fortunately most margarita machines on the market come with this feature built into the product. With that said, Sous Vide Guy always suggests that you check the manufacturer’s guarantee
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