Customers of all ages adore slushies, making them an excellent choice for enhancing your menu and increasing impulse sales. Crafting and selling these frozen treats has never been easier with the help of a high-quality commercial slushie machine. Stand out from the competition by preparing gourmet slush syrups with unique flavor combinations. Learn to utilize the Brix scale and a user-friendly refractometer to ensure your slushies have the right consistency.
Shop All Slushie SyrupsWhat Is the Brix Scale?
The Brix scale is a measurement system used in food production to express the percentage of dissolved sucrose (sugar) in a liquid solution. It's commonly used in juice production, winemaking, and frozen desserts to measure the amount of sugar present in the recipe. One degree on the Brix scale equals 1 gram of sucrose per 100 grams of solution.
Why Is the Brix Scale Important?
The Brix scale is important when making frozen desserts like slushies or granitas because sugar content affects the freezing process of your slush machine mix. Too much sugar in the mix prevents the slushie from freezing, and too little sugar causes it to freeze into a solid mass and damage your slushie machine. By checking the Brix reading on your slushie mix before adding it to the machine, you don't need to adjust the mix as it freezes.
Best Brix Reading for Slushies
The ideal Brix reading for a slushie solution should fall between 13 and 15 degrees. Every slushie machine has different requirements, so check the manufacturer's instructions for the recommended Brix level. Some units will work with Brix levels as low as 11 and as high as 20. Though sellers formulate premade slushie mixes to the correct range, it never hurts to check that the ratio of sugar to liquid is correct. Don't forget to thoroughly check your homemade slushie syrups to ensure they freeze correctly and don't damage your machine.
What Is a Refractometer?
A Brix refractometer is a small hand-held tool that uses refraction to measure the concentration of solids in a solution, making it perfect for determining the Brix level of your slushie mix. Refraction occurs when light bends as it passes from one medium to another. The number of solids present in a liquid solution will change the angle of refraction, and the refractometer measures the angle to determine the sugar content in the solution. Several types of refractometers measure different solids, but the Brix refractometer specializes in measuring sucrose content.
How to Use a Refractometer
Though the science behind them may be complex, refractometers are easy to use. Follow these simple steps to determine how much sugar is in your slush machine mixture:
- Calibrate the refractometer per the manufacturer's instruction manual.
- Mix the slush syrup and stir it well before testing.
- Open the cover plate on the end of the refractometer.
- Use a pipette or liquid dropper to drop a few drops of slushie solution onto the angled prism.
- Close the cover plate tightly.
- Point the refractometer towards a light source and look through the eyepiece.
- To read the Brix scale, look for the point where the illuminated portion meets the dark portion.
- If the Brix reading is between 13% and 15%, your slushie mix is perfect.
- If the Brix reading is below 13%, add more sugar to the mix and try again.
- If the Brix reading is above 15%, add more water and try again.
- Clean the prism surface with a damp cloth after use and air dry.
Slush Machine Mix Ratio
Since premade slushie syrup arrives concentrated, mix it with water before adding it to the slush machine. Most mixes are 1:4 or 1:5, or 4 or 5 cups of water for every 1 cup of syrup. Read the instructions on the mix and use the ratio as your guide.
If you want to add other ingredients or syrups, try replacing a part of the premade syrup in the ratio. For example, instead of adding 1 cup premade syrup, try 1/2 cup flavoring syrup to 1/2 cup premade syrup. Because the sugar content of other syrups will be different than the premade slush syrup, use a refractometer to make the perfect mix.
Can You Add Alcohol to a Slush Machine?
Some slush machines are rated to work with alcohol, but it depends on the manufacturer. Read your machine's guidelines concerning alcohol before making adult slushies.
Does Alcohol Affect the Brix Reading?
Yes, alcohol affects the Brix reading. Adding alcohol to the mix will cause the Brix reading to be higher, which means it will take longer to freeze. Utilizing a refractometer is the best way to ensure your alcoholic slush mixes freeze properly.
Slushie Machine Recipes
Try experimenting with syrups and flavorings to create gourmet slushies and stand apart from your competition. You can choose between many different types of flavoring syrups, but avoid anything with dairy ingredients unless your machine is rated to work with dairy.
Neutral slush syrup allows you to create your own flavor combinations easily. Mix the neutral syrup with water to make the slushie base, then add the flavors below. Test the sugar content with the refractometer before adding the mix to your machine. If your Brix measurement falls between 13% and 15%, the slushie will freeze to the perfect consistency.
If you want to expand upon classic slushie flavors and you aren't sure where to start, try one of these unique combinations:
- Wedding Cake: Almond + White Chocolate + Vanilla
- Chocolate-Covered Cherry: Cherry + Chocolate
- Lemon Chiffon: Lemon + Vanilla + White Chocolate
- Nutella: Chocolate + Hazelnut
- Amaretto Cacao: Almond + Chocolate + French Vanilla
- Summertime Sangria: Blackberry + Peach + Elderflower
- Tropical Smash: Coconut + Pineapple + Basil
- Lavender Lemonade Cooler: Lemon + Lavender
- Banoffee: Banana + Toffee + Coffee
Utilizing a refractometer to assess your slush syrup blend is a convenient and efficient method for creating top-notch slushies. When the Brix measurement is accurate, your slushies will have a velvety texture and be enjoyable to sip. Use these techniques to continue creating bold new slushie syrups that challenge conventional flavors.
