The 9 Best Milkshake Makers
Updated by · How we research
Spindle mixers make thicker shakes than blenders. We compared nine home, diner and blender options; the Hamilton Beach DrinkMaster 732 suits most kitchens. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A real milkshake maker doesn't blend. A small disc on a spinning shaft whips air into milk and ice cream, so diner shakes come out thick and frothy while blender shakes run thin. The catch is that no spindle can crush ice. Occasional home use calls for a light retro mixer; a cafe or a daily habit needs a heavy metal machine.
Editor's Notes
October 27, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Hamilton Beach DrinkMaster 732 is our new first choice. It's the same retro mixer as the old Hamilton Beach 730C, in a new color and at a lower price, and it does what most readers want: thick shakes at home without a restaurant bill.
The Waring Commercial WDM120 has been discontinued, so the Waring WDM120TX, its replacement with a timer, takes its spot. We couldn't find current sources for the Waring Commercial DMC180DCA or the Oster Chocomilera, so both are gone. The Hamilton Beach HMD200R, Hamilton Beach HMD400R and Breville BSB510XL stay, and the Nostalgia MLKS100 stays in pink now that the blue one is gone. New picks are the Waring WDM20 for small counters, the Vevor 375W Mixer for a budget metal machine and the Ninja BN701 for shakes that need crushed ice.
Drink mixers don't get lab reviews, so we leaned on Hamilton Beach and Waring spec sheets, restaurant-supply pages that give true motor wattage, home-cook reviews of the DrinkMaster, and a federal recall search on every brand.
Earlier notes
November 30, 2020, by Karen Bennett:
Today the budget-friendly Nostalgia Electric MLKS100BL comes on board, and it’s a fun, brightly colored model for anyone looking to add a retro touch to their kitchen without spending a lot of money. While it’s not as powerful as many of the others on our list, it’s very easy to use and can handle basic milkshakes. You can set it to either low or high, and when your milkshake is done, just tilt the head back and detach the spindle for a quick and easy cleanup. It’s also great for beating eggs or mixing batter for pancakes or waffles. For another retro model, but considerably more powerful, and thus pricier, look to the Oster Chocomilera, which sports a stable blue-green base and a polished chrome head. It’s got 110 watts of power and offers two speeds. It’s activated and deactivated when you insert or remove the cup. It’s designed to be operated hands-free and is equipped with an auto-shutoff feature.
We kept the Hamilton Beach HMD200 in a prominent spot, since this versatile model is both attractive and durable, making it suitable for either home or business use. It’s got a powerful 1/2 horsepower motor and can be operated either manually or automatically. Some of its components are safe for the dishwasher, and it’s backed by a one-year warranty. The Waring Commercial WDM120 moves into a more prominent position, as it’s a rugged model that can stand up to frequent use. It comes with a butterfly agitator that you can attach for softer ice creams, as well as a stainless steel malt beverage cup. The motors incorporate thermal protection and are easy to replace, as needed over time. The ball bearings are sealed and permanently lubricated, to ensure a long lifespan. You can buy it with confidence, thanks to its one-year warranty. Today we say goodbye to the Waring Commercial Triple Spindle, which has been discontinued by the manufacturer. No matter which model you choose, never allow small children to use them unsupervised, as they contain fast-moving parts.
May 26, 2019, by Brett Dvoretz:
When it comes to commercial milkshake makers, Waring has been king for a long time. Look in any restaurant, ice cream shop, or cafe that serves them and we are willing to bet that more often than not, a Waring model is what you'll find, which makes it no surprise that this brand dominates our list. What may be surprising though, is that Hamilton claimed our top two spots. The reason for this is simple. In the case of the Hamilton Beach HMD200, our number one choice, it is because it offers professional-level power and durability in an attractive design that most people wouldn't mind showing of in their home. In the case of the Hamilton Beach 730C, our number two choice, it is because of its affordability. While it certainly couldn't stand up to the demands of a busy ice cream shop, it is more than suitable for home use where you will probably be making just a few of milkshakes a day, at most. That being said, for any busy cafe or festival milkshake stall, we recommend the Waring Commercial Triple Spindle. Each of its motors is individually powered and mounted, allowing you to operate either one, two, or three of the spindles at a time. Plus, it has a thin design for a three-spindle model, so it won't take up all your counter space. The more attractive Hamilton Beach HMD400 is definitely a counter space hog, but it features a handy pulse switch for quick bursts of the agitator. If you don't even have room for a single-spindle machine, like the Waring Commercial WDM120, then we recommend the wall-mounted Waring Commercial DMC180DCA. We realize that no matter how badly you may want to make a milkshake at home, you may not be ready for a dedicated appliance, so we included the Breville BSB510XL Immersion Blender. Sure it isn't really a milkshake maker, but it can serve the purpose, though you may find the consistency isn't exactly what you would get in a restaurant.
Spindle Mixer Or Blender?
It doesn't cut anything; it folds air into milk and ice cream, which gives the thick, foamy shake you get at a diner.
A spindle mixer and a blender do different jobs. The mixer spins a small disc on a steel shaft inside a tall metal cup. It doesn't cut anything; it folds air into milk and ice cream, which gives the thick, foamy shake you get at a diner. Equipment sellers such as Zanduco point out that a blender's blades chop and warm the ice cream, so the drink thins out faster.
The flip side is that no spindle mixer crushes ice or hard frozen fruit. A home-kitchen review at Blender Authority found the 70-watt DrinkMaster fine for shakes and malts but no match for ice, and even the much stronger Waring machines aren't ice crushers. If your favorite shake is half ice or loaded with frozen berries, a blender is the better tool. A stick blender sits in between: it mixes one glass with little cleanup, but the shake comes out thinner.
Home Mixer Or Commercial Machine
Home spindle mixers run on small motors, about 70 to 100 watts, with plastic housings and two speeds. They're light, cheap and fine for a few shakes a week, and Hamilton Beach backs its home DrinkMaster with a two-year warranty, according to ChefKit.
Commercial machines are a different class. The Hamilton Beach HMD200R uses a 1/3-horsepower, 300-watt motor with sealed bearings in a die-cast aluminum body, per a restaurant-supply spec page. The Waring WDM120TX is rated at 375 watts by WebstaurantStore, with an NSF listing for food service. These run on a normal 120-volt outlet, but they weigh 14 to 17 pounds and stand about 20 inches tall, so measure the gap under your wall cabinets first. Watch the horsepower claims on some listings: a 1-horsepower motor would draw about 750 watts, far more than the spec sheets show.
Getting A Thick Shake, And Cleaning Up
Let hard ice cream sit out for five to 10 minutes before mixing, pour the milk in first, and keep add-ins small, as ChefKit recommends. Start on low and switch to high once it's moving. A shake takes about 30 to 60 seconds. Don't fill the cup much past halfway; a spinning disc throws liquid up the sides, and an overfilled cup splashes.
Cup size decides how many glasses you get. A 16-ounce cup makes one small shake, while a 28-ounce cup makes one large shake or two regular ones. For cleanup, unplug the mixer, pull the spindle off, and wash the cup and spindle. Hamilton Beach says those parts are dishwasher-safe on its DrinkMaster, and the cup guides on its commercial machines go in the dishwasher too. Never put the motor head in water; wipe it down. Waring's WDM20 manual covers care and the one-year warranty.
How we researched this
We compared 17 drink mixers, blenders and stick blenders, read Hamilton Beach and Waring spec sheets, a Waring manual and restaurant-supply spec pages for true motor wattage, read home-cook reviews of the DrinkMaster, looked for owner feedback patterns, and checked every brand against the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall records. No drink mixer from these brands has been recalled.
Frequently asked questions
Is a milkshake maker better than a blender for shakes?
For classic shakes, yes. A spindle mixer whips air into ice cream and milk, so the shake comes out thicker and frothier. A blender chops and warms the ice cream, which thins the drink, but it can crush ice and frozen fruit.
Can a milkshake maker crush ice?
No. The spindle's small disc only stirs and aerates. Use a blender for drinks with ice or hard frozen fruit, and let ice cream soften a few minutes before mixing.
Can I use a commercial milkshake machine at home?
Yes. Machines like the Hamilton Beach HMD200R and Waring WDM120TX plug into a standard 120-volt outlet. They're heavy and about 20 inches tall, so check the space under your cabinets.
Can I use an immersion blender for milkshakes?
Yes, for one glass at a time. It blends right in the cup with little cleanup, but the shake comes out thinner than a spindle mixer makes it.
How long does it take to make a milkshake?
About 30 to 60 seconds with a spindle mixer, once the ice cream has softened.
Are milkshake maker parts dishwasher-safe?
Usually the cup and spindle are, and Hamilton Beach says so for its DrinkMaster. The motor head is never dishwasher-safe; wipe it with a damp cloth.
