Scoop Kitchen
What does your tubpint look like?
Pick the closest match. Most problems are fixed with a splash of liquid and a Re-spin.
Powdery or crumbly
The base is very cold, or low in fat and sugar (protein and lite tubspints almost always do this on the first spin).
Fix it now
- Add 1 to 2 tbsp of milk (juice or water for sorbet) to the tubpint.
- Run Re-spin.
- Still dry? Add one more splash and Re-spin again. Two Re-spins is normal for protein tubspints.
Next time
- Let the tubpint sit on the counter for 5 to 10 minutes before the first spin.
- Add a little more sugar, a tablespoon of cream cheese, or ¼ tsp xanthan gum to the base.
Icy or grainy
Too much water and too little sugar, fat or protein. Diet drinks and plain fruit with no added sugar freeze into hard ice.
Fix it now
- Add a splash of milk or juice and run Re-spin.
- For sorbet, a spoonful of corn or glucose syrup before the Re-spin helps.
Next time
- Keep sorbets at roughly 20 to 25 percent sugar.
- Use whole milk or add a little cream to ice cream bases.
- Blend the base well, so sugar and powders fully dissolve.
Too soft or runny
Too much sugar or alcohol, a freezer that is not cold enough, or too many Re-spins warming it up.
Fix it now
- Put the lid back on and freeze for 30 to 60 minutes, then eat it as it is.
- Skip the Re-spin next time it already looks creamy.
Next time
- Check the freezer is at −18 °C (0 °F) or colder.
- Cut sugar or syrup slightly, and keep spirits to the amount in the recipe.
A hump on top
The base expands as it freezes, and freezing on a slope or without the lid makes a dome.
Fix it now
- Scrape the hump level with a spoon before spinning, so the paddle starts on a flat surface.
Next time
- Freeze with the lid on, on a level shelf.
- Fill only to the max fill line, never above.
Mix-ins sank or clumped
Mix-ins went in on top, or the pieces were too big or too warm.
Fix it now
- Dig a hole about 4 cm (1½ in) wide down to the bottom, add the mix-ins there and run Mix-in again.
Next time
- Chop mix-ins to pea size and chill them first.
- Run Mix-in on an already creamy tubpint, after any Re-spin.
Gummy or sticky
Too much xanthan gum, pudding mix or protein powder.
Fix it now
- Add a splash of milk and Re-spin. It will loosen a little.
Next time
- Use ⅛ to ¼ tsp xanthan gum per tubpint, no more.
- Swap part of the protein powder for Greek yogurt or milk.
Leftovers rock hard
A spun tubpint refreezes solid, like the base did.
Fix it now
- Smooth the top flat, freeze, then run the original program again before serving.
- Add a splash of milk and Re-spin if it comes out powdery.
Next time
- On the Deluxe, spin only the top half and keep the bottom frozen for later.
Machine will not start
Usually the bowl or lid is not locked, or the base is too hard or overfilled.
Fix it now
- Check the outer bowl is twisted until it clicks and the lid is locked.
- Let a very hard base (sorbet, diet drinks) sit for 10 minutes, then try again.
Next time
- Fill only to the max fill line.
- Follow the error guide in your machine’s manual if a light keeps flashing.