Scoop KitchenA hump on top
Bases expand as they freeze. Freezing without a lid, above the max fill line or on a slope makes a dome or a slanted top, which spins unevenly.
Updated 13 October 2026
2 possible causes
The base expanded as it froze
Most likelyHow to tell: A rounded dome in the middle, often in a full tubpint.
Why: Water grows by about 9% as it turns to ice, and the middle freezes last, so it pushes up.
Fix this tubpint
- Scrape the hump level with a sturdy spoon before spinning. Let the tubpint stand 5 minutes first if it is very hard.
Next time
- Fill only to the max fill line.
- Freeze with the lid on.
It froze on a slope
Most likelyHow to tell: The top slants to one side.
Why: The base levels itself before it freezes, so a tilted tubpint freezes tilted.
Fix this tubpint
- Do not spin it. Ninja warns that spinning a tubpint that froze at an angle can damage the machine. Let it thaw in the fridge, whisk it and refreeze it on a level surface.
Next time
- Clear a flat spot on a shelf for tubspints.
Check your recipe
See how much fat, sugar and solids your base has, compared with what spins creamy, and exactly what to swap.
Open the recipe checkQuestions people ask
Can I spin a CREAMi tubpint with a hump?
Scrape the hump level first. The paddle works best on a flat surface just under the max fill line.