3 Secrets for Creating the Best Soft Serve Ice Cream
Nothing hits the spot like good ice cream. Heaped with flavor, sweet and creamy, and a prime vehicle for chocolate or caramel sauce, it’s the perfect dessert in high summer or on a cold winter’s day by the fire. But while those recipes look simple, it’s tricky creating that perfect batch of ice cream. Here are three secrets to the culinary art of making the best soft serve ice cream.
3 Secrets for Creating the Best Soft Serve Ice Cream
Start With the Best
Combine the best ingredients with the best equipment and you’ve got a good chance at making the best ice cream. Like how the quality of your water affects the taste of your morning coffee, good quality dairy, sugars, and flavorings can bolster the taste of ice cream. Think of it as the more flavor the ingredients have to offer, the more your ice cream has to work with.
A good machine also plays a part. Events have to happen in a certain order and at certain temperatures for a batch to turn out well, and if a machine can’t deliver, then your ice cream will suffer. ADI Electro Freeze soft serve machines deliver consistently smooth ice cream with traditional and low-fat mixes.
Freeze It Fast
Temperature plays a big part in ice cream recipes because it affects the creaminess of the batch. Ice cream is filled with ice crystals, and the smaller they are, the creamier the ice cream. Chill the ice cream fast and hard in a subzero freezer or try putting the ice cream in small, shallow containers instead of one large one. That way the cold can reach the center faster.
It also pays to keep air out of your containers. Air gives the moisture room to move around. If it evaporates and collects inside the container, those larger ice crystals have room to start forming up. If you find yourself with lots of empty headroom, cover the ice cream with plastic wrap or parchment paper before putting the lid on, to keep air out.
Keep It Ice (Cream) Cold
This might seem obvious, but ice cream melts. And once it’s refrozen, those ice crystals refreeze in larger clusters, making ice cream grainy and unpleasant. But it’s also a good idea to cool your mix before it’s actually ice cream. Keeping your ingredients cold means they won’t have to go through any temperature fluctuations that affect their quality or taste.
Flavorings also lose their strength in warm mixtures and churning a warm mixture means the temperature has further to drop, keeping it from freezing quickly. Also chilling your bowls can help the churning process along, especially if you have a small, at-home machine. Just make sure you start the bowl moving before you pour your mix in. There’s a chance it will freeze to one spot of the bowl instead of churning properly.
Making creamy ice cream requires precision. With the right ingredients, good timing, and a dependable machine, anyone can make their own favorite flavors. Learn more about ADI Electro Freeze ice cream machines so you can start your own delicious adventure.
4 Rules for Using Fruit in Soft Serve Ice Cream
So you’ve mastered your vanilla soft serve recipe and now you’re looking to add more variety to your soft serve line-up. Fruity ice creams are always a hit with the customers, as they’re cool and refreshing, marrying the tangy sweetness of fruit to the comforting deliciousness of vanilla and cream. But how do you use fruit in a soft serve ice cream maker? Read on to uncover the basics of making fruity soft serve flavors.
4 Rules for Using Fruit in a Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker
1. Don’t Use Whole Fruit
You may be thinking that making fruit soft serve is a simple as adding cut-up fruit to your vanilla ice cream base, but that would be a big mistake. Fruits have a high water content, which means that using fruit whole in your soft serve will result in icy chunks of fruit disrupting your smooth, creamy soft serve. Not only is this an unpleasant eating experience, but it can also be dangerous! If you want your customers to keep their teeth, don’t use whole fruits.
2. Using Frozen Fruit
Using frozen fruit may be the easiest way to add fruit into your soft serve. Following the first rule, it’s essential that you don’t use the frozen fruit whole. Even though it’s been frozen, this fruit still has a high water content and poses the same danger to your customer’s teeth if used whole. Instead, frozen fruit needs to be macerated in order to be safe to use in soft serve.
3. Using Fresh Fruit
4. Don’t Use Too Much Sugar
Making Your Ice Cream Shop Menu Stand Out
How Important Is Creating The Right Ice Cream Shop Menu?
Very. Since we are all complex individuals, let us start off by saying there is no ideal menu to suit everyone’s needs. However, a menu is such a big part of the success of your store that you should put a lot of thought, effort and attention into when first creating it.
Menu is Marketing
Menu is just a list of products and prices. Your menu is your branding. It’s something they read in the store and something they may take with them. For that reason alone it makes sense to have your branding and logo on it. Imagine when they take that menu home and hang it on their refrigerator, everytime they walk by and see your logo on that menu they’ll be reminded of your delicious creations.
Menu Matches Culture
Creating the right ice cream shop menu
When designing your menu keep in mind the culture of your store. The menu should reflect the personality and fun culture that makes up your store. Make sure it reflects the atmosphere you’ve built inside the store and has some character as a stand-alone piece. Remember menu matches culture and the dishes you are displaying on the menu should reflect that.
Be Visual
Help customers see the creations you offer by including pictures in your menu. Pictures sell and they can really help you sell the creations you can’t have out on display all day. This is a very visual business and pictures can be a big part of your marketing. Beyond pictures for your menu you should be thinking about your social media channels and using your pictures to attract new customers.
Be Clear
Though you want a visually unique menu that stands out, it’s important to clearly lay the content out. The last thing a customer wants is to be confused when reading the menu. Remember, people read left to right so you might want to think about placing the higher end items or best selling items on the left so people read them first. Product placement and legibility can have a big effect on sales for the best products you offer.
Price Elimination
Keep the focus on the product and not on the cost. You can avoid tire kickers and price shoppers by ditching the prices on the menu. If you do put prices on your menu, you should think about eliminating the dollar sign. The dollar sign can have psychological impact on the customer to avoid higher end products. Remember to always due your diligence and see what the competition in your area is charging. This doesn’t mean you have to charge less, it just gives you a measure of price but does not take into account creativity and ingredients.
Be Creative
Be creative, don’t be boring and copy other people’s creations. One of the best parts of owning your own shop is that you can get creative and experiment with your own creations. You can be an artist and create your own editable masterpieces that will keep customers coming back. Make your products and business stand out from the rest. Use different ingredients and flavors to create unique products that customers can only get at your place.
Words Matter
You’ll want to make sure you get creative with your words when describing your creations. Don’t just settle for a direct description of what it is, try to convey how it will taste or how they will feel after while eating it. Get your thesaurus out and start using some delicious adjectives to describe the items throughout the menu. Think carefully about how you describe your sizes as well. Could you use something other than just small, medium or large.
It’s going to be important to review your menu every season to review what’s selling and not selling well. Analyzing your menu every year allows you to adjust your products, ingredients and pricing. If something didn’t make you money last year perhaps eliminate it this year. By constantly monitoring and adjusting your ice cream shop menu you’ll be setting yourself up for future success.
The Right Batch Freezer Can Make or Break Your Business
The Right Batch Freezer Can Make or Break Your Business
If you’re in the ice cream business, looking to open an ice cream shop or serve any type of frozen dessert product in your restaurant then you know how important a batch freezer can be to customer retention. Having a batch freezer in your your ice cream shop, coffee shop, restaurant or cafe will allow you to produce almost endless flavor possibilities of homemade desserts everyday of the week using locally sourced, fresh, high quality ingredients.
Having the right batch freezer is important because the machine has to put out a consistent product every time, put out a quality product every time, be reliable, be easy to use, be affordable and most of all turn a profit for your store. If you don’t have the right batch freezer to mix, maintain, serve and freeze your product, not only will your customers notice the poor quality but you could lose money. So choosing and implementing the right batch freezers in your operations is absolutely critical to the success of your products and business.
Selecting the right batch freezer is one of the most important business decisions you’ll make in the frozen dessert industry.
If you’re in the business then you probably know Electro Freeze machines are considered the premier choice in any high quality operation and their line of batch freezers are no exception. These dependable easy to use and maintain machines are known for their superior engineering, world class craftsmanship, and reliable performance. Electro Freeze batch freezers are not only affordable, but also a smart investment in your company’s future because the longevity of the machines and low down time is far cheaper than purchasing several mediocre machines through that same time period.
Electro Freeze offers 2 models of batch freezers, a 12 Quart (B12) and a 24 Quart (B24). Both are designed for easy maintenance and cleanup but also engineered for simplistic everyday use.
Both machines have built in water hose and faucet for ease of cleaning and filling. A large fill mouth makes adding ingredients and products a breeze. The revolutionary blade design combined with their exclusive auger design not only maximizes yield and batch run times but reduces agitation to the product allowing for a more consistent and gently blended product.
These machines are an excellent return on your investment but the real benefit is profit for your business. ADI Electro Freeze, we won’t just stop by just adding profit to your store with machines. Our team can help you maximize profits in additional ways. Whether its helping you develop menu ideas, sourcing ingredients, training your staff or promoting your store we’re here to ensure your success.
Electro Freeze B12 Batch Freezer
Medium Capacity Batch Freezer
This medium-capacity batch freezer produces high quality ice cream, sorbet, Italian ice, gelato, or sherbets.
- Cam Door latch provides quick interior access
- Exclusive Auger Design gently blends, reducing agitation and maintain product quality and consistency.
- Auger and Dispensing Head Design leads to excellent product extraction and less flavor overlap.
- Superior Product Quality is an Electro Freeze trademark unmatched frozen product quality through simple and effective design
- Built-in Faucet with flex hose for fast and easy cleaning
- Digital timer with audible alarm
- Adjustable torque control for automatic operation/shutdown.
Electro Freeze B24 Batch Freezer
High Capacity Batch Freezer
This high-capacity batch freezer makes large volumes and is simple and efficient, making it perfect for gelato, custard and water ice shops.
- Cam Door latch provides quick interior access
- Exclusive Auger Design gently blends, reducing agitation and maintain product quality and consistency.
- Auger and Dispensing Head Design leads to excellent product extraction and less flavor overlap.
- Superior Product Quality is an Electro Freeze trademark unmatched frozen product quality through simple and effective design
- Built-in Faucet with flex hose for fast and easy cleaning
- Digital timer with audible alarm
- Adjustable torque control for automatic operation/shutdown.
Frozen Cocktail Equipment
Frozen Cocktail Equipment
When it comes to creating a new revenue stream for your restaurant, bar or event production, adding frozen cocktail equipment into the service mix can add to the bottom line tremendously. At ADI Electro Freeze, we distribute and maintain frozen cocktail equipment that is designed specifically for frozen drinks. With the advances in frozen cocktail equipment efficiencies and new recipe ideas you’re no longer confined or limited to the traditional fruity, sticky, too sweet and artificially flavored mix usually found within frozen cocktails.
When it comes to recipes and flavors you can craft just about any cocktail, libation or drink into frozen form and once you invest in some frozen cocktail equipment you can experiment and come up with your own ideas, recipes and flavors. Sure you could go the traditional route and just serve Piña Colodas, Mojitos, Daiquiris or Margaritas, like everyone else, but once you have some frozen cocktail equipment you’ll open yourself up (and your customers) to a whole new world. There are almost endless possibilities and combinations plus each recipe can easily be changed or tweaked for a whole new flavor or experience. Offering a frozen Sangria or frozen Frosé to your customers is a lot different than just the traditional blends of wine. But if you’re serving frozen fruity drinks and frozen wine spritzers, why stop there – break out your “Cold Fashioned” menu and start mixing frozen cocktails that aren’t traditionally served frozen. The good thing about experimenting with frozen drinks is that it introduces people to new and old recipes that they may not have ever considered. For instance, it highly doubtful anybody under forty years of age will ask for an Old Fashioned, they don’t even know what it is – besides something grand dad used to drink. However if you put a new spin on it and offer a Cold Fashioned, they may try it and like it – thus forever ordering an Old Fashioned from now on ($$). You can easily switch flavors every day/every week to keep patrons surprised and coming back for more treats.
With the right frozen cocktail equipment, you and your staff can deliver quality frozen drinks quickly, efficiently and consistently plus effectively measure your liquor control count and costs. You’ll increase bartender labor efficiency by having fresh pre-made mix ready to go as opposed to crushing ice in a blender for every specific customer. No matter what the setup is in your bar, restaurant or event stand, ADI Electro Freeze has the equipment to best fit your situation, needs and revenue goals when it comes to frozen cocktail equipment. One of our representatives can assist with any planning, setup customization or maintenance to best fit your stores operational goals.
The Best Commercial Ice Cream Machine
One question we get the most often is: What is the best commercial ice cream machine for my ice cream shop? It may seem like a simple question, the answer however is a bit more complicated than just spouting out a machine and model number. There are a lot of factors that go into buying a machine for your shop and being that your shop is different from the thousands of other shops out there – there are many variables you will need to consider before purchasing the best commercial ice cream machine. Now, overwhelmingly when we get asked that question, our immediate response is always Electro Freeze machines, but that’s only answers half of the question. Before we can provide a real answer, we’ll need some additional information about your store.
Ice cream and frozen dessert shop owners know that when it comes to making their product, the machines they use to make and serve it is in direct correlation to the quality of product they serve to their customers. As a shop owners we all want to provide the best quality ice cream to our patrons, no matter what, that’s what keeps them coming back. There are many steps that go into making ice cream on a large scale and being consistent with those steps every time gives you the best chance to keep your product consistent with quality. However if you throw a unreliable machine into that equation, your recipe for quality and consistency goes right out the window. So, the best commercial ice cream machine will naturally be made with care using quality parts and as you are aware, high quality usually comes at a price. Not that it’s a bad thing, because that saying, you get what you pay for is usually true. If you spend the extra money upfront on a quality machine like the Electro Freeze line then it will save you money down the road with less breakdowns and replacement parts needed, plus it will provide you with a consistent quality product time and time again.
As your ice cream shop partner and consultant we like to make you aware of several factors that you need to consider when purchasing, renting or leasing the best commercial ice cream machine. 
As we mentioned, most every ice cream shop is different or unique in their own way which means every location is a bit different. Depending where your store is located, the square footage available and the set up of your shop will be an important factor when choosing a machine. Whether it’s in a strip mall, retail mall, a downtown district or a stand alone building, how much room you have for your machines will be something to consider. For example if you have a self service shop with the machines in the wall, you may not need a standing full length machine…a counter top model might work better for you. If space is not an issue then using a full length standing machine can work for you and the nice thing about these machines are that they usually come with casters so you can move it wherever.
How much frozen product are you going to be making and serving to your customers. In order to find the best commercial ice cream machine for your business, you’ll need to know what capacity machine you’ll need. If you’re doing high volume then you’ll want a high capacity machine. If you’re serving a lower number of people, then a lower capacity machine might work better for your shop and budget.
What is your specialty product? You may specialize in one product that outsells everything else. Depending what product that is, there may be a machine specifically for such product. For example if milkshakes are your forte then you would want to look at the Electro Freeze CS700 milkshake machine.
Though these are just a few examples, there are many other factors that go into finding the ideal machine for your shop. If you’re interested in finding out more about specific machines then contact us for a consultation – we’ll help you find the best commercial ice cream machine for your business.
Choose the Right Frozen Dessert Equipment for Your Shop
How do you choose the right frozen dessert equipment for your shop?
The frozen dessert industry is experiencing phenomenal growth and more and more people are exploring this exceptional business model everyday. When opening a frozen dessert shop, stand, restaurant or parlor you can invest as little or as much money as you want, however that investment will not just start in the monetary sense, there will also be a time and resource investment as well.
Electro Freeze Ohio
To get the most out of your TMR (time, money, resource) investment, grow your business and make more profit means you need to choose the right frozen dessert equipment for your shop. In addition, one of the biggest hurdles in opening or expanding a frozen dessert business is knowing what equipment to buy and how to operate the equipment to make a consistent product every time. ADI Electro Freeze can help in the process of helping you select and buy the right equipment for your store. Whether it be brand new equipment or used equipment we specialize in consulting with shop owners and restaurants in making sure the proper machine is purchased and utilized for their specific purpose. We specialize in Electro Freeze machines which are considered to be the premiere manufacturer of all commercial frozen dessert equipment.
Believe us when we say the quality of the machine counts. The last thing you need is for a machine to break down, be difficult to clean, keep the wrong temperature or provide an inconsistent product. You only want to buy a machine once and with Electro Freeze machines, your investment will yield results.
So, how do you choose the right frozen dessert equipment for your shop? Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind.
Quality. A well made machine will cost you less in the long run. Quality means less down time, less breakdowns, more efficiency and better product.
Capacity. The capacity of a machine is measured in the servings per minute. Generally machines come in a high, medium and low capacity. If you run a self serve store then a low or medium capacity machine will work for you. However if you have a consistently busy line at your window you’ll want a high capacity machine.
Maintenance. Cleaning the machine is one of the most important factors you’ll have to deal with when in operation. Daily cleaning and sanitizing will be important because you’re dealing with diary products and health departments within county and state agencies will keep an eye out. Having a machine that is easy to clean makes your life and your employees life’s much easier and your operation more efficient. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice man power and hours to get your machines clean.
We help our customers get the best possible deal by matching and aligning your concept, budget and goals. We hope this article and these tips help point you in the right direction when it comes to choosing equipment. However, these tips and this article are merely skimming the service when it comes to the information you’ll need to choose the right frozen dessert equipment for your shop.
The Best Soft Serve Ice Cream Machines
Ice cream is quite possibly the most delightful frozen dessert treat across the land, especially in the summer months. The key to success for any ice cram parlor during these months is to use top quality soft serve ice cream machines.
Though many ice cream parlors and shops across the land offer a variety of flavors, toppings and unique atmospheres for the family to enjoy, there is one factor that should never be ignored when it comes to ice cream. The quality of product.
In order to keep your customers coming back again and again, your ice cream not only needs to taste great, but have the right consistency, fluffiness, creaminess and be served at the exact right temperature for ultimate taste bud and belly enjoyment. In order to achieve this high standard with your ice cream product, you need top quality soft serve ice cream machines. The machines you serve your product out of are the backbone of your ice cream shop. Not only do you need to produce the absolute best product you can to your customer but you need a machine that’s efficient, consistent, easy-to-use, easy-to-clean and never breaks down. That’s a lot of things to ask for in one machine, but there is one manufacturer of soft serve ice cream machines who provides all of that.
The taste and quality of your product is what’s going to keep your patrons coming back season after season and top quality soft serve ice cream machines will help you do that. You see, it’s not just the recipe that makes the total package when it comes to ice cream. Though your ingredients will have a lot to do about the taste, the taste gets affected by the temperature. Storing and serving your ice cream at the exact optimal temperature is important to bring out the best of the flavor. If you ever bought a gallon of ice cream and kept it in your freezer for a month, then you’re familiar with frost bitten ice cream, which does not taste as good as a fresh gallon, obviously. If your soft serve ice cream machine is too cold it’s going to affect the overall quality. Another important factor in ice cream machines is the consistency of the product it puts out. It should be the same delicious product everyday, served and stored at the right consistent temperature, with the right consistent fluffiness and the right consistent taste. Taking a chance on your machines will deviate from this, thus jeopardizing your ice cream shop.
Using the right soft serve ice cream machine in your shop will help you be more profitable. Even if you spend more money upfront for a premiere soft serve ice cream machine, like an Electro Freeze, it will cost you less money in the end. For example, Electro Freeze machines are dependable, which means they hardly break down, need replacing, updating or part replaced. This also means there will be no down time with the machine, leaving you to consistently crank out product 24/7 if needed. Electro Freeze machines are easy to use and clean. This is very important because your employees need to be able to work the machines and quite possibly clean them. With an easy to operate and cleanup process you can make more product and deliver it at a quicker rate.
The lesson learned here is don’t be like McDonalds when it comes to your soft serve ice cream machines. Not only did they supply all their stores with non quality, less expensive ice cream machines that consistently broke down, but the employees would tell the customers it’s broke (even if it wasn’t) because the difficulty in using it and cleaning it after use.
