Ice cream is almost everyone’s favourite dessert. It’s sweet but also refreshing at the same time, and has a rich, creamy texture. Since there’s always going to be a huge interest for ice cream, getting into the business of selling it a really good idea. If you’re looking to start an ice cream business, remember that the final product is only as good as the ingredients used and the machine that makes it.
What ingredients and flavours you’re going to use is a personal choice. It’s best to experiment with different options and see how your customers react to them. The thing that can be trickier, though, is choosing the right ice cream machine. With that being said, here are some tips on how to properly distinguish between the different types of ice cream machines out there.
Floor vs Counter Top
Like most commercial kitchen equipment, ice cream machines can come in either floor or countertop form. Which one is the right for you is going to depend on the amount of space you have to spare and the demand for ice cream. If you only have a limited amount of room and want to free up some valuable floor space, a countertop model is ideal. However, keep in mind that it’s only able to produce smaller batches of ice cream at a time. Most countertop models can make 2-3 servings a minute, so make sure to properly asses your demand.
On the other hand, floor ice cream makers have the capacity to produce up to 10 servings or more per minute. This makes them ideal for businesses with the goal of selling ice cream only. However, consider that countertop machines can take up a significant amount of space.
The Cooling System
Although it may not be obvious to an outside observer, ice cream making units differ in the way they are cooled. There are two types of ice cream cooling systems – air cooling and water cooling. The biggest advantage of an air-cooled ice cream unit is that it can be placed anywhere you like. However, this type of machine has problems functioning properly in hot conditions. On the other hand, if the environment the machine is going to be placed in gets easily hot, a better choice is a water-cooled system. Water-cooled machines have no problem operating in heat, which makes them suitable for restaurant kitchens. They can also cool the ice cream much faster. However, when buying such a machine, you can only place it near a water hook-up.
