If you are running a bakery and looking for ways to offer customers a medley of fresh, unprocessed pastries, from loaves of bread and pizza crusts to cakes, muffins and more, there are a few things you should know before buying a dough proofer and making your baking dreams come true. But, if you want to make your place more attractive for customers or start your own café or creamery, look no further than commercial ice cream and gelato machines.
Ice cream and gelato are the most popular frozen desserts all over the world, delicious treats loved by both children and adults. Did you know that Australia is one of the largest per capita consumers of ice cream in the world? That being said, fitting out your café, shop or restaurant with dedicated ice cream and gelato corner may significantly boost sales as the colourful dessert will be presented to your customers in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
Ice Cream vs. Gelato: What’s the Main Difference?
Both ice cream and gelato contain the same three basic ingredients – cream, milk and sugar. The main difference between the two is that gelato uses more milk, less cream and fewer or not at all egg yolks, which are normally found in ice cream. Therefore, it has a little creamier and denser texture, more elastic than ice cream.
How to Choose the Perfect Ice Cream and Gelato Maker
A commercial ice cream maker, or an ice cream machine, is designed to produce large quantities of frozen desserts. You can choose from a wide range of commercial ice cream and gelato machines and make quality desserts that your customers will love. These machines work by performing the main functions of ice cream and gelato preparation – mixing and freezing.
The mixing and freezing are done at the same time. Mixing without freezing will only add air to the mixture while freezing without mixing will make ice crystals, which leads to a crunchy gelato or a solid block with no air incorporated. Commercial machines have a built-in freezer and offer larger capacities, speed and control of consistency.
These machines feature electronic freezing control through many seasons and programs, direct temperature detection, multiple stirrer speeds, different programs for different cream types, quick and easy gelato extraction and more. They are uniquely designed to provide the perfect conditions for preserving the quality, texture and flavour of frozen desserts.
Different Styles of Ice Cream
Before buying your ice cream maker, think about the style of ice cream you want to serve. You might want to consider the traditional ice cream, then gelato, soft-serve ice cream, frozen yoghurt and/or sorbet. The ice cream machine you choose should be able to deliver on your particular needs because not all ice cream machines are capable of making all styles of ice cream.
Cooling System
This is another important factor to consider when choosing your ice cream machine. The type of cooling has an impact on the machine’s performance and can affect where you put the machine in your working space. Air-cooled machines use a vent system to pass hot air out and bring cooler air into the machine. For that reason, it’s important to think carefully about placement and ensure there is free space around the machine.
Water-cooled machines circulate cool water around the internal components of the machine and they are great for commercial or industrial use where high volume production is required. However, keep in mind that most of them need to be plumbed to a constant water source and may require a drainage point as well.
Power Supply
Most commercial ice cream makers are particularly larger, floor-standing machines and require connection to three-phase power. That’s why it’s important to check the power supply to your premises before you buy an ice cream machine. To ensure you make things right, you can talk to a qualified electrician first.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Daily cleaning of your ice cream machine can take up some precious time of your working hours, so it’s always a good idea to consider the cleaning options before making a purchase. Some ice cream makers feature an automatic wash cycle which can be a time saver and make the entire ice cream experience easy and enjoyable.
It’s always a good idea to ask the supplier to demonstrate how the machine is cleaned properly. That way you can see if it’s easy to empty the machine completely and whether some parts need to be dissembled in order to clean it thoroughly. Also, if any parts need soaking and/or scrubbing, make sure they fit into your kitchen sink. And remember to always use the cleaning products that the manufacturer recommends.
In addition to regular cleaning, your ice cream machine will need maintenance. Make sure to check with your machine supplier if they have a local network or expert technician available for maintenance services.
Ice Cream Storage and Display
Once your ice cream and gelato are out of your ice cream machine, you need to store or display it. Ice cream storage and display freezers are designed to provide the perfect conditions for preserving the quality, texture and flavour of frozen desserts and can perform well in tough commercial settings. There are many different models available in an array of shapes, sizes and capacities, and with careful consideration, you can choose the one that perfectly fits your needs and your place.
