BUYING AN ICE CREAM MAKER

What is a Commercial Ice Cream Maker?

A Commercial Ice Cream Maker (commonly called an Ice Cream Machine) is designed to help professional chefs and cooks produce large quantities of delicious ice cream, sorbet, gelato and frozen yoghurts. They remove the most labour intensive process in ice cream production - constant mixing and fluffing.

If allowed to freeze without mixing, ice cream can quickly develop ice crystals which can make it unpleasantly crunchy, so it’s vital to use one of these machines to produce consistent quality desserts. On most machines, once you’ve added the mixture you can confidently leave the machine to do its job with little supervision.

How Does an Ice Cream Maker Work?

Commercial ice cream machines work by performing two main functions. Mixing and freezing.

The ice cream mixture is added to an internal bowl, which is then stirred using a rotating paddle, powered by the machine. A built-in freezer brings the temperature of the mix down and begins the freezing process.

TIP:You can usually add other ingredients during the mixing process. Why not try using chocolate chips or freshly chopped fruit to bring out different textures and taste combinations?

The combination of aeration and freezing slowly makes the ice cream mix expand, almost doubling in size during the process. It’s a simple and effective way of making light, fluffy ice cream which can be served immediately or boxed up and popped in the freezer for later. The whole process is demonstrated by the video below.

What's the Difference Between Domestic and Commercial Ice Cream Makers?

Aside from price, there are three factors that differentiate professional and home ice cream machines.

• Warranty: Commercial ice makers are designed for use in busy professional kitchens. As such, they feature professional-grade components which are much more robust than their domestic counterparts. A commercial warranty ensures your machine is covered for commercial use.
• Capacity/Output: Even large home ice cream makers have a relatively small capacity in comparison to professional versions. If you’re expecting a busy service or if there’s hot weather, a commercial machine is far more likely to meet your business needs.
• Built-in Freezer: Although some top-end domestic machines might have a built-in freezer, commercial versions tend to have them as standard. If your machine doesn’t have a freezer, it means you have to pre-freeze the mixing bowl for at least eight hours before you make your ice cream – not great if you’re in a hurry. Likewise, professional machines can usually make a full litre of great quality ice cream in less than an hour.

Type of Ice Cream Maker

There are three types of ice cream machine available from Nisbets.

• Pre-Freeze Ice Cream Makers: This is the most common type of domestic ice cream maker. With these, you need to pre-freeze the ice cream bowl for a few hours before use. Once ready, the machine’s main function is to stir and whip up the ice cream mix. Due to the requirement for pre-freezing, output is restricted to a single bowl per session. However, this type of machine is perfect for occasional use or entertaining at home as they are compact and affordable.

• Built-In Freezer Ice Cream Makers: The most popular type of professional ice cream maker, everything you need to make ice cream is in one convenient and powerful countertop machine. The freezer ensures you can produce large quantities of ice cream over many hours. These usually feature easy-clean stainless steel construction and digital/manual timers.
Buy a Commercial Ice Cream Maker

• Soft Serve Ice Cream Makers: Commonly used to make “Mr Whippy” style ice cream. These large all-in-one machines are popular in mobile, event or self-service catering and produce exceptionally light and fluffy ices from a pre-mix powder or liquid. Traditionally served in wafer cones or in an indulgent sundae, soft serve ice cream is a high margin crowd pleaser.
Buy a Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a commercial ice cream maker take to make ice cream?

Typically, commercial ice cream makers can produce around a litre of ice cream in about 30-40 minutes. Of course, it depends on the type of ice cream and the ingredients used.

What are ice cream scoop sizes? What is the best way to portion ice cream?

Portion control is a vital consideration. Servings that are too big risk affecting your bottom line. Too small and you risk disappointing customers. Commercial ice cream scoops allow precisely measured servings so you know exactly how many portions you’ll be able to sell from each tub. Ice cream scoops are sized according to how many portions you can dispense per litre, so a size 12 scoop would provide up to 12 servings per litre of ice cream.

What's the best way to turn a profit with ice cream?

In itself, ice cream is a relatively high margin product anyway. However, you can add value by including other low-cost ingredients. Common pairings with ice cream machines are commercial Waffle Makers or Crepe Machines. If you're planning to offer tubs of ice cream, a professional Display Freezer is the perfect way to maximise sales..