Soft serve ice cream has become a favorite treat for people of all ages, making it a great addition to dessert menus at restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and more. It’s smooth, creamy, and simple to serve, which makes it a smart business move for anyone in the food industry.
If you’re thinking about offering soft serve, this guide will help you understand what it is, how it works, and why it’s such a great investment. Plus, we’ll share tips for picking the perfect soft serve ice cream machine for your business.
What is Soft Serve Ice Cream?
Soft serve is a frozen dessert that’s lighter and creamier than traditional hard ice cream. It has less fat (about 3-6%) and a fluffier texture, thanks to the air that’s mixed in while it freezes. This air is called overrun, and it’s what gives soft serve its signature smooth consistency.
Soft serve is also served at a slightly warmer temperature (around 18°F to 21°F), which makes its flavor pop and creates that melt-in-your-mouth experience customers love.
Why Add Soft Serve to Your Menu?
If you’re in the food business, a soft serve ice cream machine can bring some major benefits:
Big Profit Margins: Soft serve is inexpensive to make but sells for a premium. You can turn a small investment into a big return.
Easy to Serve: Soft serve machines are fast and simple to operate, even during busy times.
Customer Favorite: Everyone loves soft serve! It appeals to kids, teens, and adults alike.
Versatile Menu Options: Soft serve can be used for cones, sundaes, milkshakes, or even custom desserts.
More Flavor Options with Add-Ons: Pair your machine with a Flavor Burst system to easily offer multiple flavor options from a single machine. This boosts customer satisfaction and helps you increase your ROI.
Consistent Quality: With a high-quality soft serve ice cream machine, you can deliver a perfect product every time.
How Do Soft Serve Machines Work?
Soft serve machines freeze and dispense the ice cream at the same time. Here’s a quick overview of how they work:
Load the Mix: Pour your soft serve mix into the machine’s hopper.
Freeze and Mix: The machine pulls the mix into a freezing cylinder, where it chills and mixes the product to the ideal consistency.
Incorporate Air: Air (overrun) is added during freezing to make the ice cream soft and fluffy.
Serve: The machine dispenses the finished product instantly, so it’s ready to serve.
How to Choose the Right Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine
Picking the right ice cream machine depends on your business needs. Here are some things to consider:
Capacity:
How many servings do you need per hour? High-volume businesses need machines with bigger capacity.
Smaller machines are great for food trucks, cafes, or businesses with limited space.
Gravity-Fed vs. Pump-Fed:
Gravity-Fed: Uses gravity to pull the mix into the freezing cylinder. Easier to maintain and more affordable, perfect for standard soft serve.
Pump-Fed: A pump is used to control the mix and air. Produces creamier ice cream with higher control over texture and higher yield.
Single vs. Twin Flavor:
Single-flavor machines are great for staples like vanilla.
Twin-flavor machines let you serve two flavors or a twist option, adding variety to your menu.
Expand with Flavor Systems:
Add a Flavor Burst system to offer a wide range of flavors and swirls with just one machine. It’s an easy way to increase menu variety and boost profits.
Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance:
Regular cleaning and maintenance, like checking soft serve parts, keeps your machine running smoothly—partner with trained service technicians for ongoing support.
Energy Efficiency:
Energy-efficient machines help lower operating costs.
Reliable Brands and Support:
Choose machines from trusted brands like Icetro or Taylor. These brands are known for durability, performance, and excellent service and support from distributors like us at Rocky Mountains Distributing.
Tips for Running a Successful Soft Serve Business
To make the most of your soft serve machine, keep these tips in mind:
Choose the Best Mix: Start with a high-quality soft serve mix. Whether you choose dairy-based or non-dairy, liquid or powdered, a great mix makes all the difference.
Keep it Clean: Clean your machine regularly to ensure great-tasting ice cream and reliable performance. Work with service technicians for regular checkups.
Mix it Up: Offer seasonal flavors, unique toppings, or creative dessert combinations to attract new customers. A Flavor Burst system makes it easy to add popular flavors without investing in multiple machines.
Train Your Staff: Make sure your team knows how to operate and clean the machine properly.
Promote Soft Serve: Use eye-catching signs, social media, or specials like “2-for-1 Tuesdays” or dessert bundles to draw in customers.
Soft Serve: A Smart Investment for Your Business
Adding soft serve to your menu is a simple way to boost profits and keep customers coming back for more. A reliable, high-quality soft serve ice cream machine gives you a fast, easy way to serve a product people love.
With tools like the Flavor Burst system, you can easily offer a variety of flavors, making your soft serve stand out and increasing your ROI. Whether you’re running a restaurant, a food truck, or a dessert shop, soft serve can help you grow your business and attract happy customers.
Get Started with Rocky Mountains Distributing
At Rocky Mountains Distributing, we offer premium soft serve ice cream machines and food service equipment from top brands like Taylor and Icetro. We also provide expert service and support, with experienced service technicians ready to keep your machines in top shape.
Ready to bring soft serve to your business? Contact us today to learn more. We’ll help you find the perfect machine, provide training, and support you every step of the way. Let’s make your soft serve success story a reality!