Ice cream storage and display equipment are specialized refrigeration units designed to preserve and showcase ice cream products in commercial settings. These pieces of equipment are essential for businesses like ice cream parlors, supermarkets, and restaurants that aim to maximize their sales and profitability.
Ice cream storage and display equipment are an ice cream business’s chief components since they directly influence its safety, sales, and profitability. Ice cream is one of the few things everyone loves, making it a lucrative product to sell.
Ice cream has always been an important part of the American diet, and the American Navy even created floating ice cream production barges during World War II to supply the American soldiers with this delectable dessert during the tropical hot under intense war conditions. As reported by the International Dairy Foods Association, ice cream is still a primary element in Americans’ favorite snacks and desserts, and the average American consumes around 4 gallons (15.16 kg) of ice cream per year, creating a $11.4 billion contribution to the US economy.
Ice cream requires careful and reliable storage solutions to maintain its safety, texture, and taste since it is very sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Summer is the peak when ice cream production and sales skyrocket, which also brings challenges to preserving such a delicate product. Thawing ice cream will likely grow bacteria, which will spoil the taste and cause public health damage. Additionally, unstable temperature levels spoil the texture of the ice cream and decrease the taste quality even after re-freezing. Therefore, equipping your facility with the proper ice cream storage equipment is crucial for your success.
Your well-preserved ice cream is now ready for sale, but you need ice cream display equipment to attract more customers and increase sales volume. These ice cream tools present higher accessibility for your staff through a sealed door at the back. Ice cream display freezers and dipping cabinets feature glass fronts to maximize the visibility for the customers and ensure all your flavors are available for perusing by the customers.
Ice cream storage and display equipment are essential for maintaining the quality, safety, and appeal of ice cream products, which are beloved for their refreshing flavors and significant economic impact. The importance of proper storage is underscored by the need to prevent temperature fluctuations that can compromise texture and safety. Display equipment enhances sales by making ice cream more accessible and visually enticing to customers. This article aims to explore the various types of ice cream storage and display equipment and provide insights on selecting the best options to ensure business success and customer satisfaction.
What are The Types of Ice Cream Storage Equipment?
Ches, upright freezers, blast, and walk-in freezers are ice cream storage equipment engineered to maintain the temperature at 0°F (-18°C) or slightly below to ensure the best texture and taste. This temperature level prevents ice crystal formation inside the ice cream batch while hindering freezer burn due to dehydration.
Chest Freezers
Chest freezers are ideal for storing ample amounts of ice cream until you need to replenish your stocks in the display cabinet. They operate between -15°F and +25°F (-26°C and -4°C) and are available in a wide range of sizes, from 3.4-inch-wide models to the huge 89-inch chest freezers. They offer up to 35 cubic feet of storage volume to keep your business stocked with a high amount of ice cream before starting your daily rush. Most units have caster wheels to enable you to easily transport your stocks, and you can find lockable doors to prevent temperature fluctuations and unauthorized reach.
Upright Freezers
Upright ice cream freezers are ideal for high-demand settings, offering large-volume storage with easy access. These freezers maintain temperatures between -15°F and 25°F (-26°C and -4°C), ensuring optimal preservation of texture and taste. They come in capacities ranging from 20 to 70 cubic feet, making them perfect for small and large operations. Featuring adjustable shelves and lockable doors, upright freezers occupy less space than chest freezers, making them an efficient choice for busy ice cream parlors and shops.
Blast Freezers
Commercial blast freezers rapidly freeze the products, offering safer and tastier ice cream. They reduce the batch temperature to 0°F (-18°C) in a very short period, ensuring the formation of microcrystals rather than macro crystals that harm the texture and taste of the ice cream. Therefore, they are useful for storing the ice cream after the batch freezer.
Walk-In Freezers
Walk-in freezers are common in ice cream parlors and shops with their large storage capacity. They enable you to safely store your ingredients and prepared ice cream stocks in an easy-access location. Walk-in freezers offer larger capacities and can be constructed in any custom size to meet different production and storage capacities. They can safely be used in high-traffic ice cream parlors or even in ice cream factories to safely store the ice creams.
Commercial walk-in freezers offer a wide customization variety with insulation options, dimensions, lockable doors, and remote or mounted cooling systems. They can be built with smart monitoring technologies to follow the temperature for the proper storage conditions.
Ice Cream Hardening Cabinets
Ice cream hardening cabinets are designed to quickly remove the heat from the cabinet to preserve the taste and flavor of freshly made ice cream through a rapid freezing process. These units also prevent bacterial growth, extending the life of ice cream.
Drop-In Ice Cream Freezers
Drop-in ice cream freezers are designed to fit in your installed counter and feature a built-in bottom-mounted compressor for effective refrigeration. They generally have stainless steel lids to increase energy efficiency while providing a simple way of scooping ice cream for faster service.
What are The Key Features to Look for Ice Cream Storage Equipment?
When buying ice cream storage equipment, the main features to look for are temperature range, energy efficiency, and capacity.
Temperature Range
Ice cream freezers differ in temperature range, so you must ensure that the model you buy presents the proper temperature range for stocking your ice cream or gelato. Ice cream storage cabinets normally have an operational range between -15°F and +25°F (-26°C and -4°C); ice cream preserves its texture and taste at 0°F (-18°C ) or below.
Energy Efficiency
Ice cream storage equipment remains in operation most of the year, and consumption peaks during hot summer days. Therefore, it is recommended that you select energy-efficient models to reduce your energy bills while obtaining the same high performance for your operations.
Capacity
Ice cream freezers and dipping cabinets are available in a wide range, from small 3.4-ft³ (96277.3 cm³) units to larger 35-ft³ options. However, as the capacity grows, so does the energy consumption and floor occupation. You must invest in the right size of ice cream freezer to avoid storage space limitations or redundant energy consumption.
What are The Types of Ice Cream Display Equipment?
Dipping cabinets, display freezers, frost top and cold slab units, ice cream counters, ice cream topping units, and ice cream carts are the ice cream display equipment you can include in your establishment. Ice cream display equipment is engineered to provide streamlined service while storing ice cream, gelato, sorbet, and other frozen treats under optimal conditions. They create an enticing look to attract more customers. These ice cream display equipment types are tailored for special uses such as front-of-the-house dessert preparation or mobile sales.
Dipping Cabinets
Ice cream dipping cabinets are the most common type of ice cream display equipment, and you will see them in almost every ice cream serving facility. They have a glass front—mostly slanted—to maximize visibility so that customers have a clear view of every flavor on your menu. Ice cream dipping cabinets have sliding glass lids at the back for streamlined service. So, your staff can easily scoop or restock ice cream pans without preventing customers from viewing them.
You have flip-top dipping cabinets, which are highly energy efficient and suitable for keeping your stocks. Ice cream dipping cabinets are available in a wide collection, including the four 3-gallon (11.37 kg) tub units with 25-inch (63.5 cm) widths and the 39 tub units with 80-inch (203.2 cm) widths. Â
Display Freezers
Ice cream display freezers are horizontal refrigeration units designed to store and display packaged ice cream or gelatos. These units are available primarily in 2 options:
Glass Door Freezers: Glass-door ice cream display freezers aim to present a transparent look for customers through the glass door. These units are equipped with sliding-top lids to facilitate the reach of the ice cream options. They come with product baskets to ÅŸet you organize your products to facilitate finding and increase your customers’ attraction.
Countertop Freezers: Impulse sales are a big source of income for businesses, and ice cream or gelato is the true winner, especially during the summer days. Countertop ice cream display freezers are compact units that turn your small areas into eye-catching points of sale. You can find both dipping cabinets or place the packaged ice cream options to allow your customers to see and grab their favorite selection.
Ice Cream Dipping Cabinet with Syrup Rail
An additional flavor can elevate the ice cream taste, or you can serve sundaes, which will be the biggest reason for customers to return to your business. These units contain a syrup rail on the dipping cabinet to keep the syrup types just in front of you, streamlining your service. These can hold up to 11 syrups at a time while enabling the service of 6 different ice creams.
Gelato Dipping Cabinets
Gelato dipping cabinets are designed to provide a warmer preservation temperature for the best texture. Gelato has a softer texture and thus requires a higher cabinet temperature to preserve its best condition. Therefore, gelato dipping cabinets generally operate between -4°F to -7°F (-20°C to -21.6°C) to ensure you always have the right texture for your customers.
Frost Top & Cold Slab Units
Frost top and cold slab units are specialty ice cream display equipment designed to provide a freezing ice cream preparation surface. Hence, they are ideal for buffets and other front-of-the-house applications to showcase special treats to customers.
Ice Cream Counters
Ice cream counters are mobile units with refrigeration systems and a large storage and display section at the top for your ice cream. Hence, they are very useful for outdoor events or catering services.
Ice Cream Topping Units
You can always improve the taste of the ice cream with toppings, and you do not have to spend much time on this. Ice cream topping units can hold your chocolate sauce, syrups, or sugar sprinkles in an easy-to-reach and service place.
Ice Cream Carts
Ice cream carts are mobile ice cream sales and service units. They feature wheels or casters to enable easier transport and have an eye-catching glow with a colorful exterior and ice cream typos. Hence, they are perfect for use during festivals, events, or outdoor occasions to increase sales or facilitate ice cream service.
What are The Key Features to Look for Ice Cream Display Equipment?
Lighting, adjustable shelving, and temperature control are three key features to look for when purchasing ice cream display equipment.
Lighting
Ice cream display equipment aims to attract as many customers as possible to maximize sales and profit. Thus, these units have interior lighting for higher visibility and eye-catching views. Finding visually appealing lighting will contribute to your sales, and you can choose LED lighting options to lower your energy consumption through reduced energy use and less heat production.
Adjustable Shelving
Ice cream display equipment has shelves to help you better organize your stocks. Preferring adjustable shelves provides practical use by opening up taller spaces for higher boxes, and you can raise the shelf height to facilitate your customers’ reach.
Temperature Control
Ice cream display cabinets feature precise temperature controls to achieve optimal temperature levels for custards, gelatos, and ice cream. Most units have digital controllers with a simplified interface, so the operator can easily adjust the temperature to the desired level. Most ice cream equipment has a defrost function regulated by the digital controller.
Installation and Maintenance
Instruction and maintenance are always important in extending the service life and maximizing the efficiency of ice cream storage and display equipment. So, it is recommended that you follow the instructions of the specific models to ensure full benefit from your equipment.
Installation Tips
Ice cream storage and display equipment need to be installed properly to make the most out of your investment. You can start by planning the layout smartly and ensuring you have the right space to place the equipment in your facility. You will need a 115 or 230 V electricity outlet and plumbing line to supply energy and water for your system. After handling these basic issues, you can deal with extra details for the highest efficiency. For instance, choosing spaces away from the heat sources and windows or doors can help you reduce your electricity consumption. Alternatively, keeping the ice cream display equipment near the cash register or easy-to-see areas can increase impulse sales and profitability.
Routine Maintenance
Equipping your business with the right ice cream display and storage equipment costs a remarkable sum of money, and its performance directly influences the safety of your valuable ice cream stocks. So, you need to maintain its high performance, hygienic surfaces, and efficient operation. This can be achieved only through a routine maintenance and cleaning schedule.
Spills and debris will be in your ice cream equipment, so you should follow a daily routine of cleaning the surfaces with warm water and mild soap detergent. You should also remove all crumbs and debris to prevent clogging and clean the gaskets regularly for constant hygiene.
Ice cream equipment needs regular checks, inspections, and maintenance to avoid unexpected breakdowns and time-consuming repairs. Condensers, fans, motors, and coils are crucial parts of the system, and professional maintenance services can inspect these parts every time they check the system and replace them or fix errors before they cause costly faults.
Industry-Specific Applications for Ice Cream Storage and Display Equipment
Ice cream storage and display equipment help owners maintain a profitable business with freshly made and well-preserved ice cream menus. Their specific and practical design features make them suitable for ice cream parlors and restaurants.
Ice Cream Shops
Equipping your ice cream shop with the right ice cream shop equipment, including ice cream storage and display equipment, improves your business’s sales. The high-capacity ice cream storage units enable business owners to retain a smooth service flow by restocking their freezers.
Restaurants and Cafes
Restaurants and cafes serve ice cream, gelato, sorbet, or custards as a side dish or dessert on their menus, but they still have the chance to make their ice cream in-house, store it properly, and display it enticingly.
FAQs About Commercial Ice Cream Storage and Display Equipment
How do I choose the right Commercial Ice Cream Storage and Display Equipment for my business?
To choose the right equipment, consider factors such as the volume of ice cream you need to store, the type of ice cream products you offer, available space, energy efficiency, and your budget. It’s important to consider how the equipment will enhance the visual appeal of your ice cream to attract customers. Visit our commercial ice cream freezers to make the right choice.
How should ice cream be stored?
Ice cream should be stored in closed pans or cases and placed inside the cabinet rather than on door shelves. To ensure constant stock renewal, it should be stocked according to the first-in-first-out rule.
What is the best temperature at which to store ice cream?
The best temperature to store ice cream is 0°F (-18°C) or colder.
At what temperature does ice cream go bad?
Ice cream starts having ice crystals and loses its creamy texture when the temperature remains above 10°F (12°C). Additionally, ice cream goes overly hard and becomes difficult to scoop when the temperature is below -4°F (20°C).
What kind of equipment do you need for an ice cream shop?
Ice cream freezers, dipping cabinets, hardening cabinets, chest freezers, topping stations, ice cream counters, and syrup rails are important ice cream shop equipment.
Conclusion
Proper ice cream storage and display equipment are important for any ice cream business, ensuring product safety, maintaining quality, and enhancing customer appeal. Ice cream is a beloved treat with a significant economic impact, contributing billions to the economy. However, it requires precise temperature control to prevent spoilage and maintain its texture and flavor. Equipment such as chest freezers, upright freezers, blast freezers, and walk-in freezers are essential for effective storage. In contrast, display units like dipping cabinets and countertop freezers attract customers and boost sales.
Investing in the right commercial ice cream equipment helps businesses manage the challenges of storing and presenting ice cream, especially during peak seasons like summer. Proper storage prevents bacterial growth and texture degradation, while display equipment makes ice cream more accessible and visually enticing. Key features to consider include temperature range, energy efficiency, and capacity to ensure optimal performance and cost-effectiveness.
Adhering to best practices in installation, maintenance, and energy efficiency further optimizes operations and profitability. Regular maintenance and strategic equipment placement can reduce energy costs and prevent breakdowns, ensuring a smooth operation. Ultimately, the right equipment and strategies are key to a successful ice cream business, providing customers with delicious and safe products while maximizing sales and profitability.
