Why Is My Ice Cream Soft?

Overbeaten soft serve is a common issue that can affect the texture, consistency, and overall quality of your frozen treats. But what exactly is overbeaten soft serve, and how can it be avoided?

What is Overbeaten Soft Serve?

Overbeaten soft serve occurs when the product loses some of its air content, known as "overrun." Overrun refers to the amount of air that is incorporated into the ice cream during the freezing process, which gives soft serve its light, creamy texture. The ideal overrun for soft serve typically falls between 35% and 60%, ensuring the best quality and appearance.

When the overrun drops too low, the soft serve becomes dense and lacks its signature airy, smooth feel. This often happens when the product sits in the freezing cylinder for too long while it’s being dispensed, leading to an overbeaten texture.

Mechanical Issues Leading to Soft, Overbeaten Soft Serve

There are several mechanical reasons why your soft serve machine might produce overbeaten product. Here are some of the most common causes:

1. Worn Scraper Blades:
Worn-out scraper blades can prevent the soft serve from being efficiently scraped off the freezing cylinder, which causes insulation between the product and the freezing surface. This results in the product spinning too long in the cylinder, leading to overbeating.

2. Viscosity Setting Too High:
If the viscosity setting is too high, the refrigeration and beater motor may run continuously without cycling off. This prolonged operation can cause the product to overbeat, affecting the texture and quality of the soft serve.

3. Low Refrigerant Charge:
A soft serve machine running low on refrigerant may struggle to maintain the proper temperature, leading to soft or improperly frozen product. This can result in the soft serve being overbeaten due to longer freezing times.

4. High Ambient Temperatures for Air-Cooled Freezers:
Air-cooled freezers operating in high ambient temperatures can overheat and fail to freeze the product effectively, which can also cause overbeaten soft serve. Ensuring the machine is in a well-ventilated area with proper air circulation can help prevent this issue.

5. Gravity-Fed Machine Mix Air Tube Not Flipped To Standby Overnight

Be sure to turn the mix feed tube in the standby position with the hole at the top. This keeps the air in the barrel overnight. When turning on AUTO, the product will be airy, not heavy and wet.

By addressing these mechanical issues and maintaining your soft serve machine properly, you can avoid producing overbeaten product and ensure a consistently high-quality soft serve experience for your customers.

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