Maintaining Your Commercial Ice Cream Machine
Summer is upon us and although some may argue that you can enjoy ice cream year round, those of us in the food industry know that ice cream consumption increases significantly in the summer months. Parents take their kids out after a ball game, couples share a treat during date night, and overall, people simply enjoy ice cream during the heat of summer. Can you blame them?
If your commercial kitchen, shop, or restaurant uses a commercial ice cream machine, now is the time to make sure you understand and prioritize maintenance of all of the essential equipment. As summer heats up, so will your ice cream sales. Nothing is worse than not having the food or drink item that everyone is ordering!
With a commercial ice cream machine, there are a few simple steps you can take to maintain its performance. Not only will regular cleaning and sanitation ensure food safety for everyone enjoying your delicious frozen treat, it will also help keep your equipment running longer. However, before you begin any type of cleaning or maintenance, make sure to review the machine’s owner manual for the manufacturer’s recommendations on inspection, disassembly, cleaning, sanitation, and so forth.
Tips for Maintaining Your Ice Cream Machine
- Inspect the inside of the unit for debris
- Check drive belts and adjust or correct tension levels
- Ensure drive pulleys are aligned correctly
- Maintain adequate air flow through the coil
- Clean the coil of any buildup, including oil, grease, lint, and dust
- Completely disassemble and clean the machine 2x a week (more if needed)
- Replace parts as they show signs of wear and tear
If you follow these easy steps, as well as the manufacturer’s suggestions for maintenance, your ice cream machine can last anywhere from 10-20 years. However, some issues can arise with commercial ice cream machines that fall outside of normal maintenance or routine service. Longer run times and refrigeration failure may be fixable with professional service, but it might cost you less simply to replace your machine.
It’s smart to keep some extra commercial ice cream machine parts on hand, just in case. Parts such as O-rings, seals, gaskets, sleeves, bushings, and beater blades are all great pieces to have on back up. With small breaks, if you have the right part on hand you may not need a service call. For bigger issues like we mentioned above, it’s best to call a certified technician to help address the problem.
Whether you have a counter or floor model commercial ice cream machine, maintenance and regular cleaning will keep it churning out this sweet treat all summer long. If you need to order parts for your machine, CPS carries a large inventory of commercial kitchen parts to choose from. And if you need service for your ice cream machine, we’re only a phone call away!
