Eco-Guide: RUBBERMAID – Intuitive Recycling Solutions
June 12, 2019
QUEST – Chef Centre Series
July 8, 2019
When you think soft-serve, you likely can recall a memory of going to Dairy Queen or a similar ice cream parlour as a kid and grabbing a twist cone. It’s a classic option, that quite frankly has never gone out of style. Within the last couple of years, restaurants have been jumping on the soft-serve bandwagon, as a quick and easy way to add a dessert option to their menu. In terms of convenience, soft-serve machines are fairly easy to operate and training your staff to use and maintain these units is relatively painless. The average price of a soft-serve machine will range between $4,000 to $20,000, which, in comparison to a salary of pastry chef, is more ideal for those looking to keep operating costs down.
Stoelting® F231 Gravity Soft Serve/Yogurt Freezer Dispenser
One of our favourite soft-serve machines is the F231 Gravity Soft Serve/Yogurt Freezer made by Stoelting (a division of Vollrath). This unit is designed to operate with almost any type of commercial soft serve or non-dairy mixes available, including ice milk, ice cream, yogurt, and frozen dietary desserts. This unit is compact and lightweight, making it ideal for restaurants with space limitations. In addition to its small footprint, this machine is extremely energy efficient, only needing a 12 amp plug compared to other ice cream machines which typically require two 25 amp plugs.
The machine offers a powerful IntelliTec2™ control which communicates with the operator through graphics displayed on an LCD display screen. This system provides the operator with additional information such as enhanced service diagnostics, information about the product, and much more.
The front of the machine also has two clear doors, which allows customers to see the product inside the unit. This is a great marketing tool, as most customers buy with their eyes and can request the flavour of their choosing. For operators, you have the ability to sell flavours individually, or combined for a unique twist.
IntelliTec2™
Twist Option
Clear Doors
Operation and Construction
The blades of the F231 are made of Delrin® food grade plastic. Delrin is one of the best options for plastics when it comes to commercial food grade applications, this is due to its excellent balance of both strength and resistance. Delrin also offers low moisture absorption, which is critical for foods that must be kept moist or for food applications that are going to be stored in coolers, freezers or other highly moist environments. Delfin blades provide a much quieter operation when compared to other blade materials.
A few other notable features include:
- Precision controlled refrigeration system designed for quality product consistency from the first cone to the last.
- Energy Conservation Mode (ECM) protects the product from over-agitation during slow or non-draw periods.
- Highly efficient auger design gently folds the entire contents of the freezing cylinder, delivering a thick, smooth, and creamy product.
- Self-closing spigot eliminates waste and ensures precise portion control.
- Spigot handle height meets ADA requirements for self-service locations.
- Adjustable dispense rate for optimal product output.