Overrun: Achieving Optimal Texture in Soft Serve Treats

Indulging in soft serve ice cream is a universal joy, cherished by everyone. Its velvety smoothness, delicate consistency, and artful swirls make it an irresistible dessert, particularly during hot summer days. Have you ever wondered what the secret behind soft serve’s unique texture and irresistible charm is? The secret lies within overrun—and mastering it can elevate your soft serve offerings to new heights.

Understanding Overrun

In the world of soft serve ice cream, overrun refers to the volume expansion resulting from the addition of air into the ice cream mix during freezing. It represents the degree of aeration within the ice cream, resulting in that coveted light and fluffy texture. This key factor ensures the creation of high-quality soft serve ice cream, where the perfect balance between creaminess and airiness is achieved.

The Importance of Overrun

The amount of overrun directly influences the texture, consistency, and overall quality of soft serve ice cream. Excessive overrun can yield a product that feels insubstantial, lacking in richness, whereas insufficient overrun may render the ice cream overly dense and weighty. Striking the right balance is paramount for serving ice cream that is both splendid and satisfying, especially when using the best soft serve machines like the ones offered by the Taylor Company.

Calculating Overrun

Overrun is typically a percentage, calculated by comparing the weight of the final frozen soft serve product to the initial weight of the ice cream mix prior to freezing.

The formula is: Overrun = ((weight of liquid mix – weight of frozen product) / weight of frozen product) × 100%

Overrun Percentages

The type of soft serve machine plays a major role in determining overrun, which is the amount of air incorporated into the product.

Gravity-Fed Machines

Average Overrun: ~35%

Gravity machines naturally pull mix into the freezing cylinder without additional air pumps, resulting in a denser, creamier texture with a richer flavor.

Pump-Fed Machines

Average Overrun: 65% or higher

Pump machines inject controlled amounts of air into the mix as it enters the freezing cylinder. This creates a lighter, fluffier product with a smoother mouthfeel and higher yield per gallon of mix.

Fine-Tuning Overrun

Overrun can be adjusted in several ways, such as changing the temperature, swapping out feeding tubes, using different valve caps, or modifying the product mix recipe. With some experimentation and meticulous adjustments to these factors, you can achieve the perfect texture for your ice cream products.

Taylor soft serve machines are instrumental in this process. Their precision mechanisms regulate the air incorporation rate during freezing, ensuring consistent overrun levels and premium quality results. Whether you're using Taylor soft ice cream machines or exploring other Taylor ice cream machine models, these machines offer unparalleled reliability and performance.

Why Choose Rocky Mountains Distributing

At Rocky Mountains Distributing, we offer an extensive selection of Taylor soft serve machines tailored to meet your business needs. As your local Taylor distributor in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming, we provide not only the machines but also the expertise required to optimize your operations.

Looking for a Taylor soft serve catalog? Need assistance from Taylor tech support? Our team is here to help. Visit our test kitchen to experiment with recipes using Taylor ice cream machines, or explore our array of ice cream products, including base mixes and flavors.

Elevate your business with the support of Rocky Mountains Distributing. From crafting perfectly swirled cones to innovative batch-flavored ice creams, we’re here to help you bring your ice cream dreams to life. Contact us today to discover the difference that Taylor machines and our dedicated team can make for your business.