Frozen custard is gaining more and more popularity in the United States and the market is continually growing. However, only 5 percent of restaurants serve frozen custard. If you are looking for a great business opportunity, you may want to consider starting an ice cream and frozen custard shop! Keep reading to learn more about frozen custard machines, the how-to for making ice cream and frozen custard, and the fun facts about frozen custard.
Frozen Custard vs. Ice Cream: What Are the Facts?
Frozen custard is a type of frozen dessert that resembles ice cream and gelato. Although it is very similar to ice cream, there are differences in the ingredients. According to the Agricultural Marketing Service, ice cream must contain a certain level of fat.
Both ice cream and custard must contain at least 10% milkfat. However, to be considered custard, frozen desserts must also have at least 1.4% of their weight be made up by egg yolks.
Because of the additional egg yolks in frozen custard, it means it more smooth and rich.
More interesting facts and a significant difference between ice cream and frozen custard is the machine that is used to make it! An ice-cream churner uses a paddle that churns air into the ice cream as it solidifies. This means that it will be lighter and airier.
Ice cream is often frozen after the churning process as well, making it firmer than custard.
However, custard machines don’t churn air into the mixture as it solidifies. This makes it more dense and creamy. Custard is also always soft-served.
Frozen Custard Machines: How Do They Work and What are the Facts?
As was mentioned, ice cream churners whip the mixture together which results in an airy texture. However, custard machines churn much more slowly than ice cream machines. Because of this, it makes it a smoother final product.
Another key difference in frozen custard machines is that they work at a cooler temperature than typical ice cream machines. Since ice cream is often frozen after the churning process, the machine doesn’t have to keep the mixture cold.
However, frozen custard machines are kept about 6-8 degrees cooler than an ice cream machine!
When you have a commercial custard machine, they use something called a continuous freezer. Essentially, you will pour the custard mixture into one side of the machine. As it travels through the machine, it will freeze to soft-serve temperatures.
This allows the custard to come out of your machine in a continuous stream!
Because the process is so fast, it prevents too much air from being mixed into the custard base. It also means that your frozen custard will be ready for customers in as little as two minutes!
Frozen Custard Facts
There are many interesting facts about frozen custard. Here are a few of our favorites!
1. Frozen custard uses eggs!
As mentioned previously, the main difference between ice cream and frozen custard is the egg yolks used in the base. Because custard uses these egg yolks, it means that the final product will be much richer and even thicker.
2. Frozen custard machines were invented in 1920
While frozen custard has been enjoyed for hundreds of years, there were no commercial machines that made frozen custard until 1920! Arthur Kohr was the first person to create and sell frozen custard in the United States.
3. Thomas Jefferson brought custard recipes to the United States
This founding father didn’t only make history, but he also is the reason we can enjoy frozen custard in the United States! Frozen custard is traditional french ice cream, and Jefferson brought recipes to the United States in the 1700s.
4. National Frozen Custard Day
If you are looking for the perfect time to try some frozen custard, August 8th is the national frozen custard day in the United States! If you want to open an ice cream shop, national frozen custard day is a great way to advertise!
5. Frozen custard has more nutrients than ice cream!
While frozen custard still isn’t the healthiest dessert available, it is slightly more healthy than traditional ice cream. Because it has more egg yolks, it is higher in protein and calcium! Frozen custard also has less fat and fewer carbs than other types of ice cream.
Because of this, it has fewer calories per serving!
6. The frozen custard market is growing
If you want to open a frozen dessert business, now is the time to start! In fact, it is estimated that the frozen dessert market will grow 5.7 percent each year until 2028! There are great opportunities for growth and profit in this business!
7. Frozen custard has no air
As was mentioned previously, the reason that frozen custard is such a dense, velvety, and rich frozen dessert is that it doesn’t whip air into the mixture as it churns. Unlike ice cream, frozen custard is mixed much more slowly, resulting in a creamier and smoother texture!
Get Your Frozen Custard Machine Today!
Starting an ice cream or frozen custard business can seem daunting. However, finding a great frozen custard machine can help make the process even easier! If you are looking for ice cream business consulting or frozen custard or ice cream matching, Lancaster Manufacturing can help!
We have been the experts, and give you the facts, in the ice cream and frozen custard business since 2001 and would love to help you get your business started. Contact our team today to learn more about our products and consulting!
