Soft serve can deliver profit margins of up to 80% – but only if everything is done right. Overrun, the weight of your soft serve, your dispensing technique, and the quality of your machine are all critical. When these factors are optimised, soft serve becomes not only a customer favourite but also a highly profitable product for your business.
Perfect Overrun
To achieve maximum profitability and the best taste experience, proper overrun is essential. If the air content is too low, you’ll end up with a limp ice cream that melts quickly, tastes overly rich, and is uncomfortably cold. Guests may even experience a “brain freeze.”
Optimal overrun, on the other hand, creates firm, creamy soft serve that melts more slowly and feels pleasant in the mouth. The ideal air incorporation is 80%.
Want to check if your soft serve has the right overrun? Watch our instruction video.
The ideal weight
Another key factor for profitability is the weight of your soft serve. The heavier the cones, the more mix you use; and that means higher costs. Train your staff so they know exactly how much ice cream to dispense per cone. With 80–85 grams of soft serve per wafer cone, you can create a generous-looking ice cream without overspending.
How to dispense the perfect soft serve
To avoid overfilling cones, teach your team this simple technique. Consistently heavy cones can have a huge impact on your profit margin. Here’s the method:
- Start on the rim, not inside the cone. You don’t need to fill the cone completely. The soft serve will settle naturally.
- Use a circular motion while dispensing.
- Hold the cone slightly away from the machine for more volume.
By combining these steps, you’ll create a light, voluminous soft serve with a lower cost price. Exactly what you need for optimal profitability.
Invest in the right machine
Finally, a high-quality soft serve machine is essential for producing airy, flavourful ice cream. Premium machines and proper maintenance ensure consistent pressure in the freezing cylinder and stable overrun.
A great example is the NISSEI RAPP series. These machines even allow you to adjust the air content easily via the touchscreen. That way, you’re always guaranteed top-quality soft serve—and maximum profitability.
