Perlick Ice Cream Freezer Troubleshooting
There’s nothing worse than trying to wrestle the ice cream into its cone to only then have the scoop bounce harmlessly off the frozen tundra that’s suddenly become your life. Or rather, maybe you feel you’d have better success with a ladle because your ice cream shop has abruptly turned into a soup kitchen – and all under the beady-eyed stare of your latest customer.
To keep the lines moving and your employee's arms from falling off, check out these Perlick ice cream freezer troubleshooting tips for when your product is frozen solid or has gone too soupy.
Why Won’t Ice Cream Freeze in My Freezer?
Check out these Perlick ice cream freezer troubleshooting cheat sheets for when your ice cream is having trouble being a frozen treat:
- Unit is unplugged – Is your Perlick ice cream freezer plugged in? In high-traffic thru fares, sometimes equipment gets bumped or jostled, causing it to become unplugged. Quickly check the unit is plugged in and the power switch is turned on.
- Condenser is dirty – Your Perlick ice cream freezer can lose its cooling efficiency when excess dirt and debris gets trapped within the condenser coils. To clean, follow the instructions linked here.
- Freezer is too full – If there is too much product in the freezer, this can initially cause the temperature to dip. Long-term, an overstocked freezer can make it hard for cool air to circulate, making ice cream go soft and squishy.
- Temperature is set too low – Check that the thermostat is between the manufacturer’s recommended temperature settings. Sometimes employees might unknowingly change it with their leg while they’re leaning over to scoop.
- Door is frequently opened – Opening the door too often, especially if ambient temperatures are high, can cause your ice cream to become melty and soft. On hot days with high foot traffic, it might be a good idea to set the temperature a couple of degrees cooler to keep ice cream firm and frozen. Just don’t forget to reset the temperature back to normal at the end of the day or when traffic declines to prevent the ice cream from freezing solid!
- Worn out or cracked door gasket – If the door gasket has worn out, it’s no longer keeping an airtight seal between your tasty treats and the outside environment, letting in warm air.
How Long for Ice Cream to Freeze in Freezer?
After initial installation, it will take approximately 24 hours for your Perlick ice cream freezer to reach its holding temperature. For that reason, don’t place any ice cream in the cabinet until after this period has passed.
Why Is My Ice Cream Frozen Solid?
Ice cream needs to be housed under a steady temperature to maintain the consistency and texture that customers pay the big bucks for. Too soft, and it’s on the ground before it’s in their mouths. Too hard, and tongues get stuck.
To keep your product smooth and creamy, try out these Perlick ice cream freezer troubleshooting tips:
- Temperature is set too high – Check the thermostat. It’s not unheard of for employees to accidentally knock the temperature controls out of whack while they’re working.
- Faulty temperature control – If the temperature settings check out, it might be a problem with the controller itself. If you suspect this is the case, call an authorized service technician to come check it out.
- Too much moisture – If too much moisture enters the cabinet either from a broken door gasket, frequent entry or by other means, it can cause ice crystals to form on and around the ice cream. If frost accumulates on the walls of the cabinet, you should unplug the unit and wait for it to defrost.
- Note: Never use a sharp instrument to chip the ice off the cabinet walls, as this could damage the machine.Low-quality ice cream – The reason why low-quality ice cream freezes at higher temperatures is that they contain more air and water than higher-quality recipes, which contain more fat, milk, creams and other ingredients. You might consider stocking your freezer with a different brand of ice cream or raising the temperature a few degrees to compensate.
What Temp Should My Freezer Be for Ice Cream?
The normal operating temperature for your Perlick drop-in ice cream freezer is between -15℉ to 10℉. Your freezer should come preset within this range, however, if you need to make adjustments, you can find the temperature controller on the front located near the condenser.