The secret to creating the smoothest and most delicious ice cream lies largely in the size of the ice crystals.
The smaller they are, the silkier your ice cream will be.
If large ice crystals start to form, the ice cream texture becomes coarse, grainy, and sandy – and doesn’t sound too appetising, does it?
In this article, we explain what causes ice crystals to grow in ice cream and identify the measures you can take to keep the texture of your ice cream irresistibly smooth.
Why large ice crystals are bad news for ice cream quality
If you’re a retailer or restaurant that sells ice cream, it’s essential that you know how to prevent ice crystals from forming and spoiling the quality of your ice cream.
Ice crystal growth ruins ice cream texture and quality, making it grainy or hard, and potentially spoiling the experience for your customers.
Premium ice cream brands rely heavily on the texture of their ice cream to differentiate it from cheaper competitor products.
We can all agree that silky smooth ice cream just feels and tastes more luxurious on the tongue, right?
If your ice cream meets customer expectations, it risks reflecting badly on your brand’s reputation and reduces the likelihood of customers making repeat purchases.
What causes ice crystals to grow?
To prevent ice crystals from growing in your ice cream, it’s important to understand the conditions in which they form and grow.
Factors that contribute to ice crystal formation and growth include:
Temperature fluctuations
If ice cream partially thaws and then refreezes during transportation, storage, or retail display, it can cause recrystallisation, where small crystals melt and then refreeze into larger ones
Freezer burn
If ice cream is exposed to the air inside a freezer, it can cause freezer burn. Freezer burn occurs when water inside the ice cream turns to water vapour and escapes, dehydrating the ice cream and causing ice crystals to form on its surface. Freezer burn not only affects the texture of the ice cream, but it can also affect its appearance and taste
Maintaining consistent conditions throughout ice cream production, transportation, and storage is key to preventing ice crystal growth.
Why is airtight packaging so important when storing ice cream?
Only using airtight packaging when storing and transporting ice cream is key to maintaining its quality.
Airtight ice cream containers help to prevent freezer burn by limiting oxygen exposure and reducing moisture evaporation.
It also helps to stabilise conditions within the packaging, even when temperatures on the outside fluctuate slightly, to prevent thawing and refreezing.
Best practices for preventing ice crystal growth in ice cream
To prevent ice crystal growth in your ice cream, you need both good manufacturing processes and high-quality, airtight packaging containers.
Best practices for preventing ice crystal growth include:
- Maintain a consistent temperature: Storage temperatures must be stable throughout production, distribution, and retail to prevent the product from thawing and refreezing
- Minimise headspace: Reduce excess air inside the container by using a container of an appropriate size or placing an additional inner seal or membrane beneath the lid before sealing
- Use high-quality, airtight containers: Always use high-quality, airtight containers designed specifically for ice cream storage
Why choose Venturepak’s ice cream containers?
The right container will maintain your ice cream’s quality and significantly reduce the risk of ice crystal formation, helping your business to meet its customers’ quality expectations.
Here at Venturepak, we stock a wide range of 100% food-grade, airtight polypropylene (PP) ice cream containers.
Our containers are available in a variety of shapes, volumes, and colours, from 2ltr to 10ltr containers.
Most of our products are delivered within two to three working days of an order being placed.
However, if you need ice cream containers in a hurry, next-day delivery is available upon request.
For help choosing the right containers for your ice cream or to place an order, email sales@venturepak.co.uk, or call us on 01744 425 111.
