How often does it need cleaning?
| Machine | Take apart and clean | What happens in between |
|---|---|---|
| Without pasteurisation | About every 3 days, depending on the manual | Keep the mix chilled, clean the nozzle and drip tray daily |
| With pasteurisation (Nissei) | Every 6 weeks, according to Nissei | The machine heats the mix automatically, usually at night |
| Spaceman Elite | Following the machine’s cleaning schedule | According to Spaceman it pasteurises automatically, keeps a cleaning log and locks when cleaning is overdue |
The routine in seven steps
Every machine has its own manual, and that comes before this list. The routine is nearly the same everywhere, though:
- Drain the remaining mix
- Rinse with water until it runs clear
- Take apart: dispensing head, scraper blades and beater, seals, and on pump machines the pump as well
- Wash and disinfect all parts, with the products and contact times from the manual
- Look at the seals and blades and replace what is worn
- Reassemble and grease the seals with food-grade lubricant
- Disinfect the machine, rinse and fill with fresh, chilled mix
What belongs to every day
- Clean the nozzle, drip tray and outside surfaces
- Store the mix at +2 to +6 °C and only refill it chilled
- On air-cooled machines keep the air outlet clear and check the filter
- Write down every cleaning: it is part of your own checks (HACCP) and helps when the authority inspects
What a cleaning really costs
Hardly anyone does this sum before buying. In our kiosk each cleaning meant around two hours of work and around ten litres of mix down the drain. In a five-month season we came to around fifty cleanings without pasteurisation and around four with it. How that works is in the guide Pasteurisation in soft serve.
Switching between dairy and vegan
If you switch between dairy mix and vegan or lactose-free mix, clean the machine completely first. Otherwise traces of milk stay in the ice cream, and for guests with an allergy that is a real risk.
When the technician helps
When the machine drips despite new seals, when blades wear unevenly or when it reports errors after reassembly. In our regions a technician near you comes out; more under Service and spare parts.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How often do you have to clean a soft serve machine?
Without pasteurisation about every three days, depending on the maker’s manual. Machines with pasteurisation are taken apart less often, with Nissei every six weeks according to the maker.
How long does cleaning take?
That depends on the machine. In our kiosk it was around two hours per cleaning.
How long may the mix stay in the machine?
Without pasteurisation usually two to three days; then the machine is emptied and cleaned. The machine’s manual and the mix maker’s instructions decide.
Are pump machines harder to clean?
They have more parts to take apart. Gravity machines are built more simply and are cleaned faster.
Sources
We quote makers’ figures with their source. Experience from our kiosk is marked as such.
