What To Do With Leftover Ice Cream

What To Do With Leftover Ice Cream

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Got a few tubs of leftover ice and don’t know what to do with them? Throwing away leftover ice cream is certainly not a viable option. Especially for a small business owner like you, this means wastage, thus, losses. Opt for the profitable option instead and find a way to make it to good use. 

Here are a few suggestions on what to do with your leftover ice cream: serve it the next day, keep the rest in the ice cream machine ready to be served, keep it frozen and recycle, make a yummy milkshake, use it as a filling for desserts, mix with fresh seasonal fruits, start a line of ice cream cocktails, and create your own ice cream soda. 

Serve it the Next Day

What To Do With Leftover Ice Cream

The common notion that ice cream shops serve a complete tub of freshly made ice cream every single day is a big misconception. Ice cream is a well-preserved product since it’s always refrigerated at a controlled temperature all day long, so it doesn’t spoil overnight. 

If you have noticed, some ice cream shops have near-empty tubs every now and then even if they’ve just opened a few hours ago. Some think that it’s probably way more delicious or popular than the rest of the varieties. But the truth is, that specific tub could be a leftover from the day before. And there’s nothing wrong with it.

Leftover ice creams are commonly served the next day to customers. You can also do the same, just make sure to keep it in their respective dipping cabinets, cover the bins, and sell it the next day.

  1. Keep the Rest in the Ice Cream Machine Ready to be Served

This technique particularly works for soft-serve ice creams. The ice cream, in its liquid form, is originally stored in refrigerated hoppers until they’re needed to be served. 

Upon order, the ice cream machine quickly freezes the liquid concoction to create yummy soft-serve ice creams. All you have to do is pull down the machine handle, and freshly frozen goodness will come out of it. Soft-serve ice creams are great for almost anything, such as cones, cups topped with sprinkles or chocolate chips, sundaes, shakes, and a lot more. 

As long as you clean and sanitize the ice cream machine regularly, you can keep the liquid ice cream concoction in it for up to 7 days. Just make sure to set the machine on standby refrigeration setting to maintain the temperature inside. 

  1. Keep it Frozen and Recycle

You can store left-over ice creams by taking out the metal bins, covering them with wax paper, and putting them back in the freezer, so it refreezes. It’s not only to regain the frozen characteristics but to preserve its quality, and extend its shelf life. 

Now, frozen leftover ice cream can be recycled for consumption. Make sure to take the leftover ones first on the next day. Or you can consolidate it with fresh new ice cream. Just mow the leftover to one side and add the fresh ones on the other side while making sure that the left-over side is more accessible to your customer’s reach. It’s a smart strategy to position it in such a way as to make sure that the leftover will be served first.  

You can also consolidate leftover ice creams of different flavors. With little creativity, create a new dual or multi-flavored ice cream and sell it as a “special flavor of the day.” Do some mix-and-match and add the right toppings, such as mallows, nuts, chocolate, sprinkles, etc. Choose the right flavors that complement each other to create a great-tasting recycled ice cream product.

  1. Make a Milkshake

Another great idea for leftover ice cream is to turn it into a yummy milkshake and introduce it to your customers the next day. No one’s gonna know that it’s the leftover of the day prior.

All you have to do is to refreeze it, take it out from its bin, and blend it with your preferred add-ons such as cream, chips, nuts, chocolate, fresh fruits, and a lot more. Once well blended, you can add chocolate chips as toppings. 

Use it as a Filling for Desserts

What To Do With Leftover Ice Cream

Excite your customers by making new desserts using leftover ice cream. You can add it to your ice cream-filled profiteroles, or use it as filling for truffles, sandwiches, tarts, and cakes. You can also add ice cream to your french toast. If you want the safer route, you can create a cookie ice cream sandwich and take advantage of the 46% popularity percentage of cookie and ice cream as the most preferred match.

There’s a handful of possibilities on what desserts you can recreate using leftover ice cream. With an ounce of creativity, you can make a great-tasting dessert out of your leftover ice cream.

  1.  Mix with fresh seasonal fruit

You’ll never go wrong with fresh fruits and so with ice cream. Add some fresh seasonal fruits with your leftover ice cream either as a combination or a topping. It’s a great and healthy snack that you can add to your menu. It’s easy and quick to prepare.

  1. Start a line of Ice Cream Cocktails

Concoct your own line of ice cream cocktails using your leftover ice cream as an additional ingredient. For instance, you can recreate the usual mojito into an ice cream mojito by adding mint ice cream to the ingredients. You can also blend all ingredients, including the liqueurs, sauce, fresh fruits, and leftover ice cream, and rebrand it using some catchy cocktail names.

Ice cream cocktail is a great concept, but if you want to maintain a kid-friendly safe space reputation in your ice cream shop, you might need to let go of the idea. This may work in other venues and business establishments, though. 

  1. Create your own Ice Cream Soda

Better known as Soda Float or Spider for Australians, Ice Cream Soda is an in-demand beverage, especially for the younger population. Why not? You’ll get the refreshing taste of soda and the yummy goodness of ice cream in one. To make it more delicious looking, you can add fresh cherries on top or other topping options that your customers can choose from. 

Conclusion
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Some of the best things you can do with your leftover ice cream are to serve it the next day, keep the rest in the ice cream machine ready to be served, keep it frozen and recycle, make a yummy milkshake, use it as a filling for desserts, mix with fresh seasonal fruits, start a line of ice cream cocktails, and create your own ice cream soda. 

Ice cream is refrigerated for a reason- to prolong its shelf life. When stored in a clean container at a controlled temperature, ice cream can last for a few days, even months for ready-to-eat ice cream from popular brands. So if you’re worried that it might upset your customer’s stomach, you don’t need to because it’s safe. 

So start recreating new food varieties out of your leftover ice cream to impress your patrons, generate revenue, and avoid losses. What are you waiting for? Start doing it today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does ice cream last when stored in a fridge?

Unopened and tightly sealed ice cream can last for over a month when stored in the fridge. But if you want to maintain its premium quality, you can wrap the tub in freezer paper. 

What’s the best way to store leftover ice cream without compromising its taste and quality?

The problem with refreezing leftover ice cream is that ice crystals tend to develop because of excess air. To avoid this, grab a clean piece of wax paper and directly press it into the ice cream to create an obstruction that separates the air from the ice cream. Put the lid back on and refreeze the ice cream.

To learn more on how to start your own ice cream/gelato business check out my startup documents here

This blog post is provided for informational purposes only. The information contained is not intended to constitute legal advice or to substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney.