How Much Water Does a Water Cooled Ice Cream Machine Use?

A water cooled ice cream machine requires over 100 gallons of water for every 100 lbs of ice it produces, and the excess water has to be dumped into a drain.

Water Cooled ice cream machines run smoother, freeze quicker, and are more efficient than their air cooled counterparts. Water transfers heat quicker than air. Water cooled machines only leverage water when the compressor is running.

Some municipalities have restrictions on the use of water for cooling so check with your city before you purchase. If you live in the northern climate, water cooled machines must be winterized before they can be exposed to temperatures under 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius. What can happen is residual water in pipes will freeze and expand, bursting the water coils.

A water cooled ice cream machine requires built-in water lines in order to produce ice. Note there are a variety of machines that will serve your establishment for over a twenty-four hour time period. You can also pick your water cooled ice cream machine based on the type of ice it produces.

If you have an ice cream shop that scoops handmade ice cream, soft serve ice cream could be a good menu item that your customers will purchase. Making soft serve is as easy as combining soft serve ice cream mix and water, before dumping it into the ice cream machine.

Top Water Cooled Ice Cream Machines

1. SaniServ 424 WATER

You can grow your menu to offer soft serve style ice creams, custards, yogurt, gelato, or sorbet with this SaniServ 424 WATER 40 qt. water cooled soft serve ice cream machine with 2 hoppers. This full size, floor model dispenser features (2) 20 qt. hoppers for multi-flavor dispensing.

This unit can also make (7) 4 oz. servings per minute on each side, keeping up with high demand. With simple controls that ensure you’re always aware of the machine’s status, you can quickly make adjustments to its settings when needed. The mix hoppers are refrigerated using R404A refrigerant to keep your soft serve mixes below 40 degrees Fahrenheit until they are pumped into the freezing cylinder.

With its stainless steel construction and heavy-duty design, this soft serve machine is made to last and can help you meet your customers’ demands at your restaurant, buffet, or ice cream shop. Thanks to its conveniently short depth of 28”, this unit is the perfect size for even the shallowest of spaces!

Also, note that it is designed to be easily disassembled to make deep cleaning and sanitizing as simple as possible. This unit is water cooled using a ¾” size water inlet, is hardwired, and requires a 208/230V electrical connection for operation.

2. Carpigiani READY 502 G-W

Note that this machine is ideal for mixing, heating, or freezing up to a 20 qt. batch of gelato or low overrun desserts, such as sorbet. For easier portioned extraction, this unit can be paired with the READY Dispensing Door.

Made to be extremely durable, this unit’s 4 5/8 hp beater motor allows it to sharply blend the dessert mix to a perfect creamy consistency, consistently meeting the expectations of both you and your customers. It comes with automatic temperature controls, so you can mix, heat, and freezes your desserts.

Also, its water filling capability ensures that your desserts are properly dosed each and every time. Additionally, the included POM beater comes with auto-adjusting scrapers, so you’re maximizing the amount of product that’s extracted, reducing overall waste. This unit uses R404A refrigerant for optimal freezing conditions.

Boasting of a Scotch-Brite treated steel construction and heavy-duty design, this machine is built to last. Thanks to its convenient casters, this floor model can be easily moved for cleaning or service, and it’s tall enough to ensure comfort during use.

Cleanup is a breeze, as it uses a high temperature cleaning cycle and a removable extraction chute, so you can achieve a deep clean without hassle.

For extra safety and in the event of a power outage, this unit is made with automatic defrost to prevent any damage from occurring to the beater. This unit is water cooled using a ½” MPT size water inlet and requires a 208-230V, 3 phases, and hardwired electrical connection for operation.

3. SaniServ B-5 WATER

You can equip your gelato shop, ice cream shop, or restaurant with this SaniServ B-5 WATER 5 qt. countertop water cooled ice cream / gelato batch freezer! Note that this freezer continuously controls product consistency to produce the finest batches of ice cream or gelato.

This machine is ideal for making a 5 qt. batch of a single flavor of ice cream, meeting the high demand of your customers.

With simple controls that ensure you’re always aware of the machine’s status, you can quickly make adjustments to its settings when needed. This unit is refrigerated using R404A refrigerant to keep your ice cream frozen until it is ready to serve.

Thanks to its convenient compact size, this model makes the most of limited counter space. This machine is designed to be easily disassembled to making deep cleaning and sanitizing as simple as possible.

According to recent report, the unit is water cooled using a ¾” size water inlet, is hardwired, and requires a 208/230V electrical connection for operation. Add an optional cord set (sold separately) for a simple plug-in option.

4. Cattabriga EFFE 6B WATER COOLED

You can make the highest quality gelato with the Cattabriga EFFE 6B 6 liter vertical batch freezer with a water cooled system.

Notably, this unit allows the user to easily make unique flavors or experiment with new recipes by adding ingredients to the mix as it is freezing! Unlike a horizontal batch freezer, this unit works with the top open for a gelato artisan to monitor, mix, add to, or remove the dessert product at any time.

For an unforgettable customer experience, you can mount this batch freezer in the front of the house at your ice cream shop, café, or bakery so that your customers can see the delicious results appearing right before their eyes. In addition, you will have the ability to add nuts, chocolate, nougats, and more during the freezing process! Looking to do something a little different? This unit can produce a fine granita product, too.

Also, note that this gelato machine works by turning the vat itself rather than using a rotating paddle to stir the product.

As the vat turns, the gelato mix moves toward the cold inner wall of the cylinder where it quickly freezes. Air is incorporated naturally into the gelato as it freezes. Notably, this system creates a deep, rich structure in the finished product. When it’s ready, use a paddle / spatula to remove your gelato.

Have it in mind that a small footprint makes this unit a wonderful choice for businesses with limited space. This unit uses glycol based freezing and a water cooled refrigeration system. It requires a 208-230V, 3 phase electrical connection for operation.

5. Carpigiani Pastomaster PKT60 RTX

Heat, mix, age, and prepare base mixtures for frozen desserts with this Carpigiani Pastomaster PKT60 RTX 63.4 qt. water cooled pasteurizer! Made with superior performance, you can perfect base mixtures for gelato, custard, and ice cream, as well as craft syrups, without having to switch machines.

Note that this all-inclusive pasteurizer comes with pre-saved, modifiable, 16 base mixture and syrup programs, 6 frozen dessert programs, 3 syrup programs, 5 gourmet programs, 2 yogurt programs, and 9 personalized programs, so your recipes are ready-to-go when needed.

This unit’s RTX component lets the user to download the batch data for better monitoring and control over their desserts. In addition, the control panel allows you to set the proper temperature for each type of mix, ensuring your products are consistent every time.

Made to be adequately durable, this unit makes quick work of even the most laborious recipes, swiftly concocting them with minimal effort.

It offers uniform homogenization without burning the product, and the transparent lid can be opened during production, removing any guesswork for a high-quality finished product. This unit leverages R404A refrigerant for optimal freezing conditions.

Also note that cleanup is a breeze with this pasteurizer, as it uses a built-in faucet with flex hose, so you can achieve a deep clean without hassle. For extra safety and in the event of a power outage, this pasteurizer will remember where it left off when the power returns.

This unit is water cooled using an MPT ½” size water inlet, is operated by a 3 phase motor, and requires a 208-230V electrical connection for operation.