Should I be purchasing a dry mix or liquid mix for my soft serve/ice cream program? -

Dry Mix vs. Liquid Mix: Which Is Right For Your Soft Serve or Ice Cream Program?

When it comes to soft serve or ice cream programs, understanding the differences between dry and liquid mixes is essential to making the best choice for your business. Itaberco has decades of experience helping to launch over 200 frozen dessert concepts with our team of R&D experts, food scientists, and manufacturing professionals as trusted advisors. Here’s our take on determining whether dry or liquid mixes are the right fit for you!

The Fundamentals: Dry Mix vs. Liquid Mix

Dry mix is a powdered form of soft serve or ice cream base that contains essential ingredients such as sweeteners, milk solids, natural gums, and stabilizers. All of the same components that are used in a liquid mix, besides the dairy. To prepare it, you’ll need to reconstitute the powder with water, dairy, or dairy alternatives, depending on your desired texture, flavor profile, and allergen requirements. One major advantage of dry mix is that it’s shelf-stable, meaning it can be stored at room temperature and doesn’t require refrigeration until you’re ready to use it. This makes it an excellent option for businesses looking to manage inventory easily and reduce storage costs.

On the other hand, liquid mix is a ready-to-use base that comes pre-blended and stored in a liquid form. Unlike dry mix, liquid mix must be kept refrigerated or frozen from the time it’s made to the time it’s used. While it offers convenience—since it requires no preparation or additional mixing—liquid mix typically has a shorter shelf life and requires more attention to storage conditions. Liquid mixes may be a better fit for high-volume operations that can turn over product quickly and have ample refrigeration space.

Dry Soft Serve and Ice Cream Mix Pros and Cons

Advantages of Dry Mix

Extended Shelf Life: Dry mixes are shelf-stable, allowing them to be stored for months or even years, which simplifies inventory management and reduces the pressure of product turnover.
Cost-Efficient Shipping: Dry mixes are more affordable to ship because they are lighter in weight and don’t require refrigeration, lowering your transportation costs.
Convenient Storage: Without the need for refrigeration, dry mixes help lower operational expenses and free up valuable fridge or freezer space.
Choose your Dairy: dry mixes are made to pair with your choice of dairy or dairy alternative milks. This allows you to select the freshest local dairy or your preferred oat milk, creating a customized, high-quality product every time.
Highly Customizable: Dry mixes offer exceptional flexibility, enabling you to fine-tune flavors, texture, sweeteners, or dairy alternatives to meet specific preferences. This adaptability lets you tailor the fat content, sweetness, or other key elements of the product.
Enhanced Mouthfeel Control: With the ability to adjust butterfat levels, dry mixes give you greater control over the texture and creaminess of the final product. For example, swapping some of the whole milk for heavy cream or half-and-half can create a richer, creamier texture.
Creative Freedom: Dry mixes provide the ultimate playground for creativity. You can infuse unique flavors by steeping ingredients like rice, croissants, coffee beans, or saffron into milk, then straining and blending them with the mix to create distinctive and personalized soft serve creations.

Disadvantages of Dry Mix

Requires Additional Preparation: Using a dry mix involves an extra step of blending it with water, dairy, or your chosen flavor components, which can add time to the process.
Potential for Inconsistencies: If the mix isn’t blended thoroughly or prepared with precision, it may lead to uneven results, affecting the texture and consistency of the final product.

Liquid Soft Serve and Ice Cream Mix Pros and Cons

Advantages of Liquid Mix

Convenience: Liquid mixes are ready to use straight out of the container, eliminating the need for mixing or measuring, which saves time and effort.
No Extra Equipment Required: The preparation process is simple since there’s no need for additional tools like whisks, immersion blenders, or mixing containers.
High Overrun: Liquid mixes perform well in equipment designed to pump air into the product, delivering higher overrun and a lighter, more voluminous texture compared to dry mixes.

Disadvantages of Liquid Mix

Limited Shelf Life: Liquid mixes require refrigeration and have a shorter lifespan compared to dry mixes. Once opened, they must be used within a specific timeframe to prevent spoilage.
Potential for Waste: There’s a higher risk for wasted product (and therefore money) if the liquid mix is thrown away due to spoilage.
Higher Storage Costs: The need for refrigeration or freezer space increases operational expenses, as cold storage is essential for liquid mixes.
Increased Shipping Costs: Liquid mixes are more expensive to transport than dry alternatives since they’re heavier and require temperature-controlled shipping.
Lack of Customization and Texture Control: Liquid mixes are typically limited to standard flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Modifying them can disrupt the freezing/melting process, which impacts texture and reduces creative flexibility.
Minimal Differentiation from Competitors: With pre-made liquid mixes, there’s little opportunity for you to add your personal touch to the product, leading to less distinction from competitors who may be using the same mix.

Evaluating Costs: Logistics and Waste Management

Both types of mixes require commercial-grade soft serve or batching equipment to transform the base into the final product, and we recommend Taylor Soft Serve Equipment for optimal results. Learn more about how each mix type impacts your operations and contributes to cost efficiency.

Dry Mix Cost Considerations

Dry mix is highly economical in terms of storage because of its shelf stability. It takes up minimal space on a shelf and can be stored at room temperature, eliminating refrigeration costs. The risk of waste is low because it doesn’t spoil quickly after opening.

Logistically, preparing the mix requires only basic equipment, like large containers and an immersion blender, to combine the powder with the appropriate liquid and flavor compounds. The extra step does add some preparation time and requires attention to mixing for consistent quality. There are some inherent shipping cost savings for dry mixes too because they are lighter, typically occupy less space, and come in bulk packaging.

Liquid Mix Cost Considerations
When considering liquid mix for your soft serve or ice cream program, it’s important to weigh the convenience it offers against the additional costs and limitations it presents in terms of storage, shelf life, and customization. Liquid mix requires dedicated refrigeration or freezer space, adding to your operational costs due to the need for specialized equipment. While handling is simpler—since the mix is ready to pour directly into soft serve or ice cream machines—its limited shelf life means inventory management becomes crucial to avoid spoilage. Liquid mixes can also generate more waste, both from the packaging required for refrigeration and from product loss, if not used before the expiration date. However, liquid mixes may offer cost savings for businesses that prioritize convenience over long-term storage. The overall cost-effectiveness depends on your operation’s scale, storage capacity, and how frequently you use the mix. That said, liquid mixes typically limit customization, making it difficult to charge premium prices for unique or “craft” soft serve offerings.

Which Is Right for Your Business?

Choosing between dry and liquid soft serve or ice cream mix depends on your concept’s unique needs and priorities. Dry mix is an excellent option for businesses that require flexibility in storage, especially those with limited refrigeration or freezer space. It’s also ideal for companies looking to explore the “craft soft serve” market because it offers the freedom to experiment with flavors and customize the final product. Dry mixes provide the added benefit of sourcing local dairy for enhanced freshness and quality, and you can even boost the nutritional content by incorporating ingredients like pasteurized egg yolk or yogurt.

On the other hand, liquid mix is better suited for high-volume operations, such as chain restaurants or theme parks where consistency and speed are key. Liquid mix offers the convenience of being ready to use with minimal preparation, making it perfect for businesses with sufficient refrigeration space and a need for quick production.

We help elevate unique, craft soft serve and ice cream concepts with dry mix bases and a range of premium flavor compounds. As regulations regarding the handling of frozen desserts vary by location, always check with your local authorities to ensure compliance. Ask us how to get started today!