Ice Machines - Do you ever use one?

[duotone]

One of our chain restaurants called Nandos has a good crushed ice machine but the problem is it's too large (and probably too expensive) for home use, so I thought I would ask where do you guys get your ice from? Is it cubes or crushed? Are there any brands or models you can recommend? Any ice related information is appreciated.

Cheers!

[SiBurning]

When I was setting up my home bar, it seemed like noone believed there was a good machine for home use. There are some nice suggestions, though.

The thing about home ice is that the cubes are usually larger and not the hollow kind, and that bars let them sit out in a tub, so home ice is also colder. There's a couple of simple things you can do. Make smaller cubes, let the ice sit outside until they begin to melt (a large amount in a good container helps keep them as ice). Also, make the drinks more slowly so the ice has time to melt into the drink. You can also use a really nice spring water instead of tap water. Finally, you can make all kinds of shapes, put fruit bits, coffee beans, etc. in them, or make them from different kinds of juice.

For crushed ice, the best home solution might be to get an ice scraper and scrape it off blocks of ice made in paper milk/juice containers. If you do this, remember that ice that's colder than freezing temperature is harder to work with, so let it stay out a good while, or just slow down a bit if necessary to let the outside warm back up to near melting temperature--it will start to look a bit wet.

You might also find use for an ice cracker. If nothing else, they'll help the cubes fall apart in a drink, so they act more like bar drinks with their hollow cubes that melt faster and water down the drinks. You should also use an ice cracker and crack real well if you're going to put the ice through a blender, though I find this still produces chunks instead of proper shaved ice that the commercial machines make. At the other end, I always keep those plastic freezable cubes for cases where you want your drink cold, but don't want it diluted.

[urr-lord]

I see you are in the UK,but I guess my 2 cents will still be valid.We had a fridge without an icemaker,so we bought a countertop model.The size of the cubes(actually they were more rounded) was adjustable,it could be plumbed into a water line or you could do what we did and just pour water into the hopper whenever you remember.The cubes melt when not used and the water cycles back threw for the next set of cubes.I think it was less than $150 us.Just plugged into the wall outlet,so it could be moved around.

good luck,I think camping/rv and some home improvement and wine collector catalogs have them.

[superbleu]

I just buy a bag of party ice, put it in plastic containers or zip lock bags and store in the freezer.

[duotone]

Found this website http://www.iceappliance.com/products/index.html but unfortunately the 3 models they stock only makes cubes of ice which I can make in my freezer, although it takes ten times longer.

Ideally looking for crushed ice.

Thanks for all the info.!

[Commander Quan]

If your serious about having crushed ice this seams to be the one to get. http://www.amazon.com/Waring-IC70-Pr...6307315&sr=8-1

[Alacrity59]

If my fridge did not make ice I'd buy a bag. You need it crushed for a drink . . . wrap some ice in your oldest dish towel and bop it with a meat hammer. Benefits of being an omnivorous dude . . . . I own a meat hammer.

[Samurai-5]

-Refrigerator Ice for normal day to day
-Store bought Ice for parties and get togethers
-And this for my Whiskey....

http://compare.ebay.com/like/2510456..._lwgsi=y&cbt=y

(Makes perfect 2" cubes and due to a smaller surface area that a "Jumble" of cubes it stays longer.)

[barrycv]

Why would you want crushed ice for drinks? The greater surface area of the small pieces would melt faster & you'd be prone to watered down drinks.

Samurai-5 is on the right track w/ a larger-sized ice chunk. If you want to go a little nerdy, do spherical ice - max volume/surface area ratio.

If you want to go totally nerdy, make clear ice. [But that's a topic for a whole other thread]

[xraygun]

If your serious about having crushed ice this seams to be the one to get. http://www.amazon.com/Waring-IC70-Pr...6307315&sr=8-1

Unfortunately, that is a piece of junk.

Buy a canvas or nylon small drawstring bag and a croquet mallet or cricket bat. Crushed ice galore.

[SiBurning]

Why would you want crushed ice for drinks?

frozen margaritas
The problem is that most home size methods make chunks, not real crushed ice which is closer to shaved ice like ices

[_JP_]

At a friends house during the Kentucky Derby I was the bartender making Mint Julips. The crushed ice came directly from the fridge. It not only had the ice dispenser, it also had a setting to crush it.

BTW, the Mint Julips were a hit.

[denim]

How about something like http://www.compactappliance.com/Grea...ssories%3E6057

That seems like a serious beast of an ice shaver. Note the size and weight of it.

[icedoverfire]

Fridge for cubes and somewhat crushed ice.
Somewhat crushed ice + Rival snowcone maker that does really finely crushed ice.

http://www.amazon.com/Rival-319716-S...680293-2041115

- ice

[duotone]

Fridge for cubes and somewhat crushed ice.
Somewhat crushed ice + Rival snowcone maker that does really finely crushed ice.

http://www.amazon.com/Rival-319716-S...680293-2041115



- ice

Looks promising, looking online I never thought to look for "snow cone maker" although I did have a quick google for Mr Frosty like I used to have when I was about 10 years old!

The hunt continues, thanks for all the advice/links so far everyone.

[xraygun]

Try the bag and mallet first. It really works well.

[duotone]

Try the bag and mallet first. It really works well.

Will do, cheers!

[duotone]

Try the bag and mallet first. It really works well.

Finally bought a wooden meat mallet today, it works brilliantly. Put 5 or so cubes in a plastic sandwich bag, mallet them, then tip them into a glass and fill up with drink.

Thanks Xraygun!

[xraygun]

Cheers!

[turtle]

Both our fridges have ice makers (the half moon ice type). This works for me