Buying an Ice Machine

There are two types of ice-maker: one that produces a cube and another that produces a flake. If a large amount of flaked ice is required then it will be necessary to have both a cuber and a flaker, however if small amounts of flake are needed, such as for use in cocktails then cubes can be crushed in a commercial food processor or bar blender.

Simple Ice-makers

The simplest type of ice-maker works by depositing water into moulds automatically and then ejecting the ice cubes into a storage hopper when frozen. This sort of ice cube is not dissimilar to those you would find in a domestic freezer.

If the appearance of the ice is essential to the look of the drink, such as in a hotel cocktail bar or fine dining restaurant, there is a requirement for very clear ice, often in a shape rather than just a cube. This type of ice method produces shapes that are clear, attractive and very hard which makes them last for longer.

Limescale Busting Water Filters

Ice-makers are rated by their output per 24 hours. Many ice-makers have optional storage bins to store the ice once harvested. You will need a water filter to prevent the internal pipework of the ice-maker becoming furred up through limescale deposit. The use of a filter will also help the production of clearer ice cubes.

Appropriate Health & Safety

Did you know that ice is a legally considered foodstuff and is subject to strict hygiene legislation? Therefore, a regular cleaning routine should be followed. Ice tongs should be present in every ice bucket.

Here are some guidelines for correct handling of ice:

• The storage bin should only ever be used for ice
• When the ice machine is not in use ensure that the lid of the bin is shut
• Avoid letting customers help themselves to ice from the machine
• Regularly sanitise any piece of equipment that comes into contact with ice
• Clean the ice-maker and storage bin on a weekly basis
• Ice-makers should be regularly cleaned and serviced to ensure optimum performance
• Never use your hands to handle and serve ice. Items such as glass scoops can be extremely hazardous so make sure that you have the correct tools such as a plastic or aluminium ice scoop.