Ice, Ice Everywhere, and I Need More To Munch
Have you ever reached tried to get ice from your freezer only to discover it was empty? It bites! If you constantly want ice in your drinks, especially during summer, you might consider getting an ice machine. Which one though, is down to a lot of different factors. Do you want one that's going to always be full? What about one that only makes ice as you need it? Do you plan on using it for more than just water and the occasional drink? What about making shakes, smoothies, or ice cream? All of these can be done, but you need to know what type of ice maker you're working with. For that, we've got you covered. This week we're taking a closer look at what makes ice makers different from each other, what types of ice you can get, and how they stay cool. We're going in order of size as we go through the ice makers, so keep that in mind.
Ice Making All Day
-Counter Top Ice Makers
These are the ice makers most of us are used to seeing at home. They’re small enough to fit on a counter, table, or bar. Some require a direct hook up to a water line of their own. Others, instead, will have their own internal reservoir. These you'd fill up as needed. Often a countertop model would be self serve, but some will have a dispenser built-in. A countertop model will typically hold about 3 gallons of ice at the largest. The good news though is that they can keep the ice cold for long periods, meaning you don't have to use all of it at once.
This is great for drinks on a regular basis, but not if you're a large family or need ice with every drink.
-Ice Dispensers
Moving up in size we've got ice dispensers These are larger than the countertop models, but still 'compact.' They can typically hold between 2-5 gallons of ice at a time. Sadly they aren't made to be used for long-term ice storage, so what you make you use. They are however able to switch between self-serve or spitting out ice from the dispenser.
These are great for a larger family who is constantly on the go and needs ice for all sorts of things.
Moving on from here we're going to be looking at two varieties that would typically be labeled for 'commercial use. They are able to be used by households but keep in mind the amounts of ice we're talking about here.
- Self-contained ice machine
These are meant to fit under your counter. While they're only 40 inches tall, they're intended for commercial-level production. These can produce large amounts of ice and rapidly refill their stores. Typically they'll have a 20-gallon storage unit and be meant to hold it long-term. They are going to require a direct water line in order to maintain that amount of ice production.
- Modular ice machines
These are very different in comparison to the other models we've looked at today. This is not one that can fit on or under your cabinet. This is a unit that is taking up a spot against the wall or in the garage by itself. On the bottom, you've got a bin that can range from 10 gallons to 50 gallons. That's just a box with a slanted lid and insulation for long-term ice storage. On top of that sits the ice maker itself. It looks like just a box, but it's got a ton of power for quickly producing all of the ice you're going to need.
Honestly, we don't advise this one for home use, unless you're throwing parties or working out of your home for a food-based business. You know that we like to give you the options though.
Keeping It Cool
Now that we've shown off the different varieties you might reasonably purchase for your home, let's take a look at how they work? How are they making all of that precious ice?
- Air Cooled
This is the most common variety of cooling for making ice, whether you're looking at an attached freezer with your refrigerator, or one for your counter. The ice maker uses a fan to direct air at the condenser and use that to cool it off, and drop the temperature down. Its why during summer your refrigerator might seem to be louder because that fan has to work harder.
With this variety, it's important to keep two things in mind. A) The fans and vents need to be regularly cleaned of dust bunnies so that the machine can 'breathe' properly, and so that you don't get dust inside the machine. B) You need to leave space on all sides of the machine to keep it cool, to cut down on the amount of dust going into it, and to prevent any intake malfunctions.
-Water Cooled
This is a less common method, primarily because it's more expensive than the air-cooled. With a water-cooled ice maker, you're going to be using, what else, water to cool the condenser. It's going to have coils of tubing wrapped over/under/around the condenser to allow cool water to keep it chill. This means that the ice maker is going to require a direct connection to a water source, and possibly a drain as well.
- Remote Cooled
This is one that we don't expect to see in many homes, although we can think of a few that we might. A remote cooled system is one where the condenser is stored in a different room This one has both an upside and a downside, as far as we're concerned. On one hand, you're looking at significantly less noise while the ice maker is running. On the other hand, you're also looking at significantly more upkeep, regular maintenance is a must with these types.
Give Me the Ice
For our final section, we're looking at one of the most divisive topics. We've had family arguments break out over this. Types of ice. Now, we are staying entirely impartial, we just like to fix ice makers, our preference on types of ice isn't really relevant. If we had our way it would be possible to have one ice maker that could make all sorts of ice. Alas, we are only 'fixers' and not 'creators'.
Flaked Ice
This is also the type called 'shaved' ice if you find yourself craving a gelato or a snow cone during summer. This type of ice is small flakes of the ice, rather than it being crushed into variable pieces. This is great if you're planning on storing vegetables, meat or seafood outside of them for any amount of time. Not only does it look nice, it's also easy to replace.
Half Cube Ice
We aren't really sure who decided on some of these names, picture a cube of ice. Now chop it in half. Et voila, half cube. These are great for using in drinks if you're not looking to water down whatever you're adding them to. They will chill your drink without melting too quickly. (Why is that? We aren't really sure. We just fix the machines. Maybe someone with a degree in culinary sciences or thermodynamics might know?)
Full Cube Ice
Remember the half cube from before? Put it back together. Yay! You've now got a giant chunk of ice that you're going to stare longingly at, unable to crunch on i because it will ruin your teeth. In all honesty, though, these are great if you're looking to sell ice out of your home, or if you need ice packs for your local soccer or football team. If you're going traveling and you need to keep foods frozen or at least chilled during the trip, these are great.
Nugget Ice
We've heard these described as the 'queen of ice shapes.' Tiny nuggets of ice that you can munch on endlessly without destroying your teeth. You can get them from a fast-food chain that's named after a certain blue hedgehog. If you're able to get an at-home ice maker that will keep you stocked with these? We say go for it. Although they will melt faster than a half cube, they're still great for chilling drinks or using for making smoothies, ice creams, or shakes at home. Your blender will not hate you for using these, unlike say, a full ice cube.
Our final two are really just different shapes of ice, primarily used for drinks or presentation of foods. These are crescent ice and 'fancy ice.' Crescent ice is simply a crescent shape that may or may not be flat across one side of it. Sometimes it will be curved on both sides, depending on how the ice maker is set to function. Fancy ice is a term that can be applied to either spherical or hexagonal ice shapes. All three of these are really meant to make drinks, alcoholic or not, look more appealing when served.
Last Things To Keep In Mind
-Don't Get One That's Too Big
We know, bigger is better. But is there a difference between 'big enough to meet my needs' and 'so big my kitchen is so full of ice my relatives think I'm a penguin?' We think there might be. With that in mind, before purchasing a new ice maker, we advise taking into account your space. Where will you put it? How much ice do you need on a daily basis? More importantly, how often are you going to be able to use all of the ice in the machine? The reason for that is that the larger the machine, the more risk you have of stagnation and mold. Two things you definitely don't want to be battling when it comes to your drinks.
-Clean It Regularly
If you're going to get an ice maker,, please either schedule with us to have it cleaned regularly, or schedule on your calendar. Not only can you get ice build-ups similar to a freezer, but you can get mold and mildew. Even if your water is filtered, there is also going to be a buildup of minerals over time. The ice and mineral buildups are a problem for the long-term health of the machine, blocking functionality and water flow. The mold and mildew on the other hand are a problem for your long-term health. So please, with that in mind, keep an eye on the vents for your ice maker and watch to see if there are any concerning tastes or smells from it.
So, did we answer your questions? Do you know what type of ice maker you're wanting? Do you think that the nugget is the 'queen of ice' or do you have a different preference? Let us know over on our Facebook page. As usual, we love hearing from y'all and we want to know your thoughts.
You're still here? Your ice maker is broken? Don't worry, we can still help with that. We fix appliances every day, but we also fix and clean ice makers. So if you're wanting us to figure out the sounds it's making or just to come and get rid of the mildew that seems to be growing inside of it, we're right with you. You can call us at ((214) 599-0055 ) or set up an appointment at our page to choose a time that works best for you. At Appliance Rescue Service, we do our best to keep your home running smoothly.