Everybody loves to have a snow cone. They are a hot favorite among people when they visit carnivals and fairs. Is it possible to have one at home? Yes, it is. They just consist of ice and flavors which appears to be simple enough however, getting the ice texture right can be tricky.
It might be possible to crush the ice in a blender for frozen drinks however, it is not the same as having fluffy and fine ice within a snow cone. These snow cone machines do not crush or chop the ice, they shave it into thin bits which are known as snowflakes. It is tough to get a perfect texture without having a dedicated ice shaver. There are several alternatives available on the web. You can opt for an affordable shaved ice machine electric snow cone maker or some high-end model that will shave ice all day long.
List of top 5 ice shavers and snow cone machines
1. Vevor 110V electric ice shaver crusher:
This electric ice shaver comes with a powerful performance together with an eye-pleasing appearance. It has a built-in 33W copper motor and it can crush close to 95 kg or 210 lbs of ice every hour giving you fluffy, soft, and powdery snow ice in a relatively small time. You can also get accessories with the machine such as splash-proof ice outlets, a practical ice bowl, an ergonomic handle, dense air vents, and a u-shaped base having non-skid feet.
The machine is perfect for canteens, cafes, bars, restaurants, and snack stands. It gives you high crushing efficiency, a wide inlet large capacity, a practical stainless ice bowl, etc. The ice shaver comes with a solid 300W copper motor with a rotating speed of 1450 r/min. It paves the way for a high yield with minimal noise. The crushing capacity of the machine can satisfy your needs in a short period
2. Cuisinart snow cone maker
It is a handy little machine that makes use of standard ice cubes for making snow cones fast. It is capable of shaving ice within a minute for as many as 5 cones. All you need to do is load the ice and then press down the handle for shaving it in the bin attached. You do not have to worry about the settings apart from the usual On and Off ones. There is a pop-out tray that holds 4 cones at a single time for simple filling by using shaved ice flavored with syrups.
It is easy to set up and use the machine. It comes with a large bin that allows you to serve several cones fast even though the machine comes with 4 reusable cones and some disposable ones. It is a high-volume ice shaver that is terrific for larger groups. It is quite difficult to use it for single cones.
3. Vevor ice shaver machine electric
This Vevor machine comes with a 250W copper motor that provides 320 rpm to the machine. It can give you 265 lbs or 120 kg of crushed ice per hour with low noise. You will get integral triple blades and high ice-shaving efficiency with the machine. There is a provision for blade replacement with the machine.
There is a big ice hopper on top of the ice shaver machine that can hold 2.3 kg or 5.1 lbs of ice. It will significantly decrease the troubles by the addition of ice constantly. There is a rotatable adjusting knob in the machine that allows you to set the fineness of the ice according to your requirements. The machine is built with premium polycarbonate and has a good appearance. It is also a compact and robust machine.
4. Nostalgia Vintage snow cone machine
There is a small old-fashioned push cart available with this machine with a couple of wheels, a couple of legs, and a shelf that will hold a couple of cones for serving and filling right across the kitchen counter. This doesn’t mean that the machine lacks in capacity and power. It comes with a bin that can hold shaved ice for as many as 20 snow cones.
It uses standard ice cubes and it will not turn without its lid firmly locked into place. This makes the machine safe for operation and it is pretty fast as well. The chamber containing ice is converted into shaved ice for close to 3 snow cones within 30 seconds. The problem however is that the chamber is a lot smaller than a generously sized bin having shaved ice.
5. Vevor 110V commercial ice shaver crusher
This ice shaver comes with an extra 5L ice storage hopper that minimizes the number of refills while optimizing the supply of ice. It has simple buttons for convenient operation and the reverse controls will prevent the device from getting jammed with ice. There is an adjustment knob that allows you to add ice cubes and also adjust its fineness. The machine is capable of crushing ice of 441 lbs or 200 kg per hour by using its powerful 300W copper motor.
It features a sharp stainless-steel blade that can rotate at a speed of 320 rpm. There are food-grade stirring paddles available with the machine made from PC material and they are durable. There is a bottom drip tray available enabling the placement of glasses and cups. You also get a water outlet where you can attach a drain hose for preventing melting ice from spilling out.
Different types of ice shaver machines
While you are creating shaved ice, the most significant ingredient is ice. For first-time users, it is a good idea to be aware of the flavored syrups to order and be aware of the kind of ice to use. There are fundamentally two types of ice shavers viz. cube ice shavers and block ice shavers.
- Cubed ice shavers
Cubed ice is usually available in the local grocery and convenience stores. They also come quite cheap although the pricing may vary from place to place. These kinds of shaved ice machines are simple to maintain and they can shave ice pretty quickly.
- Block ice shavers
On the other hand, block ice is not available as easily as regular bagged and cubed ice. You can get it from a wholesaler which might be expensive or you may create some of your own by using ice molds. There are two sub-types of block ice. They are solid block ice and compressed block ice. It is not a good idea to use compressed block ice for ice-shaving machines as they do not give a smooth shaving interface for the machine.
What do you look for while purchasing an ice shaver or a snow cone machine?
Here are the things you need to look for while buying a snow cone maker.
1. Operation: Keep in mind that the most affordable, accessible, and small kinds of snow cone makers are manual and come with a hand crank for shaving the ice. But if you are looking to save energy and let this machine do all the work for you, getting an electric snow cone maker is the best bet.
2. Safety: Another factor you need to remember is safety. Most snow cone makers utilize sharp blades for the slippery ice and they need caution. Many small machines used for domestic purposes have safety features that limit the capacity and yet protect the fingers and hands from getting close to the blade.
3. Size: The snow cone makers vary in size. You can get a countertop appliance that will make a single cone to standalone carts having wheels for holding ice that can cater to dozens. Using an old-school snow cone cart is great fun, especially for gatherings. But you will need space to host the gatherings.
4. Design: Part of the fun of having snow cones is the process of making them. Your machine is likely to appear on the display while using it. There are several models available that are party-ready and come with distinctive looks and bright colors. Others appear more utilitarian and boring.
5. Price: Using a brand-new snow cone machine can cost you anything between 20 USD to several hundred dollars. The higher-priced machines will get you an ice shaver with greater capacity and power. The higher end of pricing is usually reserved for commercial-grade snow cone machines that are used for professional purposes.
FAQs about shaved ice machine
1. What is the difference between snow cones and shaved ice?
Shaved ice and snow cones are not the same thing. The line between the two is quite thin though. It is all about texture as the dessert can range from thin tiny flakes of ice having a fluffy texture to bigger ice bits that are crunchier. The shaved ice will be more fluffy while the snow cone will be more crunchy.
2. What are the accessories you need in a snow cone machine?
It is not possible to create great-tasting snow cones without the use of syrups you need to pour over the ice. A lot of snow cones come with kits that contain syrup bottles from a range of brands. you can also get several recipes to try and make your versions.
