Ice machine
Ice cube makers are electrical machines for making ice cubes. They are available in different sizes, each with a different output of ice, for private use or for use in professional catering. Furthermore, the various ice cube makers sometimes produce different cube shapes (e.g. full ice cubes, hollow or gourmet cones). The devices are mostly made of stainless steel, but the designs depend on the individual model and manufacturer. Many ice cube makers have collection containers in which the ice can be temporarily stored after it has been made.
Compared to the use of ice cube molds, ice machines offer several advantages. On the one hand, using molds leads to cloudy ice cubes; this is caused by the water freezing from the outside in, trapping air and irregularities in the ice. Ice cubes from ice cube makers are frozen in layers on chilled pins or injected into molds, making them particularly clear in comparison. Another advantage of ice machines is the production quantity. Above a certain demand, e.g. in professional cocktail bars, the production of ice cubes in molds is no longer economical. Hygiene also plays a huge role in the production of ice. Using ice cube molds, germs can easily get into the cubes even before freezing. Ice machines largely consist of closed circuits and feature partially integrated cleaning programs. Additional hygiene is achieved by using the right water filter!
Professional ice cube machines are available in air and water-cooled versions. The use of an air-cooled unit offers the advantage that no additional costs are incurred due to the water consumption for cooling. Therefore, air-cooled ice cube makers are bound to certain spatial requirements; The maximum temperature of the room should not be more than 32°C and most devices must be sufficiently far away from walls or other obstacles. However, there are also air-cooled ice cube makers that have ventilation on the front and are therefore also suitable for installation!
