When the weather warms up, there’s nothing more refreshing than a cold drink. Especially icy. Cold iced coffee, fruit smoothies, or drinks are much more relaxing than a constant fan. The ice needed to prepare our favorite drink can be obtained in several ways. The first option is to buy ready-made ice cubes in the store. In the long run, this is the least profitable and creates many problems. Not all stores in the area have ice and are open 7 days a week. Buying large quantities of ice for sale means sacrificing ice cube storage space for other products. Another option is to make ice yourself, in special bags or perforated silicone containers. It is needed, for example, to serve a refreshing mojito. There is only one more available option to obtain a large amount of ice, this is to contact an ice machine company to purchase an ice machine that guarantees constant access to ice, and fast and trouble-free ice production in all conditions.
Why should I choose an ice maker for making ice? What can you do with an ice machine?
It is an easy-to-use and very functional tool. Water can be taken from special containers or directly from the water supply network. Water cools, then turns into ice. Ice makers usually have appropriate sensors so that the user can monitor the entire ice-making process. It automatically shuts off when the water runs out or the ice bin is full. The size, efficiency, and speed of each model presented at Bftech vary depending on the performance. An interesting option is to adjust the shape or size of the ice, which is often found in certain models.
Should you choose a built-in ice maker?
When you are convinced of the convenience of your model, it is time to think about how it will work in your kitchen. One option is a built-in device. Another way is to place the ice maker in the refrigerator. Buying a refrigerator with a built-in ice maker depends on many other key factors, such as the capacity, features, and energy class of the appliance. Among refrigerators equipped with a classic ice maker and a freezer, the most attractive options are those that are quite expensive. A more affordable option is to find a separate ice maker and place it compactly somewhere in your kitchen.
What should you look for when buying an ice maker?
When buying this equipment, it is worth focusing your attention on several key parameters. In addition to the above-mentioned efficiency and performance, you should also take into account the noise that the ice maker makes during its active operation. The quieter the ice maker is, the better, especially if you have a room that is near the kitchen. Noise is measured in decibels. However, the size of the ice maker depends on individual needs. Whether you need a larger device depends on the number of people and how often you use the device. If you regularly organize parties with a large number of guests in an apartment or house, a large high-performance ice maker will help you. If the device is used sporadically and by several people, even the smallest and simplest model will be enough for the family. The ice maker is absolutely practical and convenient. Because cold drinks with crushed ice can be drunk all year round, not only in summer.
Ice is probably the easiest product for gourmets. It not only cools drinks and cocktails but is also indispensable when serving and preparing a variety of numerous extremely tasty snacks. For its production, you need an efficient ice maker, where ice cubes are always at hand.
Ice maker – which device to choose, with air or water cooling?
The key difference you may encounter when choosing an ice maker model is condenser cooling technology. Good ventilation is important for ice makers. This allows the unit to maintain the correct temperature and make ice quickly and efficiently. Air-cooled ice makers are the most economical because they do not use additional water. However, performance is limited and depends on device location and ambient temperature. Air-cooled ice makers should leave about 4 inches of clearance on each side to allow the ice to flow freely. The ice maker works efficiently when it is at a distance of at least 15 centimeters from other devices. The exception is rooms with high temperatures and limited ventilation, such as hot kitchens. The water-cooled ice maker must always be connected to the mains water supply. The use of water significantly increases resistance to ambient temperature or exposure to fresh air. Ideal for tight spaces where there may not be enough space around the device. In addition, the water-cooled ice maker works well even in hot and poorly ventilated rooms.
Ice Cube Shapes – Key Features and Uses
When choosing an ice maker, depending on the use of ice, it is also necessary to take into account the shape and size of the cube produced by this model. In gastronomy, the following forms of ice cream are most often used: classic universal ice, which fits well in glasses of different shapes and sizes. Ice cubes are a quick and effective way to cool liquids without diluting them too quickly. Therefore, it is actively used in carbonated drinks and various cocktails. The great advantage of ice generators that make ice cubes is their high efficiency. Using a vertical evaporator system, this unit can produce a large amount of ice in one cycle of its operation. The characteristic conical ice cube is characterized primarily by a large cooling surface. Thanks to this shape, the ice cools the drink very quickly without diluting it. It is therefore ideal for many applications such as soft drinks, juices, cocktails, and coffee. Conical ice makers use a hollow cone system that makes it easy to make ice even in hard water. The advantage is that such models work relatively quietly.
Due to their characteristic shape and excellent transparency, ice cubes are considered the most elegant, and ideal for serving drinks and cocktails. Ice comes with a bucket to chill a glass of whiskey or a bottle of champagne. Thanks to the ideal structure of the ice cube, it melts more slowly due to the small heat exchange surface, without affecting the taste of the drink. The cube floats freely in the glass. Ice cubes are made using a spray system with a horizontal evaporator. In such systems, the frozen cubes fall out of the mold one by one, ensuring a perfect shape.
The key to choosing an ice maker – what other things should you consider?
Ice maker operation and tank capacity. To properly select the right ice maker model, first, estimate your daily and peak ice needs. If you own a bar, enter your average and maximum daily alcohol consumption. Combining these two pieces of information allows you to determine the efficiency of the equipment needed and the number of ice tanks to meet demand during the busiest time of year. Bfteech has small table-top ice makers that produce a few kilograms of ice per day, but also free-standing models that produce more than 200 kilograms of ice cubes in 24 hours, which are used in hotels and large restaurants. Before buying an ice maker, check exactly where the drain is located in the area where you want to place the equipment. An ice maker with a removable water tank is large enough to be placed on the floor. The quality of the water supplied to the ice maker greatly affects the properties of the ice, as well as the operation and life of the ice maker. The minerals and impurities contained in it settle as sediment in the components of the ice maker and also cause the ice cubes to become cloudy. Therefore, when installing an ice maker, do not forget to install a suitable water filter.
