Providing stellar food and services is integral to the success and operations of a commercial diner. A restaurant’s performance depends, in large part, on proper coordination between the staff, equipment, and management of the establishment. Given their necessity for production and irreplaceability in the framework of your restaurant’s operations, kitchen equipment is essential to running a successful operation in a commercial kitchen. Commercial equipment is also necessary for bulk handling since it minimizes manual labor, helps save time, and lets the team remain focused while providing service.
When purchasing commercial kitchen equipment, it’s important to take into account several things, including:
- Quality
- Kitchen space and fit
- Pricing
- Choosing the right supplier
- Ease in using and cleaning the equipment
You will require the following basic appliances in your kitchen:
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Slicers
- Ovens
- Mixers
- Dishwasher
- Sinks
- Ice makers
Make sure to investigate the level of customer service offered by the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing any appliances.
Ice Makers
The necessity for and use of ice makers among the aforementioned appliances is greatest in restaurants and bars that offer cold drinks on their menus. The quantity of ice required for providing drinks to your customers cannot be produced by commercial or ordinary refrigeration machines. Ice makers also give eateries the option to serve ice in shapes other than the traditional cube and ensure that each piece is uniform in size and structure. Water filtration systems also increase the likelihood of having cleaner ice, which enhances the quality of every cold beverage you offer.
When selecting an ice maker, be sure to consider the following elements:
The Ice Machine’s Type
- Modular/Ice machine head
- Self-contained ice machines
- Combination of ice maker/dispenser
Kitchen Placement
A larger self-contained unit or modular unit + bin will likely go somewhere in the kitchen or back in a storage room, not visible to your guests, because front-of-house real estate is important.
You may also have a smaller machine behind your bar and a bigger one in the back.
You want the machine to be accessible to your personnel for maximum efficiency. Try to place the ice maker on the same floor as your service if your business has multiple floors. It is incredibly inefficient for personnel to carry ice up and down flights of stairs, especially during periods of high traffic.
Size of the ice machine
Ice that is stagnant might attract bacteria and other taste-degrading elements. It usually builds up in the bottom of your bin as a result of a machine that makes and stores more ice than you need over time. To choose the appropriate machine, be sure to determine how much ice is typically utilized in your restaurant. For some pubs and industrial kitchens, two smaller units might be a preferable solution because usage can be spread out during service periods, ensuring that you never fully run out.
Types of ice
Not all ice is created equal. There are a number of different ice shapes and styles that venues use, all with different applications.
- Full cube
- Half cube
- Crescent
- Nugget
- Flake/shaved ice
Many retailers offer several brands of ice machines that can give you the desired shape and quantity of ice.
Now that you’ve listed your needs, take a look at the different types of ice makers sold by various top retailers online or in your area. Some of the best retailers in the market today are:
Amazon
Amazon is a multinational American firm with interests in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, streaming media, and online shopping. It uses a multi-level e-commerce strategy and concentrates on building a business-to-consumer relationship. It is one of the biggest online retailers and marketplaces in the world. Thanks to its diverse catalog, Amazon also has ice machines from various brands on its site. Some of these brands are:
- Scotsman
Scotsman ice makers are high-quality machines renowned for their production capacities and diverse capabilities. They are designed to produce nugget ice or clear ice.
- Ice-o-Matic
Ice-o-Matic has several types of commercial ice makers that produce flake, cube, and pearl ice to help your staff create that perfect beverage.
- Manitowoc
Manitowoc ice machines, another quality brand vouched for by millions of satisfied customers across the globe, are known for their rhomboid-shaped ice.
CKitchen
CKitchen Commercial Kitchen Equipment Dealer is a New York-based factory-authorized dealer of restaurant supplies and appliances. With nearly 40 years of experience in the business, their diverse range of services includes professional food service consultations, customer service, and kitchen design services available.
CKitchen stocks some of the best ice maker brands in the business. Some of these brands include:
- Scotsman
CKitchen has under-counter, ice bagging systems, air-cooled and water-cooled ice machines on their site from Scotsman. They produce nugget ice or clear ice.
- Ice-o-Matic
CKitchen boasts under-counter ice machines, ice cube makers, remote condensers, and ice machine heads under the brand Ice-o-Matic. Its range of ice machines can produce flake, cube, or pearl-shaped ice.
- Manitowoc ice makers
CKitchen’s range of Manitowoc ice makers can create flake ice, nugget ice, full-size ice cubes, and half-size ice cubes.
- Hoshizaki commercial ice makers
CKitchen’s range of commercial ice makers from Hoshizaki includes a wide range of production capacities and can produce flake ice, nugget ice, full-size ice cubes, and half-size ice cubes.
Wasserstrom
Wasserstrom is an Ohio-based distributor of commercial restaurant supplies and equipment.
Its catalog includes ice maker brands like:
- Scotsman
Wasserstrom has ice-maker machines from Scotsman along with parts and accessories like water filter cartridges, bins, etc. Machines from Scotsman produce nugget or clear ice.
- Manitowoc ice machines
Wasserstrom offers a wide range of ice machines from Manitowoc that can produce flake ice, nugget ice, full-size ice cubes, and half-size ice cubes.
- Hoshizaki ice machines
Wasserstrom’s range of commercial ice makers from Hoshizaki can produce flake ice, nugget ice, full-size ice cubes, and half-size ice cubes.
Webstaurant Store
Webstaurant Store is one of the largest distributors of restaurant supplies and appliances, based in Lancaster, PA. It has a wide variety of brands to choose from when purchasing commercial kitchen equipment. The most popular ice maker brands on its website include:
- Scotsman
Webstaurant Store offers a wide selection of ice maker machines from Scotsman. Scotsman ice machines produce nugget or clear ice.
- Manitowoc ice machines
Webstaurant’s catalog includes under-counter ice machines, ice bins, and ice and water dispensers from Manitowoc. Its machines produce flake ice, nugget ice, full-size ice cubes, and half-size ice cubes.
- Hoshizaki ice machines
The range of products sold by WebstaurantStore under Hoshizaki includes ice makers, refrigerators, freezers, and display cases for commercial kitchens. Ice makers from Hoshizaki can produce flake ice, nugget ice, full-size ice cubes, and half-size ice cubes.
- Ice-o-Matic
Ice-o-Matic’s range of equipment includes air-cooled ice machines, under-counter ice machines, water-cooled ice machines, and ice dispensers. Its range of ice machines can produce flake, cube, or pearl-shaped ice.
KaTom
KaTom Restaurant Supply is a supplier of commercial kitchen products and equipment, curated to help you build your restaurant at a wholesale rate. They have products ranging from ice machines to gloves for kitchen use.
Some of the brands hosted on their website include:
- Scotsman
KaTom offers a wide selection of ice maker machines from Scotsman. They produce nugget ice, top hat ice, and clear ice. They have ice dispensers, under-counter ice makers, and ice bins.
- Manitowoc ice machines
KaTom offers under-counter ice machines, ice bins, and ice and water dispensers from Manitowoc. They can produce flake ice, nugget ice, full-size ice cubes, and half-size ice cubes.
- Hoshizaki ice machines
The range of products under Hoshizaki sold by KaTom includes ice makers, prep tables, and reach-in refrigerators. Ice makers from Hoshizaki can produce flake ice, nugget ice, full-size ice cubes, and half-size ice cubes.
- Ice-o-Matic
Ice-o-Matic’s range of appliances includes ice machines with bins, under-counter ice makers, and ice dispensers. Its ice machines can produce flake, cube, or pearl-shaped ice.
GoFoodService
GoFoodservice, an esteemed supplier in the restaurant equipment industry, proudly offers an extensive range of ice machines, featuring reputable brands like:
- Scotsman
GoFoodservice provides a vast selection of Scotsman ice machines that can produce practically any sort of ice imaginable, including flakes, dice, nuggets, scales, cubes, and even supercube.
- Manitowoc
Manitowoc has dominated the market since the 1960s. They are well-known for their Energy Star-certified devices.GoFoodservice offers under-counter ice makers, ice bins, and ice and water dispensers from Manitowoc. Its machines make flake ice, nugget ice, full-size and half-size ice cubes.
- Ice-O-Matic.
Ice-O-Matic offers a variety of ICE Series™ modular cube ice makers that are easy to operate and maintain, with a strong focus on dependability. Consider their machines to be your quiet companion, working tirelessly every day to produce large quantities of crystal-clear ice.
These brands are renowned for their reliability, efficiency, and quality, making them a top choice for commercial applications. Each brand brings unique features and innovations, catering to a wide array of ice production needs. Whether for small cafés or large restaurants, GoFoodservice provides suitable options to meet diverse commercial ice-making requirements.
It is not sufficient to only know how to choose the best industrial ice-cube maker. It’s also crucial to know where to look for the best solutions. Whether you’re looking for a specific type of ice machine or a popular brand, it’s important to perform sufficient research into its various specifications and capabilities to make an informed purchase for a reliable ice machine with long-lasting durability.
