Best Shaved Ice Machines

Review & Comparison, Last Update September 12, 2024
What can be better than a snow cone on a canicular summer day? A refreshing pepper-upper dessert can be easily prepared at home with ...Read more
PROS

The whole shaver's construction is made of stainless steel, which ensures durability and long service life of the appliance. 

CONS

It's a rather heavy appliance.

OUR VERDICT

This is an ideal choice for both family get-togethers and cocktail parties by a swimming pool with your friends. Ultimate performance and ease of operation will allow you to make lots of desserts in a matter of minutes.

detailed parameters
TYPE OF ICE PRODUCED
Snow cone / Shaved ice
ICE USED
Ice cubes or other ice types, and chilled fruit / vegetables that will fit into hopper opening
PERFORMANCE
440 lbs per hour
CONTROL
On/Off switch
MATERIAL
Stainless steel construction, Detachable dual chrome blades
SIZE AND WEIGHT

16" x 9.8" x 16.9"

19 lbs

CONVENIENCES
Bowl for shaved ice, On/Off switch is shielded with a waterproof cover, Foot with a rubber block, Ergonomic handle, Special hollow for a bowl
Warranty

6 months

PROS

This appliance has a quite space-saving design. The included ice molds can be used for ice freezing or act as containers for shaved ice.

CONS

You should hold an on/off button while shaving.

OUR VERDICT

The Hawaiian Shaved Ice S900A is a quite functional yet affordable machine. It'll let just about everybody make numerous refreshing desserts to brighten a day. The unit can be adjusted to shave up any desired texture of snow.

detailed parameters
TYPE OF ICE PRODUCED
Shaved ice
ICE USED
Ice block (4" in diameter by 1-15/16" in height) or ice cubes
PERFORMANCE
40 lbs per hour
CONTROL
Big gray on/off button, Settings for smoother or crunchier ice
MATERIAL
BPA-free plastic housing, Stainless steel blades
SIZE AND WEIGHT

6.5" x 8" x 14"

3 lbs

CONVENIENCES
2 ice molds, Non-slip mat, Dismountable construction for easy storage
Warranty

1 year

PROS

The appliance has a shelf with two holders for ice cones. As a nice bonus, two reusable plastic cones are already included in the set.

CONS

The plastic door is rather small, so it's a little hard to get the ice out.

OUR VERDICT

The Nostalgia RSM602 is a retro-style ice shaver that can become a great vintage decoration at any party. It allows for a 360-degree view, does not take up much space, and delivers yummy frozen desserts each time.

detailed parameters
TYPE OF ICE PRODUCED

Snow cone

ICE USED

Ice cubes

PERFORMANCE

10 lbs at a time

CONTROL

On/Off switch

MATERIAL

BPA-free plastic housing, Stainless steel blades

SIZE AND WEIGHT

13.5" x 10.75" x 10.25"

5.05 lbs

CONVENIENCES

Stable base, Safety switch, Snow cone side shelf, 360-degree view chamber, 2 x (8-ounce) reusable plastic snow cones, Scoop 

Warranty

1 year

PROS

It has a pop-out tray that holds four cones for convenient serving and storage. And as a bonus, the unit comes with four BPA-free reusable cones and 12 paper cones, plus a recipe booklet.

CONS

The power cord could be longer. 

OUR VERDICT

The Cuisinart SCM-10 Snow Cone Maker is one of the best models for family use. It's attractive, quick, safe, and low in maintenance. Making delicious treats with your kids couldn't be easier.

detailed parameters
TYPE OF ICE PRODUCED

Snow cone

ICE USED

Ice cubes 

PERFORMANCE

More than 120 lbs per hour

CONTROL

On/Off switch

MATERIAL

BPA-free casing, Stainless steel blades

SIZE AND WEIGHT

12" x 9.25" x 9"

7.9 lbs

CONVENIENCES

4 x BPA-free reusable plastic cones, 12 x paper cones, Pull-out serving tray with interlock safety feature, 2 x fold-down cone holders, scoop, removable ice bin, Non-skid feet

Warranty

3 years limited against defects in materials and workmanship;
5 years limited motor warranty

PROS

Equipped with a high-efficiency motor, it can crush 143 lbs of shaved ice per hour. The stainless steel blade rotates at the speed of up to 2000 runs/min.

CONS

It's a bit messy during use.

OUR VERDICT

This sleek, elegant machine can become an attractive addition to a home or restaurant kitchen alike. It can produce large amounts of shaved ice in a relatively short time to meet different demands.

detailed parameters
TYPE OF ICE PRODUCED

Shaved ice

ICE USED

Ice cubes or ice molds

PERFORMANCE

145 lbs per hour

CONTROL

On/Off switch

MATERIAL

Anodized aluminum casing and hopper, Stainless steel shaving blade, Food grade stainless steel bowl 

SIZE AND WEIGHT

12" x 8" x 17.5"

11 lbs

CONVENIENCES

Stable heavy cast base, Water-resistant on/off switch, Auto shut off when hopper handles are open, Non-skid feet

Warranty

1 year

Premium Shaver

If you can't imagine your life without delicious and refreshing ice cones, the WYZworks Heavy Duty Snow Cone Ice Shaver is a great option to go for. This is a high-performing shaver that's perfectly suitable for semi-commercial as well as home use.

The standout of this model is actually its construction. All of its parts including the base, casing, hopper, shaving blade, and even holding bowl are made of durable stainless steel so that the device can last you a long while without the risk of damage or breaking. The trade-off is that it is also rather hefty (~22.1 pounds of weight), therefore it's better to use it as a stationary unit and do not move around a lot.

On the upside, the WYZworks Heavy Duty Snow Cone Ice Shaver is very easy to assemble and use. The bowl for shaved ice stands stable under an outlet and requires manual rotating to hold the fluffy ice evenly. Also of note is that this shaver is made with safety in mind. The on/off switch is shielded with a waterproof cover to ensure security during use while the ice is fed to the blades with the help of an ergonomic handle which prevents you from accidentally injuring your hands.

Impressive Performance

The WYZworks Ice Shaver boasts a truly impressive performance when compared to most other models on the market. Not only is it the only model on the list capable of producing up to 440 lbs of shaved ice per hour, which is plenty even for a crowd, it also can be used with chilled fruit and veg so you can experiment and diversify your desserts however you like. As far as the process of ice shaving concerns, it's quite straightforward and quick - you only need to drop ice (or fruit) into a hopper, push the handle and let the machine do the rest. We should also mention that just like most any other shaver, the WYZworks Ice Shaver allows adjusting the thickness of ice chops. However, in order to that, make sure to keep a screwdriver at hand. 

Brief Summary

All in all, we'd say that the WYZworks shaved ice machine is one of the better choices for all ice lovers. Though it does have some heft to it, the appliance is perfect for parties as it can work with all types of ice as well as chilled fruit and veg and can produce almost half a thousand ice per hour, which is nothing short of impressive. With the WYZworks, you're sure to fulfill your culinary fancy and try your hand at preparing a variety of frozen desserts and refreshing drinks including not only traditional shaved ice but also halo desserts, boba snow, frosted milkshakes, and more. Plus, you can be confident that the device will serve you for a long time and stand the test of time due to its all-metal construction.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00UO5U67I

VIDEO

What customers say about this product

Key Specs(4.7)

Works great , the cooler the temperature the more snow like the shavings appear. We had it about a month and use it for social events at home works great

Size & Weight(4.4)

If you like stainless steel all part include handle , this is the one , turn on switch , a little noisy 3 second of use only , work great !

Features(4.6)

This thing plows through ice like a Himalayan avalanche through a wet paper towel. Don't waste your money on the cheap plastic machines that break down after three uses - this is the real deal!

So Versatile!

Feeling a bit lost, not knowing which type of ice is going to suit you more? It could happen, especially if you’ve never tried shaved ice before. So, naturally, you may wonder which type of desserts will taste better, the one made of ice blocks or the one made of crushed bagged ice? Tricky! As there's no real way to find out unless you try both! That's where the Hawaiian Ice Machine may get you covered.

The unique thing about this ice shaver, which favorably sets it from most other models, is that it's super versatile and can produce both soft, snow-like shaved ice and crispier ice of granulated structure, so you can use it for preparing a whole range of desserts as well as cocktails, cold soups, milkshakes and so on. Actually, any recipe that requires adding some ice will work - this machine will let you prepare it perfectly.

Straightforward to Use

What we also liked about the Hawaiian S9000A Electric Shaved Ice Machine is that its operation is straightforward and fuss-free. In fact, it's about the same as of a traditional hand mixer, but instead of foodstuff, you need to load it with ice blocks or cubes. The shaving process starts when you press and hold the button on the top of the device and instantly stops once you release it. All is that simple. In case you want to produce ice of a more coarse or crunchy texture, the Hawaiian S9000A Electric Shaved Ice Machine allows adjusting the blade height.

Compact Design

In addition to being versatile, the Hawaiian Shaved Ice S900A appeals with its affordable price tag, making it one of the best-sellers on the market. Also, despite being made of plastic rather than stainless steel, it's very durable and compact, allowing you to take it along with you on parties or neatly store away under the counter or in a cabinet. What is also convenient is that all of its parts are removable so you can detach them for even more compact storage and or cleaning.

To recap, though rather small in size, the Hawaiian Shaved Ice S900A packs quite a punch. It's high-performing and can produce any type of ice for preparing a variety of different desserts. At the same time, it's very easy to use, enabling just about anybody with little to no experience to get started immediately. So, if you look for a budget-friendly yet potent device to brighten up your home parties or friendly get-togethers, this one can be the right choice.

Last updated price $39.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B004UBMRKG

VIDEO

What customers say about this product

Features(5)

This shaved ice machine is perfect for kids. It's easy to load the ice and easy to press the bottom for the ice to come out.

Key Specs(0)

All in all I really love this product and I am sure you will to! Be sure to read the tips and instructions on how to obtain the best shaved ice possible!

Size & Weight(0)

Works as advertised. Makes a fluffy cup of ice in a couple minutes. It's light weight but seems pretty durable.

Retro Flair

The Nostalgia RSM602 is surely one of the best ice shavers you can find under $50. It's durable, functional, and cute enough to be proudly displayed on your countertop. It has a vintage look and can become a perfect decoration for your place. Furthermore, since it has compact dimensions of 13.5" x 10.7" x 10.25", it can fit on either a kitchen counter or a small table, making serving desserts or drinks during parties easier and more convenient.

Yet, the best thing about this Nostalgia retro machine is that it's compatible with regular ice and doesn't require the use of a special mold. Simply fill it with ice cubes, close the lid, and let the snow "fly". For your safety, the device will not start the operation until the lid's fixed properly - this will help prevent direct contact with the blades and minimize injury factors accordingly.

Speaking of the cutting blades, they are made from stainless steel and are sharp enough to shave ice cubes into fluffy ice quickly and efficiently. Overall, the machine can process and hold ice for up to 20 snow cones at a time. As a nice touch, the machine comes with 2 reusable plastic cones and an ice scoop for easy serving.

Design Peculiarities

The said cones can fit into the plastic holders this machine is equipped with. The side shelf with holders not only prevents leakage and mess but also frees your hands for other tasks. For example, you can use it as a prepping station while adding your favorite syrups.

Speaking about other design peculiarities, it's worth mentioning that this ice maker has a transparent chamber allowing for a 360-degree view. Therefore, you'll be able to shave ice and watch it piling up from any angle.

Owing to the durable BPA-free plastic housing and stainless steel blades, this ice shaving machine will surely serve you faithfully for years to come, treating your guests and families to refreshing cocktails, smoothies or slushies on demand.

For Fun Parties

If you're going to host fun parties, the manufacturer kindly offers a party bundle for a discounted price. With the extended kit like this, you won't need to get anything additionally since it includes icy snow cones, snow cone cups, spoon-straws, and various syrups.

To specify, the set contains as many as 20 snow cones with spoon-straws, making it possible to serve yummy ice for up to 20 guests. Also, it comes with Blue Raspberry, Cherry, and Cotton Candy syrups to suit any taste.

As you see, it's a great value bundle that is perfect for large gatherings. So, if you often throw parties, don't hesitate to choose this pack. Much fun is guaranteed!

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $49.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00197WV7I

Pro Results

The Cuisinart Snow Cone Maker is very simple in use and incredibly fast in performance. It can make 4-5 snow cones in less than one minute. Just add ice cubes and it will shave it to perfection within the shortest time possible.

The machine doesn’t require freezing of ice blocks beforehand. You can simply load some bagged ice from the shop into the funnel to get your freshly-shaved ice for snow cones, slushies', frozen lemonades, and other refreshing beverages.

It's worth emphasizing that the Cuisinart SCM-10 falls into the professional category. But while delivering amazing performance, its price point is not as high as of those machines commonly recognized as pro. So, if you need an affordable, heavy-duty machine that will be able to pass on much load and feed your whole neighborhood, it's a sound choice. It can produce over 112.5 lbs of crispy shaved ice in less than an hour. A big hit on parties!

Sleek Look

This is a minor thing, indeed, but we’d also like to draw your attention to the modern design of the Cuisinart ice shaver. A vibrant red casing along with a sleek stainless steel funnel and a see-through plastic container will decorate your kitchen interior.

As a nice touch, it has a pop-out tray that holds four cones for convenient serving and storage. Bonus: the unit comes with four BPA-free reusable cones and 12 paper cones, plus a recipe booklet.

Great For Children

The Cuisinart SCM-10 is built exceptionally well and is completely safe to use. The machine is highly secure and suitable for use even by children.

Unless all parts are put together properly, it won’t start to function at all. For example, if your kid is happed to forget to insert an ice tray or close lid, the machine won't run.

Last but not least, the snow cone maker is very easy to maintain. It doesn't make a mess during the cooking process and is easy to clean afterward. Actually, "cleaning" involves just pulling out the ice bin and turning it upside down on a dish towel.

All this makes the Cuisinart SCM-10 Snow Cone Maker one of the best models for family use. It's attractive, quick, safe, and low in maintenance. Making delicious treats with your kids couldn't be easier.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01IA3HAJM

For Comercial Use

Looking for a heavy-duty machine for your business? Then, you should seriously consider the Zeny 300B Ice Shaver. It's suitable not only for home use but also for fast-food stores, restaurants, snack bars, cafes, clubs, school canteens, carnivals, banquets, or festivals.

It's a high-efficient device that can deliver a consistent snow-like texture from regular ice cubes very quickly. Equipped with a fast-speed motor, it's capable of producing an incredible 143 lbs of shaved ice per one hour. And what is notable, the machine can continue working for 20 hours non-stop to meet the demands for large amounts of ice.

The sharp alloy steel shaving blade reaches the speed of 2000 runs/min, so it only takes a few seconds to crush the full bin of ice. The ice gets soft and fine - just ideal for slush and frozen drinks.

The Highest Quality

This ice crusher is built like a tank. It boasts an all stainless steel waterproof construction that would definitely stand up to the test of time and heavy use. The extra-durable stainless steel blade and hopper are highly resistant to corrosion, while the food-grade stainless steel bowl is very robust and thick. To keep the vibration and noise to a minimum while crushing ice, the unit is made with a heavy cast base.

The ZENY machine is as reliable as it's safe. It will automatically cut off the power and stop blade rotation if the hopper handle is open. Hence, you can be sure you won't get any wound or injury.

Final Thoughts

Although the machine is easy to operate and clean, it's not the most hygienic one out there. It really can make some mess, since the bowl is a bit small and ice can overflow it. Plus, the ice comes shooting out at a slight angle with a lot of force, sometimes making snow splatterings. Still, we consider that this minor con is easily overshadowed by amazing performance and build quality of this ice crusher.

To sum up, this sleek, elegant machine can become an attractive addition to a home or restaurant kitchen alike. It can produce large amounts of shaved ice in a relatively short time to meet different demands.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00OUPHB12

Infographics


What Is a Shaved Ice Machine?

When summer comes and the sun is boiling, there's nothing better than to quench your thirst on a chilled dessert made of ice and topped with delicious condiments. That's exactly why people all over the world love shaved ice. Known under different names such as SnoBalls, Shavers, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, and others, it's still the same treat which is served frozen with some sweet syrup or fruit on top. Would you like to be able to make it in the comfort of your own kitchen? Easy. All you will need is to get a shaved ice machine. Easy to assemble and fun to use, it's the perfect home-use appliance that will allow you to make not only shaved ice but also snow cones, snowballs, slushies, as well as margaritas, enabling you to throw the best parties ever. For this review, we've hand-picked five best shaved ice machines so you could choose a suitable model for your needs.

Along with a shaved ice machine, you might also want to get an ice maker that will provide you with enough ice to keep your parties going. You can also check out iced tea makers that will let you chill your favorite tea.

What Features to Compare

Type of Ice

So, you’ve got a shaved ice machine on a "to buy" list but not that sure where to start. The good news is - you’ve come to this website where we will gladly offer you an overview of essential features important to know before setting off to the shop. From the first look, it’s easy to come to a wrong conclusion that all shaved ice machines are pretty much the same. They might look similar, but there are certainly a few things that make them different. And the first one you should discover is the way they crush ice. If you prefer fluffy, melted ice absorbing syrup quickly, you should narrow down your choice to ice block shavers and ice cubes shavers. Desserts produced in such machines look very much like snow and taste like ice cream. To prepare shaved ice in an ice block shaver, you’ll need to use rock-frozen ice which sometimes isn’t that easy to get. It’s got to be rather big, of 7” in diameter and at least 7 lbs in weight. However, most fans of shaved ice keep freezing it by themselves in advance. Cubes ice shavers are easier to use in this sense since they don’t require any special ice but very standard ice cubes (or bagged ice) that most people usually have at hand. They won’t make shaved ice as fluffy as that produced in the other ice shaver but you’ll definitely still be pleased with its soft, snowflake-like texture. Snow cones are another type of crushed ice of more granulated and crispy structure. This type of ice is produced by most shaved ice machines. Customers who don’t want to bother their minds by running around seeking for special ice generally stick to the latter ice shavers. They are widely popular around the world and they produce desserts out from usual bagged ice sold here and there.

Performance and Operation

Now, when you already know what we believe is quite important, it’s time to check on performance and the way the chosen shaver is controlled. If you’ve never prepared this ice-based dessert in your life before, you’d be surprised to discover that it does take some ice. For example, to make one portion of shaved ice, you’d need to fill the machine with at least half a pound of ice. Still, this isn’t going to be enough if it's not only two of you in your family and there are kids waiting for a dessert. Ice is what you’ll definitely need to keep this fun going on for everyone. However, after you compare ice shavers from our selection, you’ll easily pick one with a lower ice consumption. With all this figured out, the rest in using a shaved ice maker is pretty simple. All you need to do is load some ice into a special container and push the ON button. Some ice shavers offer consumers the opportunity to choose and program the size of crushed ice so as to enable them to vary the taste of dessert every day. One day you can have it really soft, the other day you can treat your guests with a crispier shaved ice.

Material and Conveniences

To have an ice shaver last for a few years and serve you its best, it’s essential to consider what material it’s made of. Metal shaved ice machines are commonly recognized as most durable and reliable, though we can’t really say that plastic devices are all that inferior to them. Plastic used today is far different from that used even a decade ago. It’s heavy-duty, solid, BPA-free and absolutely safe to use. For the majority, plastic ice shavers are a more attractive option, and cheaper, too. Please, make sure to look at what conveniences manufacturers provided their devices with. Consider shaved ice machines with removable, stainless steel blades so that when they get blunt you can have them quickly sharpened instead of buying a whole new unit. Look for details as well. Anti-skid feet on the bottom may seem unimportant until you start using the machine. In order to not play on a flat surface, most present-day ice shavers rest on rubber rings or feet. We expect that those customers who’ve got kids and have a lot of picnicking on weekends may need to bring ice shavers around. Well, there are plenty of lightweight machines, so you’ll never upset your child and will always have the chance to please his or her taste buds with new flavors at any time!

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