The 10 Best Ice Crushers
Special Honors
Santos #53 In a mere 30 seconds, the Santos #53 can deposit just over 2.5 pounds of crushed ice into the sturdy bucket, and do so without making as much noise as some other machines. It boasts two modes, one manual and one automatic, the latter of which offers time-saving hands-free use. omcan.com
Hatsuyuki HC-8E A robust commercial machine, the Hatsuyuki HC-8E is both NSF certified and UL listed, making it appropriate for use in a wide variety of settings. You can change the texture of the output with its handy blade adjustment knob, while the blade itself is replaceable, which helps extend the machine's lifespan. 1-800-shaved-ice.com
Editor's Notes
September 10, 2020:
An ice crusher lets you make delicious treats and drinks at home; at this time, we've cultivated a range of both manual and electric options to meet light and heavy-duty needs. In the former category, we kept the Gourmia Shaver, even though its less-than-robust handle means it's far from perfect. It's perhaps the best of its type, however, so if you don't want to invest in a large, electric machine, it can be a big help. But we replaced the Viski Professional Lewis Ice Bag with the Barillio Big Shot Muddler Kit. They both come with a Lewis Ice Bag, but the Big Shot has a muddler in place of a mallet, so it's more versatile, since you can use this implement to crush ice and muddle ingredients. Pair this with a cocktail shaker, and you'll be whipping up refreshing adult beverages in no time.
As for electric models, the popular Cuisinart Snow Cone was added, joining the Zeny Electric as a top choice. Both produce the fluffy ice you need to make fun treats for kids and adults alike; just remember that these machines, and similar, have fast moving blades and are not appropriate for use by children. We also kept one blender, the Blendtec Designer Series WildSide+, for those who want a machine that does more than just crush ice. Although a Vitamix blender might be a more popular choice, we selected the Blendtec because it has a preprogrammed ice crushing cycle, so it is slightly more convenient for this purpose. But, realistically, it's hard to go wrong with a model from either maker.
March 12, 2019:
Although the Victorio Kitchen VKP1126 remains somewhat popular, we decided to remove it due to ongoing concerns about rust. Even with careful cleaning and drying, it simply does not hold up. We added the Gourmia Shaver, instead, which is a similar portable model that offers incredibly easy operation. We also selected two additional non-electric models: the Arrow Home Products 60-Cube trays and the Viski Professional Lewis Ice Bag. They're both fine for casual entertaining, but if you have a large get-together on your hands or want crushed ice every day, a more robust, higher capacity model might be better. That's why we selected the Blendtec Designer Series WildSide+ and the Zeny Electric, although technically the former is a blender. This will be a positive for many users, however, as a multi-function device means fewer items to store and clean. Plus, Blendtec blenders are known for their durability and hassle-free operation.