5 Best Ways To Use A Portable Ice Maker For Outdoor Activities
Running out of ice has often been a party pooper while inviting friends over for some drinks, an outdoor barbeque weekend or picnics. However, ice makers have emerged problem solvers and proved to be the long-anticipated relief from a refrigeration standpoint.
As its name hints, the Ice Maker’s compact size makes it easy to carry just anywhere and is incredibly cheap, making it a double delight for potential customers. That being said, there are numerous other factors that make this product highly likeable. Let’s deep dive into some of the technical factor that back our claims of its finesse.
If you are a person who has never used an Ice Maker or probably don’t know of its existence, here’s what you would be pleased to hear. Apart from the obvious fact that it is a device that easily produces ice cubes, the uniqueness of an Ice maker lies in its ability to function standalone in an office or outdoor setting.
The working principle simply involves freezing water in a compartment to produce ice cubes and the product has already been in use across several restaurants, bars, and other commercial spaces.
Different Types of Ice Makers
Most people are accustomed to seeing cubed ice forms and are probably not aware there are a variety of ice makers that do the job and produce non-cubed outputs. Here are a few examples of some popular ice makers today.
Countertop Ice Makers
True to its name, these ice makers are suited for counters and have been often found in small kitchens and offices. Although they do produce a significant amount of ice, they can’t typically store large quantities.
Undercounter Ice Makers
Tailored to fit well under a standard counter, these ice machines are quite common across bars, restaurants and compact homes. The quantity of ice produced is moderate, but an impressive design aspect is its built-in storage bin.
Built-In Ice Makers
Commonly found in quite a few high-end kitchens and outdoor kitchens, these devices are typically mounted on the cabinetry and can produce a large volume of ice. In fact, the sizes and shapes of the ice can be customized as well.
Undercounter Nugget Ice Makers
For starters, Nugget Ice, or rather chewable ice (its popular synonym) can be consumed more easily as compared to its cubed counterpart. An ice machine of this kind is popular at healthcare facilities where chewable ice is the preference.
Modular Ice Makers
A common sight across many hospitals and hotels, the modular ice maker is often connected to a separate storage bin or a dispenser.
Portable Ice Makers
These devices are tailored for camping and RV trips and be utilized just anywhere as long as there’s an access to an electric outlet.
Commercial Ice Machines
As the name suggests, these ice machines have been devised typically for high-demand environments such as bars, restaurants or just any event flocked by large crowds. If producing large quantity of ice efficiently and quickly is the need of the hour, look no further.
Best Ways to Use A Portable Ice Maker
Obviously its known the portable ice makers at come handy during social gatherings, but we decided to breakdown its applications anyway to help you precisely understand how they can be effectively utilized.
Parties and Gatherings
Ice is a steady must-have throughout parties and gatherings, and portable ice makers addresses this need effectively. Mounting one such device at the drinks counter should help address the continuous need for ice. Unlike the ice produced by the traditional refrigerator trays, the output of ice makers is much tastier.
While tailgating at a concert or any other event, a portable ice maker can ensure a flow of ice throughout the day.
Boating & Fishing
A portable ice maker helps keep your catch fresh the next time you go out fishing. An appliance that produces a good amount of ice could be your best bet.
Be it a barbeque during the weekends or heading for a picnic, a portable ice maker helps refrigerate the food and beverages.
Since you are outside and don’t have easy access to a water tap, it is all the more important to keep an eye on the water level of the water. Refill the tank as needed to ensure the ice production is not at all affected.
Camping and RV Trips
Most portable ice makers that are electricity or battery-powered are tailored for camping trips and RV adventures. No matter the duration of the RV trip, having this appliance handy ensures you’re never short of ice. Their compact size is also an important reason why there are a top favorite for outdoor activities.
Home Use
When you are obligated at entertaining a lot of guests at home with drinks, a portable ice maker comes in handy. Renting or buying one in accordance with the number of visitors could prove to be a great choice.
Apart from serving the primary purpose of entertaining guests, a portable ice maker offers several other benefits too.
Investing in an ice maker is the best way to get rid of ice trays altogether. Apart from the hassle of stacking them up, ice trays require several hours to produce ice. However, an ice maker produces the desired output in just under 6 minutes, which makes it a better option to consider.
In fact, ice trays emit a foul smell after being used for a while since they absorb the odour of the food stored in the refrigerator. It wouldn’t be a concern if you are habituated to cleaning your refrigerator everyday.
However, an ice maker helps avoid this mess altogether.
Emergency Preparedness
A portable ice maker can prove to be fruitful in refrigeration during instances of power outages, which makes it ideal for outdoor activities with little access to power outlets. Not just that, if you have guests coming over home at short notice or just about any situation where ice would be required almost instantly, these appliances can come in handy.
How to Choose the Right Ice Maker
Considering the plethora of options readily available across your nearest retail outlets or even online, how do you zero-in on a product that’s possibly the right fit? Well, here are a few aspects that probably need to be considered before arriving at a decision.
Assess Your Ice Requirements
Are you the typical workaholic who likes inviting friends over during the weekends for a couple of drinks? Or do you own a bar that cannot afford to ever run out of ice and jeopardize its reputation? Commercial-grade ice makers are best suited for hospitality ventures and the other option is to choose for residential devices.
Type of Ice
If you’re a novice to the world of ice and beverages, you’d be surprised to know that there are several kinds of ice. Cubed, crescent, nugget, flake, and gourmet. Chances are that you’ve got a glimpse of the non-cubed ones already and know what works best for you. So, choose an ice maker that precisely does the job.
Size
No matter how good an ice maker is, if it doesn’t fit well into the space accommodated for the device, at your home or an office, it’s of no use. Countertop ice makers are tailored for compact spaces, whereas under-counter or freestanding models are more suited for kitchens and other commercial establishments. The Garve portable Ice Maker weighs just 14.7lbs, which makes it ideal for both homes and commercial establishments such as restaurants.
Installation Needs
While some ice makers demand a water line connection, a few others need to be manually filled with water. If you require one mainly for outdoor activities, choosing the latter would be the wisest move.
Quality
There are several checkboxes to be ticked as far as product quality is concerned. Betting on an energy star-certified ice maker is highly recommended. Built-in water filtration systems, self-cleaning systems, and ice storage capacities are important features to look out for before arriving at a purchase decision. Reading online reviews about the operating costs, the reliability, and performance of ice makers should help.
The Garvee portable ice maker consumes 45dB of power and alerts users about full ice and low water. It can produce 26lbs of ice on a routine basis and adheres to a 6-minute operational cycle.
Budget
Most importantly, buying an ice maker shouldn’t burn a hole in your pocket. If you rarely have ice requirements, opting for a cheaply priced product may very well serve the need.
Warranty
A must do as far as any equipment is concerned is to check the warranty period offered by the manufacturer to insure you during instances of malfunctions. A few products, such as the Garvee Portable Ice Maker offer a warranty of 12 months, which makes it a good option to consider.
We hope this article on the best ways to use a portable ice maker for outdoor activities proved to be immensely helpful to you. Click here to learn more about the various ice maker options available. We suggest you to abide by the manufacturer’s instructions while operating these devices to ensure longevity. This includes frequent cleansing of the ice machine’s components to prevent rusting or damage caused due to the accumulation of minerals.
