Commercial ice machines form a critical link in the chain of operation in a restaurant or commercial kitchen. Ice machines can also be one of the largest expenditures in your budget, so choosing a unit that works for your particular needs and situation is vitally important.

The first (and most critical) decision to make when buying an ice machine is about capacity.
Too much ice production is wasteful, costs you money in energy, and requires you to clean out unused ice regularly. On the other hand, too little ice production means you run out of ice during peak usage times and the lifetime of the machine is shortened because it’s always running to keep up.

Your second decision is about the kind of ice do you want the machine to make.
While cubed ice is by far the most common, there are some other options out there that may work better, depending on how you plan to use the ice. Flaked ice is great for salad bar and meat displays. It’s also used in big institutions like hospitals to reduce choking hazards. Nugget ice is perfect for fountain drinks but melts to quickly for cocktails.

The third decision concerns the type of condensing unit you buy.
The condensing unit is the part of the ice machine that cools the water into ice. There are three types of condensing units: air cooled, water cooled, and remote. Air cooled condensers are not as efficient, but they are the easiest to install and do not use massive amounts of water. Water cooled units are illegal in drier parts of the country because of their water usage but are more efficient. The most efficient option is a remote condenser, which sits outside and connects to the bin remotely. There are some installation costs associated with a remote unit however.

Finally, if you’re going to spend the money on an ice machine, take the time to install a water filter.
Most manufacturers actively encourage you to do so, and the presence of an ice machine water filter will help improve the performance and lifespan of the machine, not to mention the taste of the ice. Proper ice machine maintenance is also extremely important to improving the lifespan and performance of the machine.