Choosing the right ice machine involves more than just picking a size. This guide covers the key terms and decisions you need to understand before buying, so you can make a confident choice for your kitchen.
Storage
Storage refers to how much ice a machine can hold in its bin, not how much it can produce. Machines can generally produce more ice over 24 hours than the bin capacity. In the morning the bin will typically be full after overnight production with no demand. As the day progresses and ice is used, the machine continues producing but may struggle to keep up during peak demand. Think of storage as your reserve — the buffer between production and demand during your busiest periods.
Production
Production is the amount of ice a machine can make over a 24 hour period. Divide that figure by 24 to get the hourly rate, which gives a more realistic picture of how the machine performs during a busy service.
Production rate and temperature
Many suppliers quote production figures with an "up to" number. This is not a reliable figure to buy on. Ice making is a heat transfer process — the warmer the surrounding air, the harder the machine has to work and the less ice it produces. The figure that matters is production at your highest ambient temperature. All Scotsman models on this site show production at 32°C ambient, which is the realistic figure for a hot Australian kitchen or a busy summer day. Always buy on the 32°C figure, not the maximum quoted output.
Ice types
Scotsman produces several different ice types. The main ones are gourmet and dice, each available in multiple sizes, plus the newer cubelet and nugget formats.
Gourmet ice
Gourmet ice is produced by spraying water upward into a cooling mould. As the ice forms from the top down, impurities in the water fall away, producing a clear, hard, slow-melting cube with the distinctive top hat shape. Available in small, medium and large. This is the premium presentation ice used in cocktails, spirits and upmarket beverage service.
Dice ice
Dice ice is made the traditional way — a grid of cells is filled with water and frozen into uniform cubes. The tray is lightly warmed and the ice releases into the bin. Available in dice, half dice and large dice. A versatile workhorse ice suited to soft drinks, juices and general food service use.
Cubelet
Cubelet is a small, soft, chewable ice piece becoming increasingly popular in Australia for healthcare, blended drinks and self-service beverage stations. It absorbs flavour quickly and is gentle enough to chew.
Nugget
Nugget ice is a compressed flake ice formed into small cylindrical pieces. Like cubelet it is soft and chewable, popular in fast food, healthcare and convenience settings. It chills drinks rapidly and has a high surface area which makes it ideal for blending.
Self-contained under counter
Self-contained ice makers are all-in-one units where the ice maker and storage bin are a single machine. They fit under a standard counter and are ideal for smaller businesses needing ice close to the point of use — bars, cafes, smaller restaurants and food service counters. All Scotsman self-contained models on this site are designed for under counter installation.
Modular
For sites requiring large amounts of ice, modular is the answer. The ice maker is a standalone head unit with high production capacity. These heads sit over a separate storage bin, and there are many bin sizes to choose from — mix and match the head and bin to suit your exact production and storage requirements. Modular systems are the choice for large hotels, hospitals, large restaurants and any high volume application.
Drainage
It is important that melt water drains away and does not sit in the bin. Standing water causes ice to melt faster and can affect ice quality. Most smaller units use gravity drainage — the drain hose runs downhill to a floor drain or collection vessel. Where gravity drainage is not possible, models with a drain pump (PWD — progressive water discharge) are available. One important note: the drain hose should never be connected directly into a nearby drain pipe as this connects it into the sewage line, allowing smells, bacteria and other contaminants direct access to your ice. Always drain to an open visible point.
Water filters
We always recommend fitting a water filter to your ice machine. Better quality water means better quality ice, better taste and fewer machine problems caused by scale and mineral buildup. Date the filter cartridge when installed and change it regularly — an old or expired filter can actually make water quality worse than no filter at all. Ask us about the right filter for your model.
XSafe UV sanitisation
XSafe is a Scotsman innovation that uses UV light to continuously sanitise the ice in the bin throughout the day, reducing bacteria and keeping ice cleaner for longer between cleans. It is fitted as standard on all Scotsman EC, NU, AFC, MXG, NW, MFN and selected other models. Learn more about XSafe.
Ready to choose? Use our ice machine finder to filter by setup type, daily production and ice type to find the right model for your needs.