10 Best Commercial Shaved Ice Machine in 2023

Come summertime, we have our own favorite comfort foods to feel refreshed. Some would love to eat ice cream while many, kids and adults alike, prefer those colorful and sweet snow cones and shaved ice desserts. If you are looking for a good business opportunity, this can be one of them.

Whether you are starting a food truck business, equipment rental business or dessert business, it’s a good idea to invest in a commercial shaved ice machine. These shaved ice machines usually have large capacities to allow you to make big batches of snow cones or shaved ice desserts.

To help you compare your choices and ultimately pick the right product, we listed some of the features you need to check and compare. We also reviewed some of the best machines in the market so we can share with you those products with remarkable features.

Best Commercial Shaved Ice Machine Reviews

1. Paragon Simply-A-Blast Heavy Duty Snow Cone Machine

Paragon is among the leading brands of best commercial shaved ice machines and one of their popular products is the Simply-A-Blast ice shaving machine. Most of its vital components are made of stainless steel and aluminum and the construction is very solid. Looking at its overall built, we can tell that this thing was built to last.

In addition, it has the highest shaving capacity of 500 pounds per hour and it runs on 1/3-hp 1,725-rpm motor power. The shaving blades of this machine sit on top of an aluminum box with a tempered glass panel where ice shavings directly go to. It’s very easy to use as there is no extra effort required. All you need to do is add the ice on the horn and press the red button.

We love that this ice shaver machine comes with a safety switch, knowing how powerful it is when it is switched on. That safety feature prevents accidental start-ups.

This machine for shaving ice cubes is great for rental businesses, school kitchens, fairs, amusement parks and workspaces.

Pros:

• Made in the US
• Comes with one-year warranty
• With a drain tube for easy cleaning
• High shaving capacity
• The shaving blades are adjustable for fine and bigger chunks of shaved ice.
• Solid construction

Cons:

• A bit more expensive than the other products we featured here but the bells and whistles are worth the price

Buy it now: Amazon

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2. Costzon Ice Shaver, Stainless Steel Electric Crusher

This is a nice commercial-grade ice shaving machine that can stand a lot of use and abuse. With Costzon Ice Shaver, making big batches of snow cones is not a problem as it crushes ice faster than many commercial ice shavers. It is great for commercial kitchens, snack stands, canteens and parties.

What we like most about this ice shaver is how heavy duty its overall construction is. You won’t be worried to use it everyday. The ice-crushing machine is constructed using 201 stainless steel with 430 stainless steel blades. These materials are solid and extremely durable. The transparent container for the ice is thick and unbreakable and can withstand years of usage.

This ice shaver is highly efficient because it uses a dual cutter head. Many of the commercial ice shavers we’ve seen have a single blade which proves to be less efficient. The blades in this ice shaver rotate at 1,400 cycles per minute with a maximum shaving capacity of 440 pounds of ice per hour.

Furthermore, this ice machine is easy to use with a push of a button. You can also easily clean and maintain it.

Pros:

• Quality materials and construction
• Easy to use and clean
• High shaving capacity
• The sturdy stainless steel frame is resistant to abrasion from alcohol, oil, acid and alkali.
• Crushes ice fast because of its double blades
• With anti-skid handle and rubber feet

Cons:

• The location of the drain hole could be better for ease in draining water.

Buy it now: Amazon

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3. Great Northern Premium Quality Ice Cub Shaved Ice Machine Commercial Ice Shaver

The Great Norther ice machine is another best commercial shaved ice machine that is sturdy and with a heavy-duty construction. This cool-looking machine is a popular option for parties and large family gatherings. It can be a big hit for kids!

It may look like a heavy snow cone machine but this machine is lightweight. You can easily move it around and store it after use. It also has a solid construction, with the main part designed to crush ice blocks with its high-impact abs, brass and stainless steel construction. The blade is fully adjustable and replaceable. Additionally, it uses a commercial-grade motor that can crush 350 pounds of ice per hour.

What we like most about this block ice shaver is that it produces very fluffy and soft ice. You can simply add sweet syrup and you’ll have a sweet treat.

Pros:

• Produces very soft and fluffy ice
• With one-year warranty
• Heavy-duty construction
• Easy to use
• Also good for family use

Cons:

• Low quality rubber feet as pointed out by some customers

Buy it now: Amazon

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4. VEVOR 110V Commercial Ice Crusher 440LBS/H, ETL Approved 300W Electric Snow Cone Machine with Dual Blades

This product is also a good option if you are after a well-made ice shaver machine for commercial and frequent use. It is constructed from food-grade stainless steel that can withstand rough use and abuse.

What we like most about this product is its user-friendly design. The stainless steel hopper has a 4.5-inch opening which is considerably of good size for ease in loading the ice. It also features a dual-blade design and a powerful 300-watt copper motor, allowing you to shave up to 396 pounds of ice per hour. The shaved ice will then fall to the storage box which can hold up to 34 liters of shaved ice. So from loading to storing the crushed ice, everything is a breeze and it is what you want in the best commercial shaved ice machine.

In addition, the ice shaver machine has an ergonomic nonslip handle to ensure a firm and comfortable grip. The on-and-off switch of this machine is also waterproof which makes it safer to use. With this commercial shaved ice machine, you can make delicious milkshakes, slushies, yogurt freezes, snow cones and more.

Pros:

• Comes with a 30-day quality guarantee and a 6-month warranty with lifetime customer service support
• High capacity
• User-friendly design
• With a storage box of the shaved ice
• Cleaning is easy

Cons:

• Storage box is not well insulated

Buy it now: Amazon

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5. Costzon Electric Ice Shaver, 250W Snow Cone Maker, 265 LBS/H

We already featured a Costzon shaved ice machine above but we thought that this is another interesting model from the same brand. This electric shaved ice machine has very different features from the other Costzon Ice Shaver. For one, it is a boxed-type machine where all the parts are kept inside the sturdy case.

What we like about this 250-watt ice shaver and snow cone maker is that it allows you to set the ice texture to thick or thin by simply moving the blade adjuster from one side to the other side. That allows you to customize your ice treats depending on your ice preference.

One of the interesting things about this ice shaving machine is that it is equipped with a large lid, and opening the lid will automatically stop the blade from shaving ice. That helps prevent accidents with the sharp blade.

Just like the first Costzon ice shaver machine, this too is an efficient gizmo with a shaving capacity of 265 pounds per hour.

Pros:

• Sturdy and solid construction
• Easy to use and clean
• With a reliable safety feature
• Adjustable blades depending on the desired size of crushed ice

Cons:

• A bit noisy

Buy it now: Amazon

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6. WYZworks Stainless Steel Commercial Ice Shaver

This product is compact in size and is a good option if you have a food truck ice business where there’s limited space for an ice machine. It’s also a perfect ice shaver machine for offices, schools or homes with a small kitchen space.

What we like about the WYZworks shaved ice machine is its versatility for commercial and home use. It’s powerful enough to make up to 440 pounds of shaved ice per hour which is ideal for those who are in the snow cone business. It is also small enough for home use because you can easily find a place for it in your kitchen top or in your cabinet for storage.

When it comes to durability, it is also on par with the other products in this review as all the parts of this shaved ice and snow machine are made from stainless steel. It comes with sharp shaving blades, a cashing and a hopper and a holding bowl.

Operating this stuff is also easy. You just simply switch on the power button to start crushing ice. Also, cleaning is a breeze as it has no hard-to-reach spaces.

Pros:

• Compact and portable
• With high capacity per hour
• Easy to clean
• Versatile, good for commercial and home application

Cons:

• The holding bowl is a bit small.

Buy it now: Amazon

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7. Yescom Electric Dual Blades Ice Shaver Snow Cone Machine Crusher

The last but certainly not the least shaved ice machine is from Yescom. One of the things we love about this product is that it comes with two backup blades for easy replacement. But of course, the original blades are quite durable and they won’t easily give up even with frequent commercial or home use.

With this shaved ice machine, you can break down up to 440 pounds of ice blocks into crushed ice in about an hour. It is an ideal choice for family parties or for business applications such as when you run a joint that makes frozen drinks or serves shaved ice treats. Moreover, with good maintenance, this stainless steel machine will surely last a long time as it is corrosion-resistant.

Another good feature about this product is that it automatically shuts down once the temperature reaches 275 degrees Fahrenheit, preventing overheating of its motor.

Pros:

• Easy operation
• Reliable safety features
• High capacity
• Comes with two extra sharp blades

Cons:

• Internal crevices are difficult to clean

Buy it now: Amazon

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8. Nostalgia 48-Inch Tall Snow Cone Machine Cart

For parties and big events, this snow cone maker can be a big hit for kits and adults alike. It has a capacity of about 72 snow cones (approximately 8 ounces), so preparing a delicious treat for many people would be easy.

We love the overall cart design of this product. At a party venue, you can easily put it in one corner so you can have a separate section for snow cones. The cart even features a side shelf that can hold two snow cones so you don’t have to hold them while adding syrups or toppings. It also has a storage shelf just below the ice storage box, where you can keep your snow cone supplies. The top part containing the shaving system and ice storage is removable, which is great in case you want to have it on a countertop.

More than the aesthetics, we also think that it has a pretty solid construction. The shaving system comes with stainless steel blades that have a capacity of 2 pounds per 90 seconds (that’s about 80 pounds per hour).

Pros:

• Ergonomic cart design with storage for supplies
• Easy to use and maintain
• Stainless steel blades are durable.

Cons:

• 80 pounds per hour capacity is a bit low compared to other heavy-duty commercial snow cone machines.

Buy it now: Amazon

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9. VIVOHOME Ice Crusher Shaver Snow Cone Maker Machine for Home and Commercial Use

If you are looking for a budget-friendly snow cone ice machine that you can use for family gatherings and parties, then this one is worth checking out.

Even though it is not as expensive as the other best commercial shaved ice machines on our list, in terms of durability and ease of use, it is comparable with those products. It is constructed from a stainless steel material that is resistant to corrosion and rust. It also has a smart design for ease in operation. Moreover, it has a heavy metal base with a nonslip pad to ensure that it will stay in place while in use. The pad also reduces vibration and noise during operation.

This 11-inch shaved ice and snow machine can crush up to 143 pounds of ice cubes per hour. We love that the body of this machine is considerably high, allowing you to use goblets, cups and bowls to catch the crushed ice.

Pros:

• Stable base
• Less noisy
• Good for commercial and home application
• Durable construction

Cons:

• Low capacity

Buy it now: Amazon

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10. Paragon Port-A-Blast SNO Cone Machine

There’s another product from Paragon that we also love and this one is more affordable than the other. The Port-A-Blast machine has a low-power consumption as it operates on 1/3 horsepower with a 1,275-rpm motor. This machine has a high-volume capacity which makes it a great choice for food or shave ice business, amusement park and commercial kitchen.

Also made in the US just like the other Paragon machines, this snow cone machine can deliver up to 500 pounds of crushed ice from smaller ice blocks or ice cubes.

The design of this best commercial shaved ice machine is unique from the rest of the machines we featured in this review. The tray that catches the shaved ice is like a drawer that you can simply pull if you need access to the ice. Most if not all of the components of this snow cone machine is made of heavy-duty aluminum metal with solid construction.

Pros:

• Ergonomic design
• Easy to operate
• Large capacity

Cons:

• Some users say that it is difficult to clean.

Buy it now: Amazon

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Buyer’s Guide: Important Factors to Check to Get the Best Commercial Shaved Ice Machine

This quick buyer’s guide can help you choose the right product when you are confronted with dozens of options. Make sure to check the label of the product for more details.

1. Size and weight of the machine

The size and weight of the machine you should buy will depend on your available space and the type of business you are running. For instance, if you have a brick-and-mortar location with a large kitchen and you have a significant number of customers daily, you would want to invest in a more expensive but heavy-duty machine, regardless of the size.

On the other hand, if you are running a shaved ice and snow cone business from a food truck or from a small booth, you may want to consider getting a compact machine so that you’ll have no problem finding a space in your small kitchen. A compact machine is also great for home use. If the machine is lightweight, that is a plus to reduce the stress of carrying the machine from one place to another.

2. Shaving Capacity

Imagine if you are running a popular snow cone shop with dozens of people per hour lining up to buy. You would want a machine that can produce more pounds of shaved ice per hour so you can be efficient in serving your customers. That is why the shaving capacity of the machine is an important consideration when making a decision.

So depending on your expected number of customers, you need to choose a machine that meets your needs. Commercial shaved ice machines can typically produce from 150 to more than 500 pounds of shaved ice an hour.

3. Blades

The most efficient shaved ice machines have dual blades that can turn block ice faster than those with a single blade.

Also, choose a machine with stainless steel blades as they are exceptionally sharp and durable. Moreover, some machines have adjustable blades so that you can customize the size of the ice shavings.

4. Safety features

Since you will be working with sharp blades, it’s important to choose a machine with a reliable set of safety features. For instance, there are machines with an auto shut-off feature if you will open the lid where you load the ice. But the two most basic safety features to look for are waterproof switches and blades that are not exposed.

5. Power consumption

This is an important factor to consider for a food truck and other similar businesses that will be operating the machine using a power generator. You need to check if the power consumption matches the capacity of your generator.

6. Quality construction

The prices of ice machines aren’t cheap so if you have to buy one, choose a product that will last for many years. Some of the most durable machines are made of stainless steel. Be careful when buying a shaver that’s made of plastic as they tend to break down faster than stainless steel.

FAQ

Here are some common questions and answers about ice machines.

Q: Which is healthier – shaved ice or ice cream?

It’s hard to tell which is healthier because it depends on the ingredient of the ice cream and the syrup or flavorings that you add to the ice. If the amount of syrup is in check, which means a syrup with less refined sugar and fortified with vitamins, then you can have a shaved ice treat that is far healthier than ice cream.

Q: What are the most popular flavors of shaved ice?

The top three flavors that are consistently popular every summer are grape, cherry and blue raspberry. They are followed by other flavors such as watermelon, pina colada, strawberry and banana. Those flavors are bestsellers for kids and adults.

Q: What’s the difference between a snow cone and shaved ice?

The difference between the two is mainly on the texture of the processed ice. Snow cones are usually made from ordinary ice cubes. They are small, coarse and with a crunchy texture. A sweet syrup is usually added on the top of the snow cone for flavor.

On the other hand, shaved ice is usually made from ice blocks. It has a snow-like texture and is also generally served with sweet syrup on top.

Q: How do you add flavor to the ice?

There are two common types of flavorings for the ice. One is the ready-to-use syrup which is popular for home parties and friendly gatherings. On the other hand, if you are a business, it is more cost efficient to buy concentrates then use them to prepare your own syrups.

Conclusion

Kids and adults alike love snow cones and shaved ice delights. If you have to buy a machine for your party or business needs, choose a product that is of commercial grade and make sure to check the features and tips we have mentioned above.

As we checked some of the best shaved ice machines in the market, our top choice is the Paragon Simply-A-Blast Heavy Duty Snow Cone Machine. Aside from being made by an established brand, this machine is very efficient and it has the highest shaving capacity among the rest of the products in our review. It is also safe, easy to use and easy to clean. On top of that, we found that this product has a very solid construction and it could last many years despite frequent use.