When it comes to refreshing summer treats, there’s nothing quite like a sweet frosty snow cone. Snow cones are often sold at places like carnivals, fairs, sporting events, church functions, and other large events. 

It’s important to be aware that shave ice and snow cones have their similarities, there are also some big difference between them and they shouldn’t be confused. The ice for a snow cone is much courser and crunchier, making it so much of the syrup tends to go through the ice to settle on the bottom of the cup. This courser ice also makes snow cones last longer without melting, which means you can prepare some ice in advance without it instantly starting to melt as it would with shaved ice.

Another big difference is that snow cones are typically made with a more limited number of flavor options – usually just a 4-6 different flavors. Shave ice on the other hand can sometimes have many dozens of flavor options and topping options.

Lastly, another difference is the machine which is used. A Snow Cone is made by a machine which grinds the ice into a more course tiny pieces of ice. The result looks more like a snowball that you can even eat without the need for a spoon. The syrup can go to the bottom of the cone that the snowball is on.  Since much of the syrup settles on the bottom of the snow cone cup – the last few bites the most flavorful! 

You can read more about the difference between a snow cones and shave ice in our post on that subject, here.

What to Consider

If you want to buy a snow cone machine there are certain things you should be aware of while you research.

• The Quantity of Ice You’ll Need To Produce

The first thing to consider is the quantity of snow cones you’ll need to sell each day. To make a good profit,  you should buy a snow cone machine that can handle a large supply of ice – but not one that’s larger than you need. If you are selling at a relatively low volume, then purchasing a smaller model made for home use will save you a lot of money and may be all you need.

• Manufacturer

The brand you choose is also quite important. This is because a well-established brand with good reviews can have a reputation for durability. You must research the pros and cons of the brands and what else they can offer you, such as warranty, even though the snow cone machine is only to be used in the kitchen. Buying the right brand is also important because you need to make sure that you can purchase parts to service the machine when needed. If the shaving blade wears out and you can’t buy another one, it will be useless.

• Design of the Machine

Snow cone machines can come in different designs. It is recommended to get a design that can be catchy and attractive if you are planning to have your snow cone for business purposes. In your kitchen, you would also like something that looks good. Finding a machine that is easy to use and clean is where a good design makes the difference.

• Durability

You want a machine that will last, don’t you? You should go for a machine with stainless steel construction and user servicable parts.

• Functional Efficiency

To determine how efficient a shaved ice machine is, look at the quantity of shaved ice it produces in an hour. In general, commercial quality shavers produce 350lbs or more of crushed ice per hour.

• Warranty

If buying an expensive ice shaving machine, ensure that comes with a warranty to cover defects within a given period of use. A year warranty  seems to be the standard that most manufacturers offer on new snow cone machines.

• The Cost

Naturally since you want to make a profit, you’ll want to spend as little money as possible on your shaver. That said, sometimes the “buy once, cry once” axiom is a good mantra to follow with business purchaseas.  A $600 snow cone machine that lasts you a decade is a much better value than a $50 machine that only lasts you 6 months.

 

Top 7 Commercial Snow Cone Machines

 

Paragon Blizzard Sno Cone Machine for Professional Concessionaires

The Paragon Blizzard is an excellent all around snow cone machine with lots of useful features and it has many verified reviews to back it up. With solid, durable construction the blizzard provides very fine snow and is easily operated, even by newly trained employees. It’s got a very powerful 1/3 horsepower motor which doesn’t tend to heat up as much as smaller units can – meaning the motor should last much longer as well.

The Blizzard is easy to set up and use, and since the unit includes a sturdy serving compartment made from aluminum and impact resistant polycarbonate panels — it’s durable and easy to keep clean. It has a handy cup holder on the side. This durable unit features a slanted serving compartment and drain hookup to get rid of excess water automatically and to make it a breeze to clean. It even includes a 36 inch drain tube, to hook up to the drain!

Besides the attractive design and handy cupholder on the side of the machine, one of the favorite features of owners is the light inside the machine, which makes it glow blue and grab attention when it’s darker out. The backlit sign and serving compartment looks awesome at night and will really help draw in sales.

Paragon is one of the most trusted names in the snow cone concession business and offers excellent customer service for all of their products. And if you need their service, this (made in USA!) unit is covered by a three year warranty.

For all of these reasons, we’ve chosen the Paragon Blizzard as our top pick for commercial snow cone machines. Honestly, we can’t say enough good things about this machine. Did we mention it comes with a serving scoop? It does!

[button type=”flat” shape=”rounded” size=”regular” formtarget=”_blank” href=”https://amzn.to/2SYMNH9″ style=”background-color:#f93c35;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border:none;” title=”Check Price Now”]Check Price Now[/button]

 

 

Paragon Simply-A-Blast Snow Cone Machine

The Simply-A-Blast machine is also by Paragon, and features many of the same features as its bigger brother the Blizzard, making a great value for the money. It doesn’t include a few things the Blizzard does like a light up sign and cupholder, but it’s still the same 1/3 horsepower motor. This beast machine shaves more than 500 pounds of cube or chunk ice per hour, so it’s perfect for making snow cones (and money!) fast.

As far as manufacturing quality, this commercial-style snow cone machine is made of heavy-duty aluminumized metal. It comes with a plexiglass door and remaining three sides are glass (another difference from the Blizzard, which features ALL plexiglass). The plastic liner tray is very nice and pliable – making it easy to remove and clean.

It requires some simple assembly, so that’s something to be aware of. When you first recieve it, the shaft from the motor that drives the blades may also be a little bit loose and need to be secured with the included allen wrench. It is extremely easy to do. If the blades ever need adjusting, that is incredibly simple too as well. If you watch YouTube video, it looks like a pain. We assure you, it’s not.

If you freeze water inside of a plastic cup, it will shave and leave virtually no ice, just light fluffy snow. If you use crushed ice, it will shave about 75% and leave the remaining 25% as small ice fragments.

Owners say that it’s extremely easy to use and clean up, and that it’s about the same noise level as a dishwasher. Nobody wants to scare away all the paying customers, so it’s a big plus that it’s not very loud.

One of the best features? This model is made in the United States and is covered by three year warranty.

[button type=”flat” shape=”rounded” size=”regular” formtarget=”_blank” href=”https://amzn.to/2tZXGP4″ style=”background-color:#f93c35;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border:none;” title=”Check Price Now”]Check Price Now[/button]

 

 

VIVOHOME  Snow Cone Maker

If you’re looking to get into the snow cone business for the least investment possible this is the one to get. It’s affordable, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an excellent snow cone maker. This machine is extremely well built feel to it and gives the impression that it will last for decades. can take store bought or home made ice cubes of any shape, making it perfect for homes, bars, churches, restaurants, snack stands, fairs, and more. Electric power does the work for you; it rapidly shaves ice (143 lbs. of ice per hour) to easily meet large demands.

The sturdy base offers helps to reduce vibration and keep the machine stable on your workstation or table. Nobody wants an extremely loud machine scaring off customers, so it’s helpful that this unit has a good base to minimize vibration and noise.

It has a water-resistant switch and automatic power shut-off; blade stops rotating automatically when the hopper is open to avoid injury.

Some owners have explained how it can be modified to produce ice chips, so if you prefer chunkier style ice for your snow cones this could be a great option. This may void the warranty though, so modify the unit at your own risk.

This unit may not have all all the fancy bells and whistles like some of the costlier models, but it’s just an overall fantastic value for the money.

[button type=”flat” shape=”rounded” size=”regular” formtarget=”_blank” href=”https://amzn.to/2SWtsqh” style=”background-color:#f93c35;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border:none;” title=”Check Price Now”]Check Price Now[/button]

 

 

Zeny Snow Cone Maker

This machine may not be the fanciest, but it’s a great buy for the money and shaves ice to a perfect snow texture in seconds! The Zeny can be used for home, but it’s certainly well built enough to be used commercially.

Equipped with TWO Commercial Grade 420 Alloy Steel Shaving Blades, this machine works efficiently with the productivity of around 440 lbs. per hour and is able to use ice cubes of any size. This is an extremely handy feature, since you can purchase store bought ice no matter what kind is available. It features 201 stainless steel construction so you should be able to use this ice shaver for many years without fear of rust.

It has a water-resistant “On / Off” Switch For Safe Operation, even with wet hands, since the cover of the switch is shielded to keep water away. You can stop it at your convenience securely even after a long period of work.

This sturdy, heavy machine with all stainless steel construction and with a highly efficient motor can produce 440 lbs. of shaved ice per hour to meet demands of a large amount of ice in a relatively short time. The ice it makes is divine. Just like soft snow.

It’s on the loud side, but it’s to be expected considering its size. And a little noise is worth the end product!

Before purchasing, we definitely recommend checking out the reviews on Amazon to learn more.

[button type=”flat” shape=”rounded” size=”regular” formtarget=”_blank” href=”https://amzn.to/2T08Jlh” style=”background-color:#f93c35;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border:none;” title=”Check Price Now”]Check Price Now[/button]

 

Segawe Commercial Ice Crusher

This Commercial Ice Crusher will shave over 200 lbs. of snow per hour, making snow just like the ice shavers that retail over a thousand dollars. It has a simple, easy to use design make a a great fit for newly trained employees. Ice is simply dropped in the top of the machine and the stainless steel blades efficiently shave the large pieces into perfectly textured ice. The Segawe comes with a drip tray and drainage tube from blade to the tray, which is a big plus to help keep things neat (and avoid any potential slips).

Although the unit is fairly large, it’s lightweight, making it a great option for mobile snow cone businesses who need to be able to move and setup quickly.

Unlike some of the other models we’ve reviewed, you can quickly adjust the blade to change the texture of how the ice is shaved by adjusting the red knob by the chute.

Lastly, the machine lid has a features automatic shutoff  protection so that the motor will stop if the top lid is opened.

[button type=”flat” shape=”rounded” size=”regular” formtarget=”_blank” href=”https://amzn.to/2NYtBIK” style=”background-color:#f93c35;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border:none;” title=”Check Price Now”]Check Price Now[/button]