Lavender-infused cocktails, Croatian truffles, flatbread, bite-size desserts — and now it seems the latest in trendy food is… ice. Believe it or not, ice is considered a food by many frozen-water connoisseurs. According to a recent article in the New York Times, some people are so into ice as a food that they purchase commercial ice machines for their homes.

Ice: The Latest in Trendy Food

Call them obsessed, call them “ice snobs” — either way, one thing is for sure: ice is the latest trendy food. And one thing pointed out in the New York Times article is that ice can actually improve the quality of a drink. Besides that, ice can complement the kind of drink it’s cooling, whether it’s cube ice in a mixed drink or fragmented ice for soda.

Commercial Ice Machines in the Home

So why buy a commercial ice machine for your own home? Well, there are a few reasons. One is that some believe ice made in home refrigerators winds up tasting like the smells inside the freezer. Another reason is that some complain home refrigerator-made ice does not cool drinks well and melts too fast. Worse, still, is large, crescent-shaped ice some refrigerators produce — it takes up too much room and typically hits you in the face as you sip. Having ice with a great texture and shape is something ice connoisseurs just have to have.

Buying a Commercial Ice Machine

If you’re serious about ice as a food, consider buying a commercial ice machine. ShortOrder carries Manitowoc ice machines, which are well-known for their quality and reliability. Manitowoc ice machines at ShortOrder can produce nugget ice, flake ice, half size cubes and more. Even if you don’t own a restaurant or bar, it doesn’t mean you can’t have your very own commercial ice machine.

Ice Machine Slime Is An Important Maintenance Issue

Ice machine owners may be getting slimed without knowing it.

Ice machine slime is more than a funny-sounding phrase that evokes fond memories of watching Bill Murray in Ghostbusters at the matinee. For restaurant equipment owners, ice machine slime is a real health hazard that can run a kitchen afoul of the health inspector and possibly shut down a thriving foodservice business.

The Gory Details on Ice Machine Slime

Ice machine slime is such a prevalent hazard that muckraking Houston newsman Marvin Zindler made the sentence “Slime in the ice machine!” a household phrase along the Texas coastline. Ice machine slime isn’t deadly to healthy adults, but still, it can be harmful. It also has a distinctive taste and smell, and can be visually disgusting to your customers. Here’s what the City of Houston says:

It is a type of mold or fungus that accumulates from bacterial growth on surfaces that are constantly exposed to clinging water droplets and warm temperatures. Water residuals may be present on these surfaces due to machine construction or the presence of scouring utensils such as steel wool or scouring pads. If the residuals are left exposed and not wiped clean or the machine is not sanitized regularly, you will then see bacteria and mold growths in the moist, cool environment of your ice machine. Most times, slime will take on a pinkish tone; if left untreated, the pink will turn to red, green, brown and even black ropes of slime hanging from the freezer panels inside the machine after a while. Pretty picture, isn’t it?

Green and pink ropes of slime hanging in your ice machine and dropping in customers’ drinks… it may not be fatal, but it could soon be sending your once-healthy clients to the lab for some health tests.

The Ice Machine Slime Answer

If for example you’ve got ice machine slime in your favorite Manitowoc ice machine model SD-0852A, how do you handle the problem?

The Houston health inspectors recommend using quarternary ammonium (QAC), which kills the mold/fungus and also inhibits additional growth for a period of time after the slime has been removed. This chemical won’t react with the stainless steel of your SD-0852A, and it’s also handy for keeping slime out of other restaurant equipment like your soda machine or the nozzles and hoses of your direct draw systems.

For other ice machine buying tips and maintenance advice, check out our ice machine buyers guide!

The history of Ice Cream

There are many different stories that tell the tale of the origins of ice cream. Some say it began in 400 B.C. with the Persians. Others say that ice cream got its start in 62 A.D. with the Roman Emperor Nero who brought snow down from the mountains and mixed it with nuts and honey. The first documented American appearance of ice cream was in 1700 when Governor Bladen of Maryland served it to his guests. The first ice cream parlor opened its doors in New York City in 1776. Dolly Madison is even rumored to have served ice cream as dessert in the White House for her husband’s second inauguration in 1812.

Ice Cream: How It’s Made

Today, ice cream is made several ways, but most Americans still enjoy the flavor of homemade ice cream made in a hand-cranked freezer. These freezers use ice mixed with salt to keep the temperature of the ice cream ingredients cold and under control. Fortunately, you can also buy ice cream makers that have electronic cranks so you don’t wear yourself out making it. Then again, that is a great way to burn off calories before enjoying the ice cream.

Ice Cream for When It’s Hot Outside

If you happen to be lucky enough to run a restaurant that serves ice cream, than you are sure to see some smiling faces when it is hot outside and it is dessert time. The best way to store all those wonderful flavors is a spot freezer. They allow restaurant staff and chefs to see and locate ingredients, as well as making it easy to serve. Spot freezers easily go under countertops and behind bars, making them very easy to fit into your kitchen space.

Short Order carries True spot freezers and Beverage-Air spot freezers, as well as the rest of your kitchen equipment needs.