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Who doesn’t love a snow cone? These sugary treats are perfect for hot summer days, but usually you have to wait to get them at a carnival or amusement park. However, if you get one of the best shaved ice machines on the market for your home – you can make snow cones right in your kitchen.
We won’t lie – it was a lot of fun testing these machines. Snow cones are one of our favorite desserts, and each model produced delicious results. You can also control the nutrition of your snow cones with these machines, which is especially useful if you want to cut your sugar intake, and/or lose weight.
We made sugar-free, calorie-free snow cones, which tasted much like the real thing – but didn’t spike our blood sugar. Of course, there are thousands of shaved ice machines on the market, so we aggregated millions of actual customer reviews, and tested the best products. Here are our top recommendations.
Our Top Pick
Nostalgia SCM525WH Snow Cone Maker
Nostalgia makes some of our favorite kitchen appliances, and this might just be one of our favorites. It’s backed by thousands of great customer reviews, and performed flawlessly in all of our testing.
We were able to make one snow cone in just about 12 to 15 seconds, which is mighty impressive. Our little tykes loved the finished products, and – truth be told – we did too. Our favorite shaved ice machine on the market today.
Other Great Picks
Cuisinart Snow Cone Maker
Cuisinart has a great reputation when it comes to kitchen appliances. They make reliable and affordable products, which are easy to use.
This snow cone maker was no different, and it performed flawlessly throughout all of our testing. With thousands of five-star customer reviews, and the ability to make other items like slushies and adult lemonades – it’s a great pick. Our highest recommendation.
Little Snowie Max Snow Cone Machine
This fun little machine packs a lot of power. Quite simply, it can make a snow cone in just three seconds.
While the price tag is higher than some other machines on our list, and the claims are big – this product lived up to the hype. All of our snow cones came out perfectly, and this model is also backed by thousands of great customer reviews. A top premium choice.
Dash Slushie Machine
With a plethora of great customer reviews, and excellent results in our testing, this is another top-notch machine. Dash is well-known for their kitchen appliances, and this specific model from their warehouse also comes in at a bargain price.
While we tested more expensive snow cone machines, for most people, this will be the right balance of price and performance. If you love making slushies or snow cones, and you want a product that is backed by a ton of great user reviews – this is the machine for you.
Zeny Ice Shaver Machine
This great machine comes in at a home price point, but offers commercial-grade performance. If you want slushies, frozen lemonade, and other cold treats – this machine can do it.
The performance for this model is actually so great, that you can even use it in real commercial settings. With thousands of 5-star customer reviews, and great results throughout all of our testing – we highly recommend this machine.
Hawaiian S900A Shaved Ice Machine
This is one of our favorite models on our list, as it makes some of the best-tasting snow cones we’ve ever had. With a myriad of great user reviews, it’s also well-liked by tons of real-life consumers.
Our favorite flavor was blue raspberry, as these snow cones were loved best by our staff. However, no matter what you want to make, this machine can make it happen – and we highly recommend it to anyone who loves snow cones, slushies, and more. Another great pick.
Nostalgia RSM602 Countertop Snow Cone Maker
This countertop snow cone machine not only looks awesome – it performs flawlessly. With thousands of great user reviews, and long-lasting durability – it’s another fantastic choice.
Since Nostalgia is a very well-known brand within the kitchen appliance space, you won’t have to worry about the reliability of this product, either. We love the old-fashioned red paint job, though there’s nothing old-fashioned about the machine’s flawless performance. Another great recommendation.
Manba Portable Snow Cone Machine
This budget option offers one unique quality besides it’s basement-level price – it’s portable. This means it’s great for taking to kid’s sporting games, parties, or anywhere else you can imagine.
It’s not quite as efficient as more expensive (and more powerful) machines, but for most people, this is a great pick. If you don’t want to spend more on a snow cone machine than you have to – grab this portable model.
Vivohome Electric Snow Cone Machine
This snow cone machine comes in at a bargain price, but it offers commercial performance. With lots of power, and the ability to shave almost 150 pounds of ice an hour, it will easily make any kind of slushie or snow cone you can dream up.
It performed well in all of our testing, and we’d recommend it to anyone who needs lots of power. You can spend more and go even higher up the power chain, but for most people, this is a perfect pick.
Great Northern Shaved Ice Machine
This premium machine can shave more than 350 pounds of ice in just one hour – which is truly staggering. While the price tag is also higher, this is truly a deluxe appliance.
It’s also backed by a myriad of raving customer reviews, and absolutely destroyed any ice we put in it. While it may be a little pricey for some, if you have the means, this is a great pick when you want a flawless snow cone machine.
What Is A Shaved Ice Machine?
A shaved ice machine is a fairly simple product, that helps you make snow cones in your own kitchen. These simple desserts are basically ice shavings, mixed with sugary syrups.
If you love snow cones, but want to make healthier treats, opt instead for any number of sugar-free sweeteners. These will also make your desserts zero calories – a true feat, in a market filled with over-bloated, sugary concoctions.
What Is The Difference Between Shaved Ice And Snow Cones?
Snow cones, on the other hand, are much more like ice. They are typically a thicker block of ice, which can be bitten, or quickly melts.
This is a small difference, but an important one. However, for kids – there is really no difference between the two – the key is the sugar.
Is Shaved Ice Healthier Than Ice Cream?
However, shaved ice is still loaded with sugar – just like ice cream. Therefore, it’s not that much healthier than ice cream – so consider using sugar-free syrups for your snow cones made at home – that will actually make them far healthier than ice cream, and it also means these home-made concoctions won’t spike your blood sugar.
How Do You Make Shaved Ice At Home?
From here, all you need to do is turn the machine on, and start the motor. Once it comes to full speed, simply insert the ice (and syrup) wherever your machine designates.
Within seconds, you’ll have a fully complete snow cone, or a shaved ice, if that’s what you prefer. We recommend choosing machines that are extremely easy to operate, as there is no need for complication for such a simple process.
How Do You Make Shaved Ice Fluffy?
This will ensure that your shaved ice isn’t too hard and frozen. Lastly, grind your ice down very finely – even putting it back into the blade a few times, if need be.
This process will allow you to have a fluffier (and easier to eat) finished product. For dense snow cones, go the opposite route – only put the ice through your blade once, and make sure your ice is firmly frozen when you start.
What Does Shaved Ice Taste Like?
That’s a pretty accurate analogy, since soda is also really just sugar water. Of course, whatever flavor (blueberry, raspberry, etc.) that you choose – will obviously also have a big impact on the overall flavor of your snow cone.
Does Shaved Ice Have Carbs?
Are Snow Cones Fattening?
However, snow cones do not contain fat, which is what some really mean by this question. For these reasons, we recommend using sugar-free syrups, which will eliminate all calories, sugar, and the possibility of fat gain.
How Much Money Is A Snow Cone Machine?
Cleaning A Snow Cone Machine
One key feature to look for when buying a snow cone machine, is how easy it is to clean. You don’t want to choose a model that takes eons to clean, or may need specific cleaning tools.
Cleaning your snow cone machine should only take a few minutes, maximum. Always remember, the more parts that comes with a snow cone machine, the longer it will take to clean it.
How Does A Snow Cone Machine Work?
Individual machines will have slight variations in exact operating instructions though, so be sure to check your owner’s manual, before making your first snow cone. We also like to use sugar-free syrups instead of regular ones, which makes each snow cone sugar-free and calorie-free.
Consuming the sugar found in normal snow cones is generally not very healthy, and may eventually help contribute to weight gain. So we strongly recommend using keto-friendly syrups, which will not spike your blood sugar.
In our experience, our children also could not tell the difference between sugary snow cones, and keto-friendly versions. This means you can fool them into thinking they’re getting a treat – when in reality, they’re eating something healthy.
The Best Shaved Ice Machines
There you have it – our top picks for the best shaved ice machines. Whether you want a budget model, a high-end machine, or something in between – we’ve got you covered.
Snow cones are delicious outside in the summer, but they’re just as good when made in your own kitchen. Additionally, you can better control the nutritional value of your own snow cones, including using sugar-free sweeteners – meaning you can even make keto snow cones.
Your kids will likely love snow cones too, so make them part of the process. Have them help you use your shaved ice machine, to make your favorite cold treats.
We’ve reviewed a myriad of other consumer goods and appliances, so if you liked this list, be sure to check out some of our other comprehensive product reviews.