How We Test
We aggregate millions of product reviews, scour other websites for their professional opinions - then we test the products ourselves. We do not accept free products from manufacturers, and our only goal is to give you the best recommendations possible. However, if you buy from the links on this page, we may earn a small commission.
- Best Probiotics - September 1, 2024
- Best Keto Snacks - September 1, 2024
- Instant Pot® Keto Birthday Cake - September 1, 2024
If you don’t love snow cones – we’re not 100% sure we want to be friends with you. These summertime delights are incredibly delicious – so we had absolutely no issues with testing the best snow cone machines on the market.
All week, our office was filled with sugar highs, and lots of stories about summers spent by the pool with snow cones. Of course, there are also thousands of poor quality products out there, so we aggregated millions of actual customer reviews, tested the top models, and can now easily recommend the best snow cone machines on the market today.
Our Top Pick
Cuisinart Snow Cone Maker
This snow cone machine is wonderful – there’s no two ways about it. With thousands of stellar five-star customer reviews, and a great price point – it’s pretty much impossible to beat.
Of course, Cuisinart is well-known for their durable kitchen appliances, and this snow cone maker lived up to their reputation. It easily made everything we wanted, it’s BPA free, and it even made frozen lemonade in just seconds. Easily our top pick, and highly recommended.
Other Great Picks
Nostalgia RSM602 Countertop Snow Cone Maker
Not only is the look of this machine classic, the performance is top notch. With thousands of great customer reviews, and an extremely low price point, this is a great budget option for making snow cones.
The side shelf is especially useful, as it holds two snow cones while you prep them. As long as you don’t have high-volume needs, in which case a commercial snow cone machine would be better, this is a perfect snow cone maker to buy. A top choice.
Little Snowie Max Snow Cone Machine
If you don’t mind spending slightly more, this snow cone machine will give you a finished dessert in just three seconds – literally. We were pretty amazed at the speed of this machine, though we should note that it’s not the cheapest option on our list.
Backed by thousands of five-star customer reviews, it’s truly hard to find a fault with this model. The professional grade motor cut through pretty much anything we tested it with, and anyone who buys this machine – will undoubtedly love it.
Vivohome Snow Cone Machine
If you want a high quality machine that works just as well in a commercial setting as it does in your home, this product is likely a perfect match for you. While it isn’t the lowest-priced option on our list, it will make just about anything under the sun – milkshakes, yogurt, slushies, snow cones – they’re all possible with this appliance.
The performance of this machine is also stellar, as you can adjust the ice size from thin to thick – whichever texture you prefer. Vivohome says this can shave over 250 pounds of ice in an hour, though we didn’t try quite that much, during our testing. Another solid option, especially if you have a lot of snow cones to make.
Hawaiian Snow Cone Machine
This was one of our favorite machines to use during our testing, as it’s very affordable, offers reliable performance, and is also very easy to clean. The thousands of five-star customer reviews are easy to understand, as even fluffy snow cones are possible here – despite the very low price.
In fact, many customers are pregnant women – who are craving shaved ice. While we can’t personally say we were pregnant during our testing, we loved this little machine – and we think you will too.
Dash Snow Cone Machine
This budget snow cone maker is incredible. We were totally blown away by the performance of this machine – especially since the cost is so low.
It has thousands of stellar customer reviews, and can make anything from frozen cocktails to slushies. There’s also a very generous one year warranty – though we highly doubt you’ll ever have to use it. If budget is a priority, get this snow cone machine – you won’t be disappointed.
Manba Snow Cone Machine
This machine is slightly different – you have to crank the handle to get the ice down to snow cone size. It’s very affordable, and very portable – which are the main reasons why you might choose this one, especially over an easier electric model.
We think this would be super fun to bring to a sports game, on camping trips, or really anywhere that requires easy portability. It’s also backed by thousands of glowing user reviews – so we’re far from alone with our opinion of this machine.
Paragon Simply-A-Blast Heavy Duty Snow Cone Machine
This snow cone machine is mainly used in commercial settings – but it’s extremely powerful, if you want to bring it into your own home. It can shave up to 500 pounds of ice per hour – which is just absolutely insane.
It has a myriad of positive customer reviews, and also has a one year warranty. While this may be too much power for some, if you want snow cones made quickly – this is one of the best options.
Nostalgia Vintage Countertop Snow Cone Maker
With thousands of great customer reviews, a good price point, and a fun old-school look – this is one of the best snow cone machines on our entire list. Since Nostalgia has many great machines, it got pushed further down on our review – but don’t let that fool you.
This model has stainless steel cutting blades, and can even hold up to 20 snow cones at once. If you want a snow cone machine that you can show off – this is the one to get. Definitely recommended.
Time For Treats Snow Cone Maker
This very affordable snow cone machine is another stellar pick. It’s extremely affordable, so if you’re budget-minded – it may be the best pick for you.
It’s also very portable, so you can take this little guy anywhere. It’s also backed by a myriad of five-star user reviews, and even comes with a one year warranty. Definitely another great choice.
What Is A Snow Cone Machine?
A snow cone machine is an awesome home kitchen appliance, that allows you to make these old-school summertime treats – right in your own home. Essentially taking blocks of ice, shaving them down, and injecting them with your chosen syrups – you will have a finished dessert in about 30 seconds.
While we’re not huge on buying every kitchen appliance under the sun, we think that everyone will love a snow cone machine. They’re very affordable, are extremely easy to use, and work great for kids (as well as adults).
What’s The Difference Between Shaved Ice And Snow Cones?
These items are actually named a bit awkwardly. Shaved ice is usually softer, while snow cones – which one would think would be even softer – are more like blocks of ice.
Of course, shaved ice and snow cones are almost interchangeable terms – that’s how close they are. But if you prefer shaved ice over a snow cone, make sure you finely shave your ice, or even run it through the snow cone maker a few times, to get that desired soft texture.
What’s The Best Ice To Use For Snow Cones?
While technically you can make snow cones with any type of ice, there is one kind that works better than others. Solid block ice generally yields the best results, so stick to that, whenever possible.
When it comes to buying bags of ice, you don’t need to be too worried about choosing the right size. A standard twenty pound bag of ice will yield about 50 snow cones – so unless you need to produce many in a very short time, this size bag should fulfill all your snow cone making needs.
How Do You Make Snow Cones Fluffy?
The trick to making fluffy snow cones, is to really shave the ice down. Sometimes this requires a few passes through the machine, to get that nice, soft texture.
Ironically, despite the name, snow cones are much closer to ice – unless you really shave the ice down to smaller crystals. The smaller crystals result in something close to shaved ice – giving you that fluffy texture you’re after.
Does Snow Cone Syrup Need To Be Refrigerated?
Not necessarily, though it certainly won’t hurt. Most snow cone syrups will last for very long just being stored at room temperature – as long as they’re out of direct sunlight.
Are Snow Cones Good For You?
Snow cones taste great – but they’re also loaded with sugar. While you can eat them as a treat with no worries, we’d recommend sticking to sugar-free syrups, if you want to eat them every day (or every week).
How Many Snow Cones Can You Get Out Of A Bag Of Ice?
Most bags of ice will provide for a lot of snow cone production. A standard 20 pound bag of ice will yield about 50 snow cones, for example.
How Do You Make Snow Cones At Home?
Making snow cones at home is easy. Simply buy a bag of ice, along with some snow cone syrup – then place both in your chosen snow cone machine.
From there, simply follow the machine’s directions, and you’ll have a finished product in no time. The best snow cone machines will give you a finished dessert in as little as 3 to 5 seconds – which is just absolutely amazing.
How Do I Clean A Snow Cone Machine?
Every model we tested was extremely easy to clean. Most machines can’t be put in the dishwasher, but they can easily be wiped down by a dry cloth.
Blades can be removed and washed, and remaining small pieces may actually fit into your dishwasher. All in all, it’s extremely easy to clean snow cone machines – which is just another reason why we love them.
Can You Use Coffee Syrup For Snow Cones?
Yes, you can absolutely use coffee syrup for snow cones. In fact, there’s very little that won’t work when making frozen treats with a snow cone maker.
You can make other kid-friendly desserts like slushies, or more adult fare – like margaritas, and frozen lemonade. There are essentially endless amounts of recipes out there for snow cone makers, so let your imagination run wild.
Can I Use Ice Cubes In A Snow Cone Machine?
Some (but not all) snow cone makers will allows you to use standard ice cubes. We recommend buying solid block ice, as it will generally produce the best results.
How Many Snow Cones Can You Make Per Minute?
More expensive, industrial-style machines will make many snow cones per minute. However, even smaller machines can make at least 5 snow cones per minute – sometimes even more than 10.
The Best Snow Cone Machines
There you have it – our top picks for the best snow cone machines. Whether you have kids, or just want to make snow cones for you and your spouse – these appliances are a ton of fun.
They’re also highly affordable, and can make lots of other drinks – our favorite was frozen lemonade. If you’re feeling adventurous, they’re even great for adult beverages, like margaritas.
If you want to be healthier, we recommend using sugar-free snow cone syrup – then each snow cone will be both zero calories, and also sugar-free. This is especially important for serving children, as too much sugar can not only make them hyper – but also potentially obese.
It truly felt like summertime in our office – just because we started making snow cones. These good vibes will also transfer to your home and kitchen, as soon as you start churning these out for both your friends and family.
And if you liked this list, be sure to check out some of our other home and kitchen product reviews. Until next time – bon appétit!