How Do Commercial Ice Makers Work?

When prepping ice for your restaurant or coffee shop, you probably don't stop to ponder the process. It's relatively automated, meaning there's not much for you to do.

But knowing how a commercial ice maker works can help you better understand what goes into the perfect cube.  With this knowledge, you can transform your drinks into world-class nectars that'll have customers returning again and again.

Refrigeration Cycle: The Core

There are four main parts to every ice maker:

• the compressor
• the condenser
• the expansion valve
• the evaporator

Running through each of these components is the magic ingredient—refrigerant. 

Commercial ice makers use a refrigeration cycle to freeze water and produce ice. A refrigerant is compressed, cooled, and expanded, causing it to absorb heat from the water, which then freezes on an evaporator plate. 

The ice is then harvested by warming the evaporator and releasing the ice into a storage bin.

Water to Ice Cubes

Where does water come into play? It doesn’t touch or integrate with the refrigerant. Instead, it flows from an intake valve into an ice tray. 

As the commercial ice maker performs its refrigerant functions, the water is slowly chilled until it becomes ice. Ideally, the machine should freeze the water layer by layer. This is what creates clear, picture-perfect ice. 

If the water freezes all at once, it creates telltale cloudy cubes that look less than ideal.

Harvest Cycle: Ejecting the Goods

Every commercial ice maker has sensors that can detect when ice is completely frozen. Once this happens, it triggers the harvest cycle.

The machine runs either hot gas or hot water through channels in the evaporator plate to help loosen the ice so it can pop out of the tray with ease. Then, an agitator mechanism (or good old gravity) dislodges the cubes. 

They'll land safely in the storage bin, ready to be used in whatever chilled masterpiece you're serving.

Now that you know how a commercial ice maker works, you can make your ice the champion of the community. And remember, great ice begins with great water!