Why is it important to clean an ice machine?

Like any other appliance, regular maintenance and cleaning is crucial to keep an ice maker in good working condition. In addition to harboring potentially deadly bacteria, ignoring ice machine maintenance can lead to build up inside the machine that can lead to unnecessary wear.

How do restaurants Store ice?

Keep doors of the commercial ice machine closed except when removing ice. Ice scoops should be stored outside the ice maker and kept in a clean container. Ice scoop & container should be washed & sanitized regularly. Do not store anything such as food, drinks, fruit etc.

How do you keep ice sanitary?

Always store scoops outside of the unit, in a clean, protected receptacle or a harness if possible. Next, ice scoops need to be sanitized just like ice bins do. Sanitize ice scoops daily with either bleach or a quat-based sanitizer. Staff can also clean the ice scoop in a dishwasher at the end of the day.

What are the rules for handling ice?

Always wash your hands thoroughly before working with ice. Do not touch ice with your bare hands, ALWAYS treat ice as food. Always use clean and sanitized ice scoops and shovels. When not in use, make sure the ice scoop and shovels are properly stored to prevent contamination.

How often should you clean a commercial ice machine?

The simple answer is that your commercial ice machine needs to be cleaned at least once every six months. However, depending on the type of ice machine and its location, it may need deep cleaning every three months.

What is ice machine cleaner?

Ice machine cleaner is used to remove lime scale and mineral deposits from ice machine components. Ice machine cleaner contains citric and phosphoric acid which breaks down this lime scale (calcium) from its solid state to a form that is soluble with water.

Do restaurants clean ice machines?

Restaurants can clean mold, slime, and other biological contaminants from their ice machine with a few simple steps. A weekly cleaning schedule helps tremendously to keep these containments at bay, but it is not a replacement for a professional ice machine cleaning from a qualified technician.

How clean is ice from restaurants?

In 2017, an undercover study by the BBC investigated iced beverages in the U.K. and found that out of 30 samples taken from three different fast-food restaurants, more than half were contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria.

How should ice scoops be stored?

Both the scoop and the container it is kept in, should be kept in a clean place. The scoop should be stored in a food grade sanitiser solution, which should be changed regularly. The scoop should not be left in the machine.

Is ice machine ice safe?

Ice can act as a transport system when bacteria and viruses are introduced to the ice machine due to improper or unsafe use by staff or customers. Some of these microbes are very dangerous and pose a major health risk to individuals.

How often should an ice machine be cleaned?

Why is it important for restaurant operators to avoid ice contamination?

Therefore, it is important for restaurant operators to ensure their ice does not become contaminated. Contamination can be introduced by airborne particles, contaminated water supply, food handlers or dirty utensils. But the main cause of ice in restaurants, bars and hotels becoming contaminated is human error: improper ice handling.

How to maintain the commercial ice machine?

Keep doors of the commercial ice machine closed except when removing ice. Ice scoops should be stored outside the ice maker and kept in a clean container. Ice scoop & container should be washed & sanitized regularly. Do not store anything such as food, drinks, fruit etc. in the ice machine.

Why is equipment maintenance important for restaurants?

As the owner of a restaurant, you want a healthy and clean business. In the hustle of everyday restaurant management, it can be easy to forget to take care of issues that don’t seem as pressing as the customer complaining that they got the wrong order or that their food is not ready yet. But equipment maintenance is just as important.

Is ice considered food?

Ice should always be considered food. Following safe food handling guidelines is of paramount importance in order to reduce the chance of contamination or illness. Today, with an eye toward thorough sanitization practices and keeping ice as clean as possible, more manufacturers of ice machines make their equipment to be resistant to bacteria.