Tips and Gadgets: Shave Ice Machine

As the school year winds down, we are eagerly anticipating a summer filled with diversions. We’ll do what we have done the last couple of summers: explore the Bay Area, engage in DIY summer camps, cook, and create. With my preschooler heading off to Kindergarten and my Kindergartener moving onto first grade in only two months, I intend to embrace the summer with my kids and take a hiatus from volunteering and blogging.

Before I sign off, I want to share a fun gadget that we'll be utilizing very, very frequently this summer: the shave ice machine. Across the globe, shave ice has many variations. It’s a simple summer treat: all you need is a shave ice machine, ice, and topping(s) of choice. You can find high-end, electric models in stores as well as online stores such as Amazon. Manual ones for under $20 can be found at most Asian supermarkets this time of year. I opted for an old-fashioned hand-cranked machine as I found it charmingly reminiscent of the ones I saw the street vendors use during my childhood in Taiwan. Besides, the kids do delight in using their hands to create a flurry of “snow” and pile on their favorite toppings.

Freeze a couple extra blocks and put in ziplock bags so you’ll have enough on hot days or when you find yourself hosting an impromptu shave ice party.

Shave Ice Treat

a shave ice machine
block of ice, frozen in container per manual instruction
liquid or syrup topping options: fruit juice, condensed milk, maple syrup, or honey
solid topping options: fresh or frozen fruits, jelly, sweetened beans, glutinous rice, jello

Insert the ice block into the machine, lock the lid in place. Put cup or bowl underneath the opening. Crank the lever and fill the cup or bowl with as much ice as desired. Add on toppings of choice. Enjoy immediately!