Now that it’s heating up here in Las Vegas, I’ve started reaching for all things cold. And that means ice! In this review, I put two ice-related gadgets to the test: a penguin-shaped manual shaved ice maker and a viral ice cube tray that reminded me of the old “Ice Genie” from my archives. One was cute, one was kind of nostalgic, and both had something to prove. Here’s how they fared.
Where to Purchase
Below are links where I picked up the items featured in this review.
The Penguin Shaved Ice Maker: Cute, Manual, and Surprisingly Okay
Let’s start with the penguin.
This little guy is a hand-cranked shaved ice maker with a pretty adorable design. It’s completely manual, requires no electricity, and is covered in packaging that I couldn’t read because it’s not in English, which made setup a bit of a puzzle.
I paid $34.99 for it, and I’ll give it this: it feels decently well made. There’s an inner sleeve that rotates, pressing the ice against a blade, and a spring-loaded top that keeps everything in place. It’s simple in concept, and after freezing the included cup of water overnight, I was ready to give it a spin…literally.
My first batch of shaved ice? A bit too powdery. The texture wasn’t quite what I expect from a proper shaved ice machine, but after adding syrup and stirring it around, it got closer to the real thing. Not bad for a hand-cranked gadget. I was able to get about two small servings from a single ice puck.
Now, I also tested it with regular ice cubes, just to see if you could skip the whole overnight freezing step. It sort of worked, but it took more effort and resulted in a coarser texture. Oddly, the coarser batch looked better but didn’t taste better. It had some pretty unforgiving chunks in there.
Final verdict?
It’s not perfect. It’s a bit of work for a small amount of shaved ice, and you’re stuck using small containers because of the size. But it’s cute, functional, and I kind of liked it. I probably won’t use it over my electric machine, but for off-grid use (or for novelty’s sake), it’s not bad.
Pros:
- Doesn’t require electricity
- Compact and cute design
- Works decently with the included ice mold
Cons:
- Only makes about two small servings
- Instructions are not in English
- Doesn’t work as well with regular ice cubes
The Viral Ice Cup: Ice Genie’s Cousin Actually Works?
Next up is this strange little silicone ice cube tray that’s been making the rounds on Instagram. It immediately reminded me of the “Ice Genie” I reviewed years ago, which, let’s be honest, was not exactly a high point in ice gadget design. So I was skeptical.
This one was $10.99 for a two-pack and claimed to have a better design, easier ice removal, and even stackability. The English instructions were tiny and barely coherent, filled with phrases like “upgradation revolution” and “get rid of ice blocks.” But at least they were in English, so that’s something.
The process involved filling the inner chamber with water up to a specific point (roughly two “cubes” high), sealing it with a squeeze to remove air, and tossing it in the freezer. The next day, both molds had bulged out like little frozen balloons, which was slightly concerning, but I forged ahead.
Getting the top off was a chore. My hands were frozen and red by the end of it. But once I cracked it open and squeezed the sides, the ice actually came out pretty easily. And I have to say that it worked much better than the Ice Genie ever did. No mysterious layer of ice stuck to the bottom, and the cubes were pretty consistent in size.
Each mold filled up about one glass worth of ice. It’s not going to replace your big trays, but for a drink or two? It does the job.
Final verdict?
Better than expected. I wouldn’t call it revolutionary, but it’s a step up from similar designs I’ve tested in the past. I’ll be keeping one in the freezer and using it as a backup when my regular trays run low.
Pros:
- Works better than other “Ice Genie” style gadgets
- Decent ice yield for its size
- Ice pops out fairly easily once you get the hang of it
Cons:
- Confusing instructions
- Can be tough to open if you don’t let it warm slightly
- Only holds enough ice for one cup
Final Thoughts
Neither of these gadgets blew me away, but they both actually worked, which is more than I can say for a lot of ice products I’ve tried over the years. The penguin is fun, compact, and surprisingly effective for what it is. The viral ice cup exceeded my low expectations and might actually get some use in my kitchen.
Will I keep using them? I’ll probably stick with my electric shaved ice maker, but the penguin’s not getting returned. And that little ice cup? It’s earned a spot in the freezer… at least for now.
If you’ve tried either of these or something similar, let me know what you think in the comments below.
Video Review
Check out my full review in the video below.