One of the accessories that most people take for granted is the ice bucket. Similar to an ice machine bin and a good water filter, a top-quality ice bucket ensures that the ice is kept chill and transported in the safest and sanitary conditions. Out of all the types of ice buckets available on the market, one of the best versions is arguably the ones made from stainless steel, for a variety of reasons. Since there are multiple variants out there, the purpose of this article is to help you understand that going for a stainless-steel ice bucket is the safest bet. For specialized reviews of the best ice buckets available you should check IceMakerPro.

Material

The ice buckets available on the market come in a wide range of materials, from acrylic, silver, galvanized steel, to wood glass and stainless steel. Technically speaking, no material is superior to the others – it all comes down to personal preference.

For example, in the visual aesthetics department, there is no better material than silver. Silver (especially if it is pure) ice buckets look good, and a good portion of them are great examples of craftsmanship, with ridiculously elaborate models that will surely impress your guests. The drawback? They are very expensive, obviously. Ice buckets made out of transparent acrylic are perfect if you want to be constantly up to date on how much ice it has, but they tend to break and erode quickly. In other words, while these two buckets are technically superior in the looks department, their ephemeral nature will put many people off.

Stainless steel ice buckets represent the perfect compromise between looks and practicability. When it comes to stainless steel, there are both good and bad things to consider. They are extremely resistant against corrosion, rarely break upon falling, will hardly rust and are, overall, sturdy accessories that can withstand repeated abuses. Further enforcing the list of perks is that stainless steel buckets are also BPA-free.

Of course, all of these advantages have a price: stainless steel buckets require frequent cleaning, scrubbing, polishing and other maintenance tasks. Thankfully, on the long run, this fact alone is not enough to overshadow its other many qualities, which is why you should consider opting for stainless steel buckets, especially if you are hosting large gatherings of guests on a regular basis.

Insulating Capabilities

One of the worst things that could happen if you are hosting a large party is the ice melting before entering the drinks. And since a cocktail, especially if we are talking about margaritas and daiquiris, is only as good as the type and quality of the ice, this could easily turn into a huge inconvenience both for you and your guests. Things can get even worse if the party takes place outdoors, during a hot summer day that is particularly humid.

That is why the best ice buckets available on the market have great insulating capabilities. Typically, one good way of verifying whether or not the accessory is capable of withstanding the effects of heat and humidity is determining if the bucket itself is composed out of multiple layers. Top brand stainless steel buckets are one of the best choices in this respect due to the fact that most models feature a double-walled construction.

Thanks to this design choice, as well as the chemical properties of the material, stainless steel ice buckets can hold the ice in its initial, pure, solid for about six hours, which is more than enough time until the ice machine generates the next batch of ice. Some advanced models feature a removable ice strainer at its base, which collects the water drained from the ice and keeps the ice cool in the process.

Storage Capacity

Now that we have covered the qualities of stainless steel and their insulating capabilities, it is time to talk about capacity. This factor depends on the type of event you are hosting – if it is a small, intimate gathering of close friends and family members, an ice bucket with a 0.5 liter capacity should be more than enough to cover the basic needs of your guests. If the party is larger and takes place, let’s say, in your backyard, you will need to find a model that hits the sweet spot between sturdiness and capacity.

Obviously, from a financial and practical perspective, it does not make sense buying a large ice bucket made out of silver and ending up spending more on an accessory than the party itself. Our recommendation is getting a stainless steel bucket with a capacity of about five liters. This should be enough to cover the demand for a party of about 10 to 15 people.

As a side note, it is a good idea to get a sturdy stand for the bucket. There are two reasons for this: first, it will spare you and the guests from the annoyance of making frequent trips to the kitchen to restock on ice. The second and final reason is that the guests will not accidentally kick the bucket and spill its contents on the ground. In addition, you should make sure to get a stand that can support the weight of the ice bucket.

Conclusion

Even though ice buckets are as vital to the success of a party as the atmosphere and the host, they are still one of the most overlooked accessories. A good, stainless steel ice bucket will no only keep the ice in solid form for several hours but will ensure that the drinks, whether alcoholic or not, are as good as they should be. Since there are many products on the market, hopefully, this article has provided you with a few useful tips that will help you choose a model suited to your particular situation.