The 1970s Kitchen Appliance That Was A Luxury For Ice-Cold Drinks - Tasting Table

"Wowing guests was a top priority for 1970s hostesses, and serving restaurant-quality bites and beverages was the best way to one-up the neighbors. Before most modern fridges came with a built-in ice maker, ice was as much of a luxury as the plated hor d'oeuvres. Cubed ice would get the job done, but crushed ice made even a simple soda exciting. Hand-cranked ice crushers had been available for decades, but the introduction of electric ice crushers in the '70s changed happy hour forever."

"Folks have been breaking down ice one way or another for centuries, whether by saw or horse-drawn plow, but the first ice crusher wasn't patented until 1880. Other variations of ice-cutting machines continued popping up for decades, but they rarely differed until the Ice-O-Mat debuted in 1938. This ice-crusher was compact and designed with the home entertainer in mind. It could easily be stored on kitchen counters and helped normalize icy specialty drinks at home."

"Favorites such as Moscow Mules and mint juleps are traditionally served over crushed ice, and they wouldn't be the same with big, boring cubes. Slivers of ice almost instantly chill any liquid, becoming part of the drink right down to its texture. The itty-bitty shards of ice dilute cocktails faster than the slower-melting cubes, helping balance stiffer or sweeter drinks."

1970s hostesses prioritized wowing guests by serving restaurant-quality bites and beverages, making crushed ice a fashionable entertaining tool. Before built-in ice makers, ice was a luxury, and crushed ice made simple sodas and cocktails more exciting. Hand-cranked crushers existed for decades, but electric ice crushers in the 1970s broadened home cocktail possibilities. Ice crushing dates to an 1880 patent, and the compact Ice-O-Mat of 1938 normalized icy specialty drinks at home. Crushed ice chills liquids quickly, alters texture, and dilutes cocktails faster than large cubes, balancing stiff or sweet drinks and serving as a presentable bed for raw bars.

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