The Nostalgia RSM602 is a countertop snow cone maker with a beautiful retro look. It’s perfect for birthday parties, backyard barbeques, or everyday use at home during the hot months.
The Nostalgia RSM602 is compact enough that you can carry it around your home and set it up on a small table.
It works with regular ice cubes and comes with a large ice bin that holds enough crushed ice to make 20 snow cones.
The Nostalgia RSM602 is an excellent choice for families looking for an affordable way to enjoy free snow cones at home.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Works with regular ice cubes.
- It makes finely crushed ice that’s perfect for snow cones.
- Large ice bin.
- Includes handy prep side shelf.
- Stylish retro look.
- Takes up very little space.
Cons
- Crushes just a few ice cubes at a time.
- Doesn’t make shaved ice.
Key Features
1. Powerful Ice Crusher
The Nostalgia RSM602 is essentially a crushed ice maker, and it makes the kind of coarse ice you find in most snow cones.
The blades are at the top of the unit, where you add ice cubes. As they spin, they crush the ice cubes and drop the crushed ice into the bin below.
It works with regular ice cubes from your refrigerator, and there’s no need to use special molds.
2. Large Ice Bin
The ice bin is big enough to hold enough crushed ice to make up to 20 snow cones. This is one reason the Nostalgia RSM602 is a good choice for birthday parties.
The clear bin has a door on the side, providing easy access to the crushed ice. Use the included free ice scoop to prepare snow cones.
Note that the bin is not insulated, and the crushed ice melts pretty quickly, especially if you are outdoors in the sun. Make the snow cones immediately after crushing ice.
3. Side Shelf
In addition to the scoop, the Nostalgia RSM602 also comes with two reusable snow cones. These fit perfectly in the two holes on the side shelf.
The shelf provides a handy prep surface for making snow cones.
4. Safety Switch
The blades are exposed when you are adding ice cubes to the unit. But they will not start spinning until you put the lid on and twist it.
This safety switch ensures you are never exposed to the spinning blades. As soon as you twist the lid the other way to open it, the blades stop.
That said, the Nostalgia RSM602 is not one of those crushed/shaved ice machines that are kid-friendly. We don’t recommend letting kids operate it unsupervised.
Issues & Concerns
Crushes Just a few Ice Cubes At a Time
While the bin can hold a lot of crushed ice, the chopper section on top holds only a few ice cubes. So you have to keep opening the lid to add more ice cubes.
This can be tedious if you are making a lot of snow cones.
Doesn’t Make Shaved Ice
If your kids prefer Hawaiian shaved ice treats, the Nostalgia RSM602 is not what you are looking for.
It produces coarse crushed ice, not fluffy shaved ice. However, some users have gotten close to making fluffy snow-like ice by using nugget ice either from a grocery store or their own nugget ice maker.
Because nugget ice is already airy and crunchy, it results in softer and fluffier ice.
Care and Maintenance
You can hand wash all components of the Nostalgia RSM602 except the top housing, which contains all the electric bits.
Wash all the other parts, including the snow cones, ice scoop, side shelf, and canister with water and dish soap. Do not put them in the dishwasher.
As for the bin, wipe the inside with a soft dry cloth.
One thing to note is that the bin doesn’t have a drain plug. So if you have some meltwater left in it, you have to turn it on its side to get rid of the water.
If it’s just a little water, use an absorbent towel or paper towels to wipe it dry.
Warranty
The Nostalgia RSM602 snow cone maker has a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Specifications
- Size: 13.5 in x 10.75 in x 10.25 in
- Weight: 5.05lbs
- Power: 35W
- Warranty: 1yr