Review on OXO SteeL Ice Bucket Tongs by John Pound

Ideal for your mobile bar. Holds almost the entire 7 lb bag (small bag) of ice out of the Grocery store or gas station and keeps the ice cream on the kitchen counter cool at room temperature to easily survive an evening party. It's great to have pre-made drinks (like sangria or margarita) in your "beverage line" so guests can treat themselves to an ice cream and then refill it at your beverage station. My test run: A Buddeez Cold Drink Dispenser, 1.75 gallon, clear, half filled with sangria, served in 9 ounce cups with seasonal fruit for a party of 15-20 guests for 4+ hours. The place was room temperature, maybe a little warmer given the space. By the end of the night the sangria was gone and three quarters of the ice in the bucket was used for drinks. Perhaps the first inch of the bottom melted and turned to water, essentially filling in the channels Oxo had made in the bottom of the black plastic liner. I don't have another bucket to compare if this technology really makes a difference, but for most of these events it was spot on (and better than throwing ice in a plate that needs to be emptied regularly (not the most hygienic option) or a fridge - an igloo (if your cocktails are nice, why miss out on a different aesthetic with injection molded neon soft plastic?)). If I were mixing a la carte drinks (requires more ice than self-serve/packaged drinks events) this would probably be fine for fewer guests or shorter events depending on how quick your bartender is and how heavily intoxicated your guests are. I would plan to buy a larger ice pack and keep it in the freezer to fill up halfway. This at least saves your bartender the hassle of switching between the freezer compartment and the drinks station. fast and hygienic. I thought a scoop would be faster, but it really isn't, especially if you're using quality ice cubes (think crystal clear, no air bubbles). Like all Oxo kitchen utensils, the tongs are of high quality. However, the OXO Good Grips flexible scoop is also the perfect size to use with, as the handle isn't very long (although cleaning the bottom of the bucket will likely be a bit difficult unless you tip it). Lost a star. because the way the handle attaches to the bucket is suspicious - this is consistent with many other reviews on this site. A molded piece of plastic attached to the bucket acts like a pin that goes through the holes in the handle. It seems strong enough to support its own weight with no load (empty), but I wouldn't count on it withstanding actual transport by the handle with ice loaded in a bucket. That's not to say it's useless - when used in combination with one hand on the underside, which carries most of the weight, it makes it easier to move around a room or countertop, which seems to be Oxo's intention.