A method for handling ice in connection with an ice dispenser, said method for handling ice comprising the steps of: providing an ice dispenser, said ice dispenser comprising: an ice bin for storing ice, said ice bin having an ice chute leading therefrom; an agitator assembly, said agitator assembly having an agitator bar assembly located within said ice bin and an agitator motor coupled to and adapted to rotate said agitator bar assembly; and an auger assembly, said auger assembly having an auger located within said ice bin and terminating in said ice chute and an auger motor coupled to and adapted to rotate said auger; supplying said ice bin with a quantity of ice; agitating said quantity of ice by activating said agitator motor to rotate said agitator bar assembly; dispensing a portion of said quantity of ice from said ice bin by activating said auger motor to rotate said auger and thereby push said portion of said quantity of ice through said ice chute; and wherein said agitating step and said dispensing step are decoupled such that said agitating step and said dispensing step are each conductible one without the other; said method for handling ice further comprising the steps of: providing a controller, said controller being adapted to control said agitating step by selective activation of said agitator motor; and controlling said agitating step with said controller; characterised in that: said controller is further adapted to: determine for each activation of said auger motor a duration of operation thereof, and determine an accumulated duration of operation of said auger motor by summing the durations of operation of said auger motor following each activation thereof, wherein the accumulated duration of operation of said auger motor is accumulated following a most previous activation of said agitator motor; and determine whether said accumulated duration of operation of said auger motor exceeds an auger threshold value; and activate said agitator motor upon determination by said controller that said accumulated duration of operation of said auger motor has exceeded said auger threshold value. providing an ice dispenser, said ice dispenser comprising: an ice bin for storing ice, said ice bin having an ice chute leading therefrom; an agitator assembly, said agitator assembly having an agitator bar assembly located within said ice bin and an agitator motor coupled to and adapted to rotate said agitator bar assembly; and an auger assembly, said auger assembly having an auger located within said ice bin and terminating in said ice chute and an auger motor coupled to and adapted to rotate said auger; an ice bin for storing ice, said ice bin having an ice chute leading therefrom; an agitator assembly, said agitator assembly having an agitator bar assembly located within said ice bin and an agitator motor coupled to and adapted to rotate said agitator bar assembly; and an auger assembly, said auger assembly having an auger located within said ice bin and terminating in said ice chute and an auger motor coupled to and adapted to rotate said auger; supplying said ice bin with a quantity of ice; agitating said quantity of ice by activating said agitator motor to rotate said agitator bar assembly; dispensing a portion of said quantity of ice from said ice bin by activating said auger motor to rotate said auger and thereby push said portion of said quantity of ice through said ice chute; and wherein said agitating step and said dispensing step are decoupled such that said agitating step and said dispensing step are each conductible one without the other; said method for handling ice further comprising the steps of: providing a controller, said controller being adapted to control said agitating step by selective activation of said agitator motor; and controlling said agitating step with said controller; characterised in that: said controller is further adapted to: determine for each activation of said auger motor a duration of operation thereof, and determine an accumulated duration of operation of said auger motor by summing the durations of operation of said auger motor following each activation thereof, wherein the accumulated duration of operation of said auger motor is accumulated following a most previous activation of said agitator motor; and determine for each activation of said auger motor a duration of operation thereof, and determine an accumulated duration of operation of said auger motor by summing the durations of operation of said auger motor following each activation thereof, wherein the accumulated duration of operation of said auger motor is accumulated following a most previous activation of said agitator motor; and determine whether said accumulated duration of operation of said auger motor exceeds an auger threshold value; and activate said agitator motor upon determination by said controller that said accumulated duration of operation of said auger motor has exceeded said auger threshold value.