An ice dispensing apparatus includes an ice dispensing lever which causes an ice dispensing signal to be produced when pressed, whereby an ice dispensing auger is driven for a period during which the ice dispensing signal is produced under the action of a relay (X.sub.5). In response to the ice dispensing signal, a motor for driving an agitator installed within an ice storage chamber is driven for a first period (t.sub.1) and then stopped. The rest state of the agitator driving motor is maintained until an integrated value resulting from integration of periods during which the ice dispensing signal is generated has attained the length of a second period (t.sub.2). After the lapse of the second period (t.sub.2), the agitator can be driven in response to subsequent generation of the ice dispensing signal.