Buyer's Guide: Ice Types

Ice Types

• -Nugget/Pearl
• -Shaved
• -Half & Full Cube
• -Gourmet

With different manufactures you’ll find that nugget ice has many names, such as “sonic ice”, “cubelets ice”, “soft ice” and more. All these aliases refer to, shaved ice which has been molded into compact, random sized “nuggets”. This ice is great to cool drinks quickly without the ice foaming or sticking together. It is best for cold blended drinks like smoothies and margaritas. Nugget ice also works well for salad bars and produce displays. Rumor has it, it’s also rated the best ice by ice chewers everywhere!

Do you have a seafood or meat display or buffet you want to present? This is the ice for you! Shaved Ice is a great way to cool a product down quickly. It allows the ice to be molded, packed, and shaped around whatever it is that you are trying to cool down. Flake ice is commonly found in grocery stores, fish markets, buffets, and healthcare institutions.

You can think of Half and Full Cube Ice as cousins. They are both the typical ice you will have at your breakfast, brunch, happy hour, or dinner table. Their uniform shape and size make for a clean look. The size of these cubes also fit more in the glass, so you pour less of your expensive top shelf vodka. They melt slowly and keep your drinks cooler for longer without watering it down.

Gourmet cubes are the fancy ice on the block, and known as Top Hat Ice. This ice has a unique octagonal shape and is a solid build that will not stick. It’s is perfect for fine dining and high-end liquors like bourbon. Not only does it effectively cool drinks, but the ice is crystal clear and makes for eye catching presentation. Gourmet ice is commonly found in upscale restaurants, bars, and banquet halls.