Have you ever wondered why there are different shapes, textures, sizes, and types of ice? And how about its different uses? Did you know that ice goes far beyond keeping a beverage cold? Here we will explore a few different types of ice typically used for industrial use.
Flake Ice
Best ice for:
Produce, chilled foods on a buffet, seafood or meat on a display, blended cocktails, and medical uses.
Aliases:
Everyone actually agrees on this one: It’s flake ice.
The scoop on flake ice:
Flake ice is utilized in healthcare institutions as its small size makes it perfect for serving drinks without the possibility of patients choking on ice chunks. It is also the ice of choice for packing around injuries since it forms easily and doesn't have corners to poke into flesh. Also, it’s ideal for food presentation settings like buffets and produce markets, and works beautifully in drinks that are primarily spirits, with no water to cut them. Its 73 percent ice-to-water ratio makes it light and chewable. Unfortunately, it also melts more rapidly, so it will disappear more quickly in drinks.
Nugget Ice
Best ice for:
Fountain beverages, specialty soft drinks, and blended cocktails
Aliases:
Morris: nugget
Ice-O-Matic: Pearl Ice®
Manitowoc: nugget, tubular nugget
Hoshizaki: cubelet
Scotsman: nugget
Follett: Chewblet® Ice
Other: pebble ice, pellet ice, Sonic ice, Chick-fil-a ice
The scoop on nugget ice:
These little chunks of ice have several names, but one thing that has made them famous: The attraction they hold for those who love to chew ice. Nugget has become their go-to, and the establishments that cater to them have taken note. So popular are nuggets that The Wall Street Journal has even recognized the growing allure of nugget ice commercial ice makers, and Sonic has centered a business model on drinks built around nugget ice. "Sonic ice" is sold by the bag, with some locations of the drive-in chain selling dozens each week. The eateries traditionally relied on Scotsman ice machines, though other manufacturers have made advances as well.
According to Katom, beyond being chewable, nugget ice is drier than flake ice, so it’s better in dispensers, readily absorbs the flavor of the drink, and blends well in frozen drinks and smoothies. Since customers expect more ice when they’re getting this chewable type and since you can pack these small pieces in more tightly, you’ll save money on drinks. However, if you’re using nugget ice and offering refills on it, count on spending more money on ice. That’s not just because people will crunch the ice, but also because it melts more quickly than solid types thanks to all those nooks and crannies, which increase the surface area of the ice.
Tube Ice
Best ice for:
Beverages, long-distance cooling, dyes, optical whiteners, food colors, ready mix concrete.
Aliases:
tubular
Mini tube ice
Airplane ice
The scoop on tube ice:
Tube ice is cylindrical-shaped ice with a hollow core, and it is powder-less. Compared with flake ice, tube ice exhibits a longer melting time, so it is more suitable for cooling things in an uninsulated environment. What is more, it is solid and less prone to generate ice lumps, making it suitable for long-distance delivery.
Genemco has a growing inventory of ice makers in each of these categories, and our knowledgeable staff is happy to help you in selecting the perfect fit for your needs.
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