Choosing the Right Ice Machine – Cubes, Flakes, or Nugget Ice

Now that you have decided on the  type of ice machine for your business, and the cooling method, the next step is choosing the style of ice cube you want to serve. There are the traditional cubes, flaked ice, and nugget ice. Each has their own unique applications.

Keep in mind, when picking a cube type, the style of the cube can not be changed in the field. You would need to get an entirely new machine if you wanted a different ice style.

Full and Half Cubed Ice

Full size cubes (or "dice cubes") get their name from their shape. They are a cube shape that look like dice. These cubes are good for mixed drinks, carbonated beverages, ice dispensing, ice displays, ice retailing and banquet services. This cube is good for drinks that you want to have cold, but not have the ice melt that quickly such as a fine brandy, whiskey, or bourbon.

Half size or half dice cubes are just like the dice cube, but are roughly the size and the shape of a ½ of a dice. These are the most common cube because when they are put in a glass, they take up the most space to visually give the customer the most product but in actuality dispensing the least. These cubes are good for mixed drinks, carbonated beverages, ice dispensing, ice displays, ice retailing and banquet services.

Advantages of 1/2 Size Cubes

• Smaller cube size means more ice fits in each glass. The more ice, the less beverage will be in each glass
• Great for blended drinks because there is less to break down and less wear on blenders
• Best fit for ice dispensers because of the smaller size

Advantages of Full Size Cubes

• Larger cube takes longer to melt. This is ideal for liquor drinks you want to sip
• Great for bagging and bulk cooling

Pearl / Nugget Cubes

Nugget ice is a slow melting cube that can cool drinks without foaming. These cubes are very soft compared to the dice cubes, and because they are porous are easy to chew. They are ideal for bar fountain beverages, blended cocktails, salad bars, produce displays, and for therapeutic uses. The cube is the same, but Ice-O-Matic calls this style cube Pearl Ice and Scotsman and Manitowoc call this Nugget Ice

Advantages of Pearl / Nugget Ice Cubes

• Easily chewable and will not crack teeth
• Absorbs the flavor of the drink that they are in
• Virtually no foam when pouring soda
• Easily dispensable
• Blends easily and quickly
• Will maximize the ice capacity in a drink

Flake Ice

Flake ice is basically shaved ice cubes. Often seen in seafood or meat displays, used at salad bars, and sometimes in blended cocktails. These types of cubes can easily mold to any shape making them great for crocks and bowls in salad bars, or even patient care in the health care industry.

Advantages of Flake Ice

• Great for seafood and produce displays
• Packs well for catering transport to maintain temperatures of food
• Ideal for salad bars because bowls can easily be molded into the ice
• Perfect for health care when ice packs need to be filled

This blog is one of four in a series in learning about ice machines. Others are:  

• Air Cooled vs. Water Cooled Ice
  
• Machines Modular vs Self Contained
• Size of Machine – Ice Production vs. Ice Storage

Whether you are looking for a new set-up or replacement of equipment, give Globe a call at 800-972-4972. We would be happy to provide a quote with varying options based on some basic information about your needs.