There are more choices for ice now, than in any other time in history. Commercial ice manufacturers are striving to make more varied ice, to meet the specific needs of varying establishments. Manitowoc, the leader in ice machine manufacturing, has 7 distinct ice types. Depending on your application, one may be a better option than the others.
Basic Ice
The most basic and typical type of ice you will encounter in a restaurant is dice or half-dice. These cubes are considered hard ice, in regards to water to ice ratio. They measure 7/8″ x 7/8″ x 7/8″ for Dice sized and 3/8″ x 1 1/8″ x 7/8″ for half-dice sized.
When filling drink cups, the better alternative is half-dice, because of it’s ability to totally fill a glass. Business owners prefer this type, because it displaces the beverage, allowing more ice than the drink product. This allows the owner to retain a higher profit margin, due to ice being cheaper to produce than the beverage product itself.
Dice cubes are preferred in applications where the ice is being used to fill coolers or water jugs. The larger cube will typically last longer. This is beneficial where a cooler or water jug will be filled in the morning, but not again till lunch or at the end of the day.
Gourmet Ice
A gourmet ice cube is described as being much larger than even the dice cube. There are 2 sizes, that I would consider gourmet, the SM50 ice machine will produce an octagon shaped cube which measures 1 3/8″ x 1 3/8″. In addition, the Regular sized cube is sized at 1 1/8″ x 1 1/8″ x 7/8″. These are popular sizes to be used in bar drinks, much like the ‘rocks’ found in whiskey drinks.
Nugget and Flake Ice
Soft ice is a big topic among convenience store chains, where having a unique chewable ice can draw in customers. For dispensers, the only option is the nugget ice, which contains a high water to ice ratio. This creates a soft ice that a person can then chew on after finishing their beverage. There is a growing trend in this type of ice and is being ushered in by restaurants like Sonic.
Flake Ice, like nugget, is very soft and more water than ice. Currently there is no way to dispense flake ice, due to it’s flaky texture. This type of ice specializes in being used on seafood display beds or produce stands. It is a way to cool product and lightly place items within the ice, while being exposed. Grocery stores will most likely have a very large flaker ice machine in the back, to make their produce section look appealing.
When choosing the best type of ice.
Always consult a local expert, when trying to decide on the type of ice needed. Often then can guide you on the type of ice that best fits your needs. Remember to save money, by buying what you need and not what you want. Some commercial ice machines are more expensive during the life of the machine, due to the special types of ice that they produce. The basic cubes will always be less expensive and offer a lower cost of ownership.
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