There are many different types of commercial ice makers available, all of which produce different types of ice, from cube to crescent, and bullet to flaked - but which is the right choice for your business?

All ice types serve a purpose, with some perfect for cooling drinks and others ideal for displaying products such as fresh fish. Their shapes and melting rates differ from one another for their intended uses. We have created the following guide which details the different types of ice available, including their melt rate and a summary of each to help you decide which best suits your needs.

Cube Ice

Also called: Half Cube / Full Cube / Dice
Melt rate: Slow
Summary: Solid cubes of crystalline ice that cool quickly and melt slowly. Suitable for: bars, nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, healthcare industries, educational facilities, hotels and supermarkets.

Flaked Ice

Also called: Flake / Granular
Melt rate: Fast
Summary: Produced at subzero temperatures its 1.5-3mm flakes cool quicker than any of the other ice types. Suitable for: the food industry (fish, dairy, meat cutting etc), processing and preserving, medical applications, product displays, transport and packaging operations.

Nugget Ice

Also called: Cubelet
Melt rate: Medium
Summary: Soft enough to be easy to chew while also being dry enough to be dispensed. It’s made from random cylindrical sized pieces of compacted flaked ice, allowing it to have a slightly slower melt rate. It is best for soft drinks, cold drinks, and blended drinks like smoothies or frozen cocktails.

Crescent Ice

Melt rate: Slow
Summary: This ice is best for ice bagging and dispensing, as well as soft drinks and mixed drinks due to its distinctive half-moon shape, as the crescent ice can move more freely around a glass or cup without packing together.

Bullet Ice

Also called: Hollow
Melt rate: Fast
Summary: Hollow cubes of crystalline ice that cool quickly and melt slowly - particularly suited to hard water areas due to ice manufacturing processes. Suitable for: bars, nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, healthcare industries, educational facilities, hotels and supermarkets.

Gourmet Ice

Also called: Top Hat / Classic / Regular / Supercube
Melt rate: Slow
Summary: Solid cubes of crystalline ice that cool quickly and melt slowly. Suitable for: bars, nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, healthcare industries, educational facilities, hotels and supermarkets.

Pyramid Ice

Melt rate: Medium
Summary: High volume quick cooling ice cubes. Suitable for: bars, nightclubs, pubs, restaurants, healthcare industries, educational facilities, hotels and supermarkets.
Now you know what type of ice suits you best, feel free to browse our huge selection of commercial ice makers from a range of top brands.

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