Feel the Crunch – the soft, satisfying and chilled delight your customers will enjoy when your latest investment transforms sodas and mixed cocktails into a repeat experience! Yes, it’s much more than an ice maker. It’s a chewable ice maker, better known as a nugget ice maker.
So much ice. So many ways to use it.
A chewable ice maker is a perfect investment for restaurants, bars and diners… food trucks, catering facilities and convenience stores – even residences where dinner parties, backyard tailgating and other gettogethers are the norm. After all, chewable ice transforms beverages into must-orders.
Sonic may be the most popular national brand showcasing chewable ice. But your food establishment is one purchase away from sharing in the glory of the chewable ice maker.
Check out the guide to purchasing your chewable ice maker, as well as ACityDiscount brand recommendations.
What is Chewable Ice?
It’s comprised of compressed flakes instead of a solid form made from a tray or traditional ice maker. Because of this, a chewable ice maker is ideal for businesses from food establishments to medical facilities.
ASK AN EXPERT“Chewable ice, when used with highly-flavored drinks like slushies, absorb the flavor. That’s why people love it.”- Hap Schneider, General Sales Manager of ACityDiscount |
Why does the food industry love chewable ice?
Chewable ice machines are ideal for carbonated beverages, food displays, ice dispensing and blended cocktails (smoothies, cappuccinos etc.) because their ice melts slower than traditional ice makers. And slower-melting ice equates to better-tasting beverages.
In general, chewable ice makers typically enjoy lower operating costs and higher water usage.
Types of chewable ice machines
ACityDiscount recommends these brands because of chewability (soft) and hardness (slow-melting):
Prodigy Series by Scotsman
- Water Content – 80% ice and 20% water
- Shape – cylindrical; ¾” x 5/16” x 3/8”
Scotsman’s Prodigy Plus nugget ice maker, operates at maximum efficiency with its front facing reusable air filter… It’s small operational footprint (22" and 30") maximizes space… Vari Smart ™ technology for advanced ice level control saves product... And it uses up to 50% less water and 15% less energy than cube ice machines.
Pearl Ice® by Ice-o-Matic
- Water Content – low water content allows ice to blend quickly and displace liquid; great for dispensing
- Shape – cylindrical; ½ x 3/8
More on this product: Pearl Ice prevents costly repairs with load-monitoring system which shuts down system before problems occur. Rugged stainless steel evaporator and auger create added reliability. Dual-row roller bearings outside the ice-making zone protect against corrosion. No side clearance required.
Tubular Nugget by Manitowoc
- Water Content – 90% ice content for a softer ice, great for blending
- Shape – octagonal; 3/8" to 1/2"
More on this product: Manitowoc’s under counter nugget ice machine is designed to last… It’s also light-weight with a smaller footprint.
Cubelet by Hoshizaki
More on this product: Cubelet Ice Makers eliminate impurities with a 15-minute purge (purge cycle ranges from one to 12 hours, depending on model). Self-contained design reduces opportunities for cross-contamination. Unit has removable air filters.
Of the above brands, Hap Schneider, general manager of ACityDiscount, said Hoshizaki has the lowest water-to-ice ratio, which creates the hardest chewable ice.
Questions about chewable ice makers? Debating which nugget ice maker will give your customers the best chewable ice? Stop by our showroom in the Atlanta suburb of Norcross and chat with one of our specialists.
