The Great Ice Cube Debate

Pizza toppings. French fry cuts. Whether a hot dog is a sandwich. Everyone's got strong culinary opinions these days, and we're here to explore a popular topic along these lines: the different types of ice! When you're about to enjoy a delicious beverage, what ice shape do you most hope to find in your glass? Of course we're not here to declare one true winner as “The Good Ice;” rather, we're here to explore why each type of ice has its own benefits, and why there may be beverage situations where it might be worth reaching for an ice shape that's not your usual preference. Join us as we explore the refreshingly cool terrain of different kinds of ice!

Standard Ice Cubes

Hey, there's nothing wrong with being low maintenance with your beverages. Some folks prefer the classic cubes or crescent shapes you'll get from an ice maker, an ice tray, or a refrigerator with ice dispenser. Tried and true, this style of ice is always there when you need it! It's great for all kinds of drinks, and non-fussy types love having a fridge with easily-dispensed ice on hand. Pro tip: If you're a traditionalist who uses ice cube trays, leaving an open box of baking soda in your freezer will help prevent your ice from getting that weird freezer taste.

Spherical Ice

This type of ice has recently become extremely popular, especially on the mixology scene. The main draw of this ice style: slow melt. Spheres have the smallest surface area by volume of all 3D shapes. This means spherical ice takes much longer to melt than cubes, and it won't water down your drink nearly as quickly as other types of ice. These are an excellent ice choice for drinks like whiskey or bourbon, but it can also work well for many other varieties of cocktails. It also looks really cool! Spherical ice can be made with spherical ice molds, but some models of LG refrigerators offer a Craft Ice feature that includes a built-in ice ball maker.

Bullet Ice

Also sometimes called hollow cube ice, bullet ice is a unique shape that can be made by some ice makers. As you may have gathered, the name describes the shape perfectly: It's got a flat bottom and a rounded top, just like a bullet. However, the interior part of the ice bullet is hollow, which gives it an exceptionally large amount of surface area for its size and allows it to cool down beverages much faster than other types of ice. If you're making iced coffee, or you're planning on making drinks with a cocktail shaker, this is the best style of ice to have available.

Nugget Ice

This style is also known as pellet ice or pebble ice, and all of its names make sense: It's a tiny, uniformly-sized round that's about the size and shape of a pebble. This is the style of ice you'll find in drinks like mint juleps or Moscow mules, but it works great for sodas too. If chewing on ice is your thing, this is the perfect style for it! If you're looking for a way to make this popular ice style a part of your everyday life, a nugget ice maker may be worth a look.

Crushed Ice

If you prefer your drinks on the slushy side, crushed ice is the style for you. Crushed ice does melt the quickest of all the ice cube types, but that makes it perfect for use in sweet drinks like sodas, juices, or tropical cocktails. Beyond beverages, crushed ice is also great to have on hand for a pretty presentation of seafood like shrimp cocktail or raw oysters or clams. Crush ice by tossing regular cubes into a freezer bag and (carefully!) smashing it with a rolling pin, or throw cubes into a blender or food processor for a more hands-off crushing.

No matter which one of the ice shapes is your favorite, we wish you many glassfuls of it to cool down your favorite beverages as you enjoy the warm weather. Stay refreshed, and enjoy every sip!