There will always be a place in the food and beverage market for traditional ice cubes. Yet, there are times where traditional large cubes just don’t hit the mark.
When people want ice that gives a fast, even chill to their drinks with a great frosty flavor made for chewing, they go for sonic ice.
What Is Sonic Ice?
Sonic ice is a special type of ice that is designed to be small, frosty, and easily chewable.
Sonic ice is much smaller than traditional cubed ice and is an increasingly popular way to keep cool on hot days. The small shape and size of sonic ice allow it to spread evenly through a beverage, keeping a drink evenly chilled.
Sonic ice is also much softer than traditional ice cubes. This makes it enjoyable to chew and eat. Flavoring sonic ice is popular for this reason.
There are several other commonly used names for sonic ice. Sonic ice is also called nugget ice, pellet ice, pearl ice, and cubelet ice.
How Is Sonic Ice Created?
Sonic ice is created by special sonic ice machines – these are sometimes called “nugget ice makers”. These nugget ice makers create ice using a different process than traditional ice machines.
The process for creating Sonic ice:
- Water is directed into a cylindrical structure where it is chilled until frozen. As the water freezes it forms thin sheets of ice that stick out from the cylinder.
- The thin sheets of ice are pressed through an auger that shaves down the ice into tiny flakes.
- As the flakes build up they are pressed together to form small pellet shaped ice cubes that are much softer than traditional large cubes. These cubes keep drinks cold but crush and melt easily when being chewed.
What Are The Best Sonic Ice Makers For Home Use?
If you want to create sonic ice at home or at get-togethers, we have rounded up the best sonic ice machines to get the job done.
GE Profile Opal Countertop Ice Maker 2.0
This machine is considered by many as the best sonic/nugget ice maker. It holds 3 lbs. of ice at one time, has an appealing stainless steel design, does not require a water hookup, and has sensors to prevent the ice bin from overflowing.
The real stand-out feature of this ice machine is the Bluetooth compatibility that allows the owner to schedule when ice is made and check the status of the ice machine from anywhere.
This machine comes with a 1-year warranty and is highly rated on seller markets such as Amazon.
TaoTronics Nugget Ice Maker
If you want a machine with a slightly larger bin, the TaoTronics machine does hold just over 3 lbs. of ice. This sonic ice maker can make ice by using water poured into a reservoir or by being hooked to a water source.
The TaoTronics machine is easy to clean and comes with a cleaning cycle button that will run a clean cycle when pressed for 3 seconds.
This ice maker does require a 24 hour setup period before first use and while quiet, is not a silent machine.
FRIGIDAIRE EFIC235-AMZ Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
This Frigidaire brand nugget ice maker is our suggestion when it comes to getting bang for your buck. This machine is affordable but still has all the features to make an excellent sonic ice machine making it one of the best nugget ice makers on our list.
It holds up to 3 pounds of ice at a time, is reported as easy to set up, and sells at almost half the cost of many other sonic ice makers.
If you are looking for a sonic ice maker that’s durable and easy on your pockets, then the Frigidaire EFIC235-AMZ Countertop Nugget Ice Maker is your best bet.
KBIce Self Dispensing Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
The KBIce Self Dispensing sonic ice maker was the first sonic ice machine designed for home use. It is different from the others on the list as it does not need a scoop to retrieve ice from the bin. This machine is self-dispensing right into your glass.
This sonic ice machine requires 30 minutes of turnaround between ice creation cycles and does make slightly more noise than other sonic ice makers.
It is a great ice maker for those who want a machine that does all the ice dispensing for you.
Is Sonic Ice For You?
If you enjoy a quickly chilled drink with a frosty easy to chew ice, then sonic ice is made for you. Sonic ice is easy to enjoy at home using any of our suggested nugget ice makers and will add smiles to your favorite faces with every sip.