# The Delight of Having a Nugget Ice Machine
Have you ever envisioned having a nugget ice machine in your home but are skeptical of extravagant claims? We have one, and you can discover all about the experience of owning your personal nugget ice maker below.
If you’re familiar with it, you know nugget ice. It’s the delightful ice. The cute, chewable ice that is nearly a snack on its own. I am absolutely passionate about nugget ice, and last year my wish was granted when Mike presented me with a nugget ice machine for Christmas.
A nugget ice machine has been on my mind for ages. I conveniently overlooked home nugget ice makers, and I have to say, my Christmas gift was both unexpected and a total win! Christmas day was filled with nugget ice, and every day since we have eagerly utilized our nugget ice maker.
## What is Nugget Ice?
If you’re not aware, you may be asking, what exactly is nugget ice? Yes, it’s merely ice, but truly, it’s exceptional ice! Nugget ice contains air pockets that create layers and layers. Think of nugget ice as the croissant in the ice universe. The layers create air pockets, rendering nugget ice airy and not at all solid or harsh. Nugget ice is airy and chewy.
## Why is Nugget Ice Unique?
Nugget ice is not your typical ice. It’s formed, unsurprisingly, into small nugget shapes. Because it’s produced in a machine that introduces air pockets, the nuggets are softer and more chewable. The air pockets allow liquids to permeate, flavoring the ice, transforming it into little chewable nuggets of whatever drink you are enjoying. It has the capability to chill beverages quickly while melting slowly. The unique aspect is its texture: crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
## How is Nugget Ice Produced?
Nugget ice is created through a distinctive flash-freezing process while being extruded through tiny holes. Most nugget ice makers function like this:
1. Water flows through an extruder with small holes.
2. As the water is forced through under pressure, tiny droplets form.
3. These droplets flash freeze into nuggets, with air pockets naturally developing during the freezing phase.
4. Ta-da, you have nugget ice!
## Homemade Nugget Ice
There was a time when having nugget ice at home seemed impossible, but now, there are numerous countertop nugget ice machines available. The sole way to create nugget ice at home is with a nugget ice machine.
## Top Nugget Ice Machines
We genuinely adore our Easyera nugget ice maker. It produces ice quickly, in roughly 20 minutes, it’s extremely easy to clean, and it’s fairly compact. Sure, it’s a bit loud, but the nature of nugget ice means that the extrusion and freezing process will always have some noise. We’ve encountered no problems with our nugget ice machine. There’s a self-cleaning feature, and it generates more than enough ice for the two of us. I appreciate that it’s smaller than many other nugget ice machines because it permanently resides on our countertop.
The GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra nugget ice maker has been gaining attention recently, but it’s MASSIVE and reportedly not very easy to maintain. Plus, at $629, it costs twice what we paid for our nugget ice maker. We haven’t sampled the ice from the Opal, so I can’t speak to the quality, but for the size and price for a countertop model, I definitely believe the Easyera is the better choice. Also, call me old-fashioned, but I’m not entirely sure why I would need a nugget ice maker with built-in Wi-Fi and voice control.
I spent some time browsing Amazon because, let’s be honest, there’s nothing I enjoy more than online shopping, and if I had to pick a different nugget ice machine, I think I would opt for the Vevor. It’s reportedly very quiet, which is ideal for those who can constantly hear humming/machine sounds, and it keeps the nugget ice frozen for quite a long duration. It does appear a bit large, but I like the stainless steel exterior, and it has numerous positive verified purchase reviews.
## Where Can You Find Nugget Ice?
Perhaps the most famous place for nugget ice is Sonic Drive-In. People visit Sonic solely for their ice: both in beverages and to purchase bags of nugget ice. Many other establishments have nugget ice too if they possess nugget ice machines. I’ve visited gas stations with nugget ice, as well as local soda shops. HTeaO in Texas serves nugget ice (try a blend of sweet coconut and sweet almond green; it’s divine!).