# The Delight of Having a Nugget Ice Machine: My Personal Journey
Have you ever fantasized about owning a nugget ice machine in your home but are skeptical of the grand promises? We have one, and you can discover all about the experience of having your own nugget ice maker below.
If you’re in the know, you know nugget ice. It’s the ideal ice. The charming, chewable ice that is essentially a snack on its own. I ADORE nugget ice wholeheartedly, and last year my dream was fulfilled when Mike gifted me a nugget ice machine for Christmas.
A nugget ice machine has been on my list for ages. I conveniently overlooked home nugget ice makers, and I must say, my Christmas present was both an unexpected treat and an absolute win! Christmas day was filled with nugget ice, and every day since, we have joyfully used our nugget ice maker.
## What is Nugget Ice?
If you’re not aware, you might be asking, what on earth is nugget ice? Yes, it’s simply ice, but truly, it’s unique ice! Nugget ice features air pockets that provide it with layers. Consider nugget ice as the croissant of the ice realm. The layers create air pockets, making nugget ice airy and not at all solid or hard. Nugget ice is light and chewy.
## Why is Nugget Ice Unique?
Nugget ice is not your standard ice. It’s shaped, as the name suggests, like a small nugget. Since it’s produced in a machine that incorporates air pockets, the nuggets are softer and chewier. The air pockets allow liquid to penetrate, flavoring the ice so they transform into little chewable nuggies of any drink you’re having. It has the capacity to chill beverages quickly while melting slowly. The special aspect is the texture: crunchy on the exterior and chewy on the interior.
## How is Nugget Ice Created?
Nugget ice is produced through a unique process of rapidly freezing water while forcing it through small openings. Most nugget ice makers function like this:
1. Water flows through an extruder featuring tiny holes.
2. As the water is pushed through under pressure, small droplets form.
3. The droplets rapidly freeze into nuggets, with air pockets forming naturally during the freezing phase.
4. Voila, you have nugget ice!
## Homemade Nugget Ice
Once, the idea of having nugget ice at home seemed like a fantasy, but now, numerous countertop nugget ice machines are available. The sole way to create nugget ice at home is with a nugget ice machine.
## Top Nugget Ice Machines
We are absolutely fond of our Easyera nugget ice maker. It produces ice swiftly, taking about 20 minutes, it’s super simple to clean, and it’s quite compact. Admittedly, it’s a bit noisy, but the nature of nugget ice implies that the extrusion and freezing method will always be somewhat loud. We’ve encountered no problems with our nugget ice machine. It includes a self-cleaning feature and produces more than enough ice for the two of us. I appreciate that it’s smaller than many other nugget ice machines available as it permanently resides on our countertop.
The GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra nugget ice maker has been making rounds lately, but it’s enormous and reportedly not the easiest to clean. Additionally, at $629, it costs double what we paid for our nugget ice maker. We haven’t sampled the ice from the Opal, so I can’t speak to the ice quality, but for the size and price, I genuinely believe the Easyera is the better choice. Plus, call me traditional, but I’m not entirely certain why I would need a nugget ice maker with integrated Wi-Fi and voice activation.
I spent some time browsing Amazon because to be honest, there’s nothing I enjoy more than online shopping, and if I were to select a different nugget ice machine, I think I would opt for the Vevor. Supposedly, it’s extremely quiet, which is ideal for those who can always hear humming/machine sounds, and it keeps the nugget ice frozen for quite a while. It does appear a bit large, but I like the stainless steel casing, and it has several positive verified buyer reviews.
## Where Can You Find Nugget Ice?
Probably the most famous place for nugget ice is Sonic Drive-In. People flock to Sonic just for their ice: both in drinks and to purchase bags of nugget ice. Many other establishments offer nugget ice too if they have 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!).