# Home ice machine **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852 "2011-06-25T21:39:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/1 "2011-06-25T21:39:20Z")
Hello Everyone, My wife (AKA the most beautiful woman in the world) is addicted to chompin on ice. Have mentioned it to her doctor and there doesn’t seem to be a medical concern. The question I have though is, does anyone know of a home ice machine available that makes ice “pellets”? You know, when you go to a 7-11 or store with a soda machine and you get the ice that looks like little tiny pellets. That is her preffered chomping material and I haven’t been able to find a small one for sale on the internet. The only ones that I have come across are big industrial ones. I am getting tired of always running to the local convient store to get her a cup of ice (although I don’t mind, anything for my baby!). ---
**Author:** ![FoundWaldo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@FoundWaldo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoundWaldo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/2 "2011-06-25T21:46:29Z")
[http://www.katom.com/044-SCN60GA1SS.html](http://www.katom.com/044-SCN60GA1SS.html) ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/3 "2011-06-25T21:51:45Z")
Thanks Waldo, but that one is a bit large and way expensive. I guess what i am looking for is one that will replace the one in my freezer or a counter top model that will produce just a few pounds at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/4 "2011-06-25T22:19:33Z")
If you already have a freezer…find different style ice trays…or use something other than standard ice trays. ie…some plastic type thing that will hold water and twistability to get the ice out. I used to eat ice as a kid and made little ice pellets to munch on from a plastic tray that used to hold diodes or something. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/5 "2011-06-25T22:27:12Z")
> [@Jamicat](#): > > If you already have a freezer…find different style ice trays…or use something other than standard ice trays. > > ie…some plastic type thing that will hold water and twistability to get the ice out. > > I used to eat ice as a kid and made little ice pellets to munch on from a plastic tray that used to hold diodes or something. > > 😉 I’d suggest heading down to a candy making supply store and getting some candy/chocolate molds. ---
**Author:** ![wellanuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@wellanuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wellanuff)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/6 "2011-06-25T22:32:03Z")
You could also use your regular ice tray and just not put as much water in as you normally would. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/7 "2011-06-25T22:49:00Z")
Start searching[here](http://www.countertopicemaker.net/) ---
**Author:** ![FoundWaldo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@FoundWaldo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoundWaldo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/8 "2011-06-25T22:54:10Z")
The “pellets” that come from a machine like the one I linked are not just smaller ice cubes. They have a different texture and consistency. Not interchangeable. I don’t blame the OP for not wanting to spend that kind of money on it. I wouldn’t either. But if that’s really the kind of ice you’re looking for, you need a special machine to get it. ---
**Author:** ![Wallet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e99b99/32.png) [@Wallet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallet)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/9 "2011-06-25T23:14:04Z")
Do you have a BJ’s where you live? I was just there yesterday, and they had a small retro ice maker for the counter, in that '50s blue color. I know it was under $100. I don’t see it online at [Bjs.com](http://Bjs.com), sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/10 "2011-06-26T00:35:14Z")
As best I can tell, it looks like nugget ice is out. [Here’s an article explaining why these machines are so expensive](http://www.fridgefreezersite.com/nugget-ice-machine-for-home/). If you’re willing to go with plain ol’ crushed ice, though, that can be had on the cheap. I’ve used [one of these](http://www.amazon.com/Deni-6100-Automatic-70-Watt-Stainless-Steel/dp/B000I6NOAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309048382&sr=8-1) (this particular model is $30 at Amazon) before; works like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/11 "2011-06-26T00:36:00Z")
You can crush ice in a blender. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/12 "2011-06-26T00:59:19Z")
Can anyone link to a picture of a nugget ice cube? I’m not familiar with them. ---
**Author:** ![FoundWaldo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@FoundWaldo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoundWaldo)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/13 "2011-06-26T01:24:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Can anyone link to a picture of a nugget ice cube? I’m not familiar with them. [![](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3380221837_a3b8e7060f.jpg) ](https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3380221837_a3b8e7060f.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/14 "2011-06-26T01:33:21Z")
Has she been checked for anemia or iron deficiency ? Sometimes that can cause a craving for ice. How 'bout a snow-cone machine? ---
**Author:** ![loshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce73a5/32.png) [@loshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loshan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/15 "2011-06-26T04:14:57Z")
If you live in a place with a Sonic Drive In, they sell their (very good) ice nuggets by the ten pound bag for a couple bucks. Well worth it in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-ice-machine/586852/16 "2011-06-26T04:21:57Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > My wife (AKA the most beautiful woman in the world) is addicted to chompin on ice. Have mentioned it to her doctor and there doesn’t seem to be a medical concern. > [@](#): > > Doctors use the term “pica” to describe craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value — such as ice, clay, cornstarch or paper. Transient pica is very common in normal children. On the other hand, craving and chewing ice (pagophagia) is often associated with iron deficiency anemia — although it may be associated with other nutritional problems as well. [http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chewing-ice/AN01278](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chewing-ice/AN01278)