All Kinds of Ice Shapes to Meet Any Business Need
Choose the Best Ice Shapes for Your Business
Many ice shapes look great in drinks, but the truth is they’re designed that way to meet the needs of many different industries. Crescent ice helps limit spills, soft nugget ice is preferred in hospitals because patients can chew on them, and flaked ice is excellent for seafood displays. When choosing an ice machine for your business, it’s important to know the different shapes of ice cubes and how they can help your business.

Dice and Half Dice Ice
Dice and Half Dice Ice are two different shapes of ice cubes produced by Manitowoc ice machines. Both come in Manitowoc’s unique “rhomboid” shape but in different sizes depending on your need. Dice ice is great for high-end spirits or soft drinks. Half Dice ice is very popular in the food industry because they help displace liquid, making drinks appear fuller. Both ice machine models come in sizes ranging from 400-1900 lbs of ice a day.
Crescent Ice
Crescent ice is a great all-around ice cube for any food service industry or breakroom setting. Crescent ice is solid, clear, and melts slowly, so drinks don’t lose their flavor. Their crescent shape allows liquid to flow over the cube, which limits splash backs when pouring. No matter the size of your business, there’s a crescent ice machine in your size. Models can produce between 70-2500 lbs of ice a day.
Square Cubes
Both Hoshizaki and Manitowoc make versions of square ice cubes. These ice cube shapes are great for high-end cocktail bars and upscale restaurants. Both versions of square ice cubes look great in top-shelf spirits and classy cocktails.
Nugget Ice
Nugget Ice is popular in hospitals and schools because its soft, chewable shape is easy on teeth. Nugget ice is also moldable, so it’s great for cold compresses. Many food service businesses love the shape of nugget ice because it retains the flavor of sugary drinks and sodas.
Flake Ice
Flake ice is a great option for seafood displays and salad bars. This ice shape is soft and moldable, much like snow. It allows you to create structures to keep food upright, while also keeping fresh for customers. Flake ice is also a great way to display bottles and cans.
Top Hat Ice

Top Hat ice cubes are solid and slow-melting. Much like square cubes, top hat ice cubes are perfect for high-end cocktail bars, but looking for a more unique ice shape. As the name suggests, top hat ice cubes resemble a top hat, with a long, cylindrical body and a flared base.
All Kinds of Ice Shapes for Customers to Enjoy
With a huge selection of ice machines, you can pick from a wide array of ice shapes to fit your business needs. If you’re unsure which ice shape works best for you, give us a call, and one of our ice experts will find you the perfect solution.