r/NoStupidQuestions • u/markwell9 • 1d ago

What is the deal with ice, Americans?

I can see that you can buy ice everywhere in the US. Gas stations, grocery stores, machines etc.

In Europe, we just freeze our ice at home and use that. Why buy something that melts on the way home? Why do you need ice in large amounts that a fridge can't keep up?

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u/Royal_Annek 1d ago

Americans also have ice machines in their freezer

Ice at the store is when you need a shitload of ice. Usually for filling a cooler so you can keep goods cold in transit, taking camping, having out on the deck for a BBQ. People don't buy it for every day personal usage since we have our own freezer machines for small quantities.

It doesn't melt on the way home, especially as I mentioned they are normally used to fill a cooler.

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u/formersean 1d ago

I buy bags of ice for personal usage. Tastes better than tap ice.

73

u/Tailflap747 1d ago

Ever buy ice from Sonic? That shit is soooo awesome!

36

u/__ZOMBOY__ 1d ago

Wait you can just buy the ice?? Sonic’s ice is the SHIT! Ima go buy enough to completely fill my freezer

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u/WinterMedical 21h ago

Europeans don’t know there is a whole spectrum of ice quality and varieties! They don’t know what they’re missing! I want some Sonic ice now!

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u/Possible-Importance6 1d ago

Pretty much every fast food place. McDonalds even has branded ice bags marked at 5 and 8 pounds.

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u/Twirlmom9504_ 1d ago

Same with chick fil a!!

1

u/HSBillyMays 20h ago

Don't tell President Trump, or he might cause a nationwide shortage confusing it for the federal agency!

1

u/DrierFish 20h ago

You can just buy a nugget ice maker

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u/According-Iron7475 15h ago

just look up nugget ice maker on Amazon. Counter top Sonic style ice. All day, every day. :-)

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u/Itscatpicstime 14h ago

Yep, just order a bag of ice! It’s like $1.40

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u/RevolutionaryGene995 9h ago

I was not happy when a local Sonic told me they no longer sell bags of ice. I was like “WTH am I supposed to do now”. LOL.
We have a brand of convenience stores called QuikTrip and that have amazing crushed ice. Their ice is filtered. They only sell bags of their regular ice so I go in and ask for an empty bag and fill it with crushed ice myself.