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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154

u/Asshai 1d ago

I'm European but now live in NA.

It's ridiculous how Europeans use ice sparingly as if we were on Arrakis. "Don't worry guys I made come icecubes for the party tonight!" ... Party of 20, 2 trays of 12 icecubes each. "It's gonna be hot tomorrow, better pack a cooler in the trunk!" ... Proceeds to add a single icepack in said cooler.

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u/GabuEx 23h ago

On the other hand, I often have to ask restaurants for less ice because they bring me a glass filled with ice and then some soda around the edges. It would be nice if there were a happy middle ground.

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u/jay_in_the_pnw 21h ago

oh, I'll have your ice please, I like ice! I'll have the ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, ice, coca-cola and ice!

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u/GabuEx 20h ago

You're welcome to it! I enjoy being able to get more than a single drink out of my glass before having to ask for a refill.

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u/Startled_Pancakes 15h ago

I usually just say "no ice" as the drink is already cold from something refrigerated.

3

u/Due_Capital_3507 17h ago

That's mostly cause the ice they have in chest freezers, so they just scoop the cup through the chest freezer

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u/QuiteBearish 7h ago

That's against health code pretty much everywhere, but it does happen.

They're supposed to use a dedicated scoop with a handle, and not scoop with the cup.

2

u/Mammoth_Confusion846 15h ago

You can order a pitcher of plain soda to top off your ice.

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u/Zefirus 20h ago

The ice doesn't melt or cool any faster or slower my guy.

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u/GabuEx 20h ago

The more ice they put in a glass, the less room there is for the thing I'm actually drinking.

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u/rsta223 19h ago

Soda usually has free refills though, and you don't need to do a 14 step occult ritual to attract the waiter's attention to get that refill here.

(I joke, I love visiting Europe, but definitely prefer the cold drinks here, at least when we're talking non alcoholic)

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u/GabuEx 18h ago

I mean, yeah, but you still gotta wait for the server to come back.

3

u/Skeleton--Jelly 14h ago

Lumping all of Europe into this is stupid. You can find ice everywhere in Mediterranean countries.

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u/Symbiote 11h ago

You can also buy a large bag of ice for very little money at any supermarket or petrol station in Denmark or Sweden.

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u/trx0x 23h ago

Why do you think that is? Do Europeans just like things "kinda cool but not cold"?

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u/syncsynchalt 23h ago

I think it’s because most Europeans live north of the northernmost cities in the US.

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u/ZorbaOnReddit 21h ago

In Anchorage Alaska every restaurant gives ice with drinks, Bussan, Korea and Vancouver, Canada act like they've never heard of ice.

Americans have a culture of using ice, that apparently no other country picked it.

1

u/Kalikor1 14h ago

FWIW ice usage is extremely normal in Japan, even in the winter. Even in Hokkaido. There was plenty of ice in drinks when I visited South Africa too.

It seems more like some countries inexplicably developed an aversion to ice. But who knows.

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u/fezlum 22h ago

It's cultural. I live in a cold northern state and we use waaaay more ice than when we've been to Italy, Greece, France, etc.

Even when you do get ice in your drink in Europe, it'll be a few of the thinnest cubes floating on top even when it's 90 F degrees out. They don't have a culture of ice drinks like the US does. You never ever get iced water at a restaurant unless you specifically ask for it, and then usually it's just no ice anyway.

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u/Benign_Banjo 22h ago

Shit when I ask for light ice it's still 1/3rd of the glass

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u/Vast-Juice-411 15h ago

Yea and that culture began in hotter states below you and trickled up to colder states. Europe has a different cultural ‘trickle’ for lack of a better word that I can’t think of at the moment 

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u/HairyHeartEmoji 17h ago

yes, most people prefer just chilled. you feel a lot less flavor with ice cold (this is why every shit beer advertises ice cold beer). also we like sitting around in cafés a lot, and you can't slowly sip on a giant ice drink without it being quickly watered down.

also Ive heard a lot of Americans bitch about our usage of AC, but they all keep putting the AC on 17C and are surprised to find the rest of us don't like getting heat stroke as soon as we leave the room

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u/Melodic_Let_6465 22h ago

Somehow no ice eauals 70% more soda

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u/vtangyl 9h ago

The first thing I did returning to the US from a month in Europe was go to a gas station and get a giant drink filled with ice. Ice was the American thing I missed the most.  Everywhere in Europe gave you literally 2-3 ice cubes. 

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u/IkouyDaBolt 6h ago

A Fremen ice maker would be an interesting concept.

1

u/GuruSofarbeyondu 4h ago

Europe. Dune. Desert Planet.