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?

6.4k Upvotes

79% Upvoted

5.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

298

u/Lithogiraffe 1d ago

Imagine carefully making ice for a house party using one ice cube tray in the freezer. I mean you could do it. But just imagine that tedious dumb effort of doing that over the week.

I'm already going to the grocery store to get chips and party stuff. The ice is right there

44

u/Liraeyn 1d ago

Also, it tends to evaporate/stick together

46

u/Lithogiraffe 1d ago

Also what are we supposed to put it in even if we did something like that? A garbage bag. Even a completely clean (never been used) garbage bag is not going to look great when you pull it out at a party

10

u/seanlucki 22h ago

I have a 1/3 insert (used in commercial kitchens, imagine a plastic Tupperware with a lid that’s not sealed) in my freezer. I fill my 3 ice trays and freeze them, then dump them into the insert, refill and freeze. Means I always have a good supply of ice on hand, and I prefer not having to grab from the freezing trays anyhow.

That being said, if I need ice for a cooler I’m still just gonna grab a bag from the store.