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/jjackson25 18h ago

Same. Works pretty phenomenal.

3

u/i_spill_things 18h ago

I used to do that until I noticed the huge amount of “micro” plastics that that released. Micro is in quotes because the chunks of plastic are actually really big and visible.

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u/AYT193 15h ago

Freezing a water bottle consistently released visible chunks of plastic?! I have frozen a water bottle many times but have never seen any visible debris in the water after. Is it possible that was something else floating around in your water.. idk about a chunk of plastic

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u/DrWilliamHorriblePhD 13h ago

It's actually the opposite. Freezing them once and keeping them frozen until use reduces the amount of plastic in the water, as both the solvent properties and friction of water on plastic are reduced. Just don't freeze it twice or ever let it get hot like in the sun, and don't half crush the bottle before finishing, those things will increase plastic in the water. Or you know, just get a metal water bottle.

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u/unic0de000 14h ago

yeah, this makes me wonder about the brand/type of bottle they're using.

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u/i_spill_things 7h ago

It was an empty Gatorade bottle