It’s been said that Inuit Native Alaskan Eskimos have approximately 70 different words for ice. It’s unclear whether that list includes “nugget ice,” but if it doesn’t, it should. 

Pun intended; nugget ice is the hottest thing in ice. It first gained popularity at some fast-food and drive-in restaurants. So much so, the restaurants started selling bags of ice, along with burgers. The frosty stuff has also become internet-famous, with a fanatical following and millions of viral-video views proclaiming love, craving and devotion for “#nugget ice.” 

What is nugget ice, you ask? Nugget ice has a distinctly different texture than traditional cubed ice or crushed ice. While typical ice usually has a smooth, hard surface, nugget ice is formed in small, rounded pebbles with craggy surfaces and air pockets. This makes the ice slightly softer, less dense and satisfyingly chewable. 

In recent years, countertop nugget ice makers started finding their way into indoor kitchens, but they remained virtually unheard of in the outdoor kitchen space. If you wanted an outdoor ice maker, old-school cubed ice was the only option. Until now. Renaissance Cooking Systems has just launched the REFR3A Nugget Ice Maker, specially designed to be built into an outdoor kitchen island. 

If you’re planning to add an ice maker to your outdoor kitchen, here’s why you might want to consider one that makes nugget ice.

Why Nugget Ice?

With lots of nooks and crannies to collect pools of liquid, nugget ice takes on the flavor of the beverage in a way regular ice can’t. Because the nuggets are smaller than typical ice cubes, it also has more surface area to cool drinks quicker.

Nugget ice is ideal for making slushy drinks (hello, Margaritas and frozen Cokes!). It absorbs flavored snow-cone syrups like a charm. And, it blends better in smoothies, too – not to mention being easier on the blender appliance.  

Its unique characteristics make nugget ice versatile, with uses and benefits for outdoor living and entertaining that go well beyond beverages. For instance, nugget ice creates a perfect base for serving seafood like shrimp, oysters, and clams, as well as other foods that need to stay chilled. It’s small size and malleability make it easy to nestle the shellfish in the ice bed.

For the same reason, nugget ice is handy for filling insulated beverage coolers, like this VIC2 Drop-In Cooler. Tuck the beverages into the nuggets and icy wells form, surrounding the bottles and cans to display them upright, chill them quickly and keep them cold. 

Nugget ice also makes great ice packs to soothe sore muscles and all sorts of boo-boos. Just scoop it into a zip-top baggie and the ice conforms to knees, shoulders or whatever ails you. 

And it bears repeating how addictively chewy nugget ice is. Legions of ice chewers out there will attest to the satisfaction of munching on nugget ice. Best. Snack. Ever.

Is There a Cold Hard Truth?

If you mostly use ice to sip spirits, an outdoor ice maker that makes traditional ice cubes like the Renaissance Cooking Systems REFR3, might be the way to go. The larger-sized cubes melt slower, and won’t dilute that fancy bourbon as fast as nugget ice will.

A Very Cool Product

The REFR3A Nugget Ice Maker can produce up to 44 pounds of nugget ice per day, with a storage capacity of 26 pounds, so you’ll always have plenty for parties. When the storage bin is full, ice-making shuts off automatically. A sturdy shovel is included for sanitary scooping.

An easy-to-use digital touchpad, controls the motor speed and other features and indicates when the ice bin is full. The REFR3A plugs into a standard 110 electrical outlet, and has a reversible door for left- or right-sided installation. The appliance also vents out the front, an essential attribute for building it into an enclosed outdoor kitchen island.

The REFR3A Nugget Ice Maker is constructed with premium stainless steel and top-notch mechanical components. Superior insulation and weatherstripping materials ensure it will function properly in summer’s heat and the ice won’t melt in the storage bin. 

Perhaps most importantly, the REFR3A Nugget Ice Maker from Renaissance Cooking Systems is UL Certified for outdoor use. This designation by an independent product-testing laboratory confirms the unit is engineered to be durable and perform well outdoors, even in harsh elements and wide temperature fluctuations. A five-year warranty is further evidence this product is built to last. (So, if you happen to be wondering whether you can just use an indoor, countertop, nugget ice maker in your outdoor kitchen, these arguments should make it completely clear; the answer is NO!)

For more information on the REFR3A Outdoor Nugget Ice Maker, click here. To learn about the entire lineup of outdoor kitchen products from Renaissance Cooking Systems click here, or visit www.rcsgasgrills.com.