Ice cubes or crushed ice: which to choose and how much you need
When you order ice, the first question is the shape: cubes or crushed ice. The answer depends on what you will use it for and how long it has to last.
What is the difference
Ice cubes are dense pieces of equal size. Our 10 kg bag of ice contains cubes of 28x28x32 mm. Crushed ice is the same ice broken into small pieces. The main difference is surface area: crushed ice has much more of it, so it gives off cold faster but also melts faster.
When to choose cubes
- Water, lemonade, juice, tea and other drinks in a glass. Cubes melt slowly, so the drink stays cold and does not get watery.
- Chilling drinks in a bucket or box. Bottles and cans between cubes cool evenly, and the ice does not melt too quickly.
- Storage. Cubes stick together less than crushed ice, so the bag can be opened several times. How to do it properly is in the article how to store ice at home.
- If you are not sure what you need. Cubes are the most universal choice.
When to choose crushed ice
- Drinks that need an icy texture, such as mojito, caipirinha or frozen drinks. Crushed ice chills the glass instantly.
- Food displays. Seafood, fish and fruit platters look neat on crushed ice and stay cold.
- Fast chilling. If you need to cool food or drinks in a large container, crushed ice fills the gaps between them and chills faster.
We deliver crushed ice in a 15 kg thermo box. It is best used soon after you receive it, because it clumps and melts faster. It is better not to put it in the freezer, so we suggest ordering only what you will use the same day.
How much ice to order
As a rough guide, count 1 to 2 kg of ice per person if it is for drinks, and more if it is used to chill bottles. The calculator in the article how much ice you need gives a more precise number. If you need both formats, it makes sense to take cubes as the base and a small amount of crushed ice for what really needs it.
Price and ordering
A 10 kg bag of cubes costs 6.30 € incl. VAT. A thermo box with cubes costs 8.50 € for companies and 28.50 € for private customers including a refundable 20 € deposit. Crushed ice in a thermo box: 10.50 € for companies and 30.50 € for private customers with the deposit. Delivery in Riga and the surrounding area costs 10 €, pickup at Jēkabpils iela 12 is free until 16:00, and you do not pay on site. The manager agrees the delivery time, and delivery elsewhere in Latvia is arranged individually.
