Nugget Ice vs Bullet Ice: Which Countertop Ice Maker to Buy
Nugget ice is soft and chewable. Bullet ice is quick, cheap and hollow. Here's how the two kinds of countertop ice makers differ in price, speed, melting and upkeep.
The short version: bullet ice makers are cheap (often under $100), fast and simple, but the ice is hollow and melts quickly. Nugget ice makers cost $200 to $500, take longer to fill a basket and need more cleaning, but make the soft, chewable “Sonic” ice people love.
If you mainly want cold drinks and a backup to your freezer, buy a bullet machine. If you’re the person who drives to a fast-food place for a cup of ice, buy a nugget machine.
At a glance
| Bullet ice | Nugget ice | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Hollow, bullet-shaped cylinders | Small, soft pellets of pressed flakes |
| Texture | Hard outside, hollow inside | Soft and chewable |
| Melts | Fairly fast | Fast, but soaks up drink flavor |
| First ice | About 6 to 10 minutes | About 6 to 30 minutes |
| Typical price | $70 to $150 | $200 to $550 |
| Upkeep | Simple | More frequent cleaning and descaling |
Timing and prices are from Reviewed and Popular Mechanics testing, plus manufacturer listings.
How bullet ice is made
Metal prongs dip into a tray of water and get very cold. Ice forms around each prong, then the prongs warm briefly and the “bullets” drop into the basket. That’s why they’re hollow, with a dimple at one end. A batch takes only minutes.
How nugget ice is made
A chilled cylinder freezes a thin layer of ice on its walls. An auger scrapes it off as flakes and pushes them through a small opening that presses them into soft pellets. It’s a more complex machine with more moving parts, which is why it costs more and needs more care.
Where bullet ice wins
- Price. Good bullet machines start under $100. Our top bullet pick, the Igloo Premium Self-Cleaning, costs about $90.
- Speed. First ice comes in under 10 minutes on most models.
- Simplicity. Fewer parts to scale up and wear out.
- Size. Many are smaller and lighter.
Where nugget ice wins
- Texture. Soft, chewable and easy on teeth.
- Drinks. Nuggets pack tightly in a glass, chill fast and soak up flavor.
- Cocktails and iced coffee. Popular for juleps, tiki drinks and cold brew.
Watch the labels
Some machines are sold as “chewable” ice makers but make bullet ice. Popular Mechanics noted that a Frigidaire “Chewable Nugget” model it tested actually made bullet-shaped cubes. If you want true nugget ice, look for words like “nugget,” “pellet” or “Sonic-style” in the specs, and check photos of the actual ice.
Ice storage is the same
Neither type of countertop machine has a freezer. Both store ice in an insulated basket, where it slowly melts back into the water tank and gets remade. If you need ice for a party, make it ahead and bag it in the freezer.
Which should you buy?
Get a bullet ice maker if:
- You want a cheap backup to your freezer’s ice maker
- You need ice fast for a cooler or party
- You’d rather not do much maintenance
Get a nugget ice maker if:
- You love chewable ice
- You drink a lot of iced drinks at home
- You’re willing to clean and descale regularly
See our best nugget ice makers or all of our best countertop ice makers.
Short answers
Is nugget ice worth the price? If you’d chew it every day, most owners say yes. For basic cold drinks, bullet ice does the job for a quarter of the cost.
Which melts faster? Both melt fairly quickly. Nugget ice has more surface area, so it melts faster in a drink, but it also chills the drink faster.
Do both need cleaning? Yes. Here’s how to clean a countertop ice maker. Nugget machines are more sensitive to scale.