How come hospital ice is so delicious?
December 8, 2011 9:54 AM   Subscribe

Where does the ice at the hospital come from? In particularly Henrico Doctor's in Virginia.

I knew some ice munchers growing up., but I was never into it. I was hospitalized a few months ago and they wouldn't give me any food or drink, but they would give me ice. I've now become an ice muncher because of it. Problem is I only like the ice from the hospital.
It's not too cold and it's easy to crunch on. The ice from the store is just too hard and cold for me. Does anyone know what it is about the hospital ice that makes it different?
posted by udon to Food & Drink (11 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
The hardness relates to the temperature. Water freezes at 32°F, but then continues to chill down until it reaches the ambient temperature -- most freezers run about 0-10°F

Want 'chewier' ice? Let it sit off and melt a bit. Once the core is near the freezing point, I think you'll find a much enhanced ice experience.

I could see a hospital, used to giving out ice for chewing, having a storage chest at, say, 30°F.
posted by eriko at 9:59 AM on December 8, 2011


Best answer: Nugget ice, made by Scotsman and similar ice machines, could be what the hospital had. Sonic drive-ins usually have this type of ice.
posted by Uncle Jimmy at 10:10 AM on December 8, 2011


Best answer: Ice muncher from way back.

Hospitals tend to have nugget ice versus ice cubes. If you have a Sonic drive-in near you try them. I'd never been before living in NM, but once I went and realized they have nugget ice I make a point of swinging by now and then to get a soda.
posted by FlamingBore at 10:11 AM on December 8, 2011


Best answer: If you are talking about the small, rough-textured cylindrical kind of ice that hospitals usually have, I have found that IKEA has that ice at their soda fountain.

Oh, yes, on preview, it is certainly nugget ice, and I have also had it at Sonic.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:12 AM on December 8, 2011


I am an ice chewer. The smaller the cube (ie nugget ice) the less time it will take to soften and be lovely for chewing. I often fill my soda cups with ice machine ice and just a little soda, because I'd rather the ice than the pop.

For regular out of the icebox icecube tray ice, I find that if I'm in the mood, I put a few in a glass and add water from the tap (roomish temperature, don't let it run cold), just to cover, and let it sit for a little bit. Drink the lovely cold water, and the ice should be getting soft & brittle, and perfect for chewing. You can just let the ice sit, of course, but giving it some water speeds up the process. You don't want water that's too warm, though, or your ice will melt faster than it can soften and then you just have hard little slivers.

I think about this way too much obviously.
posted by sandraregina at 10:30 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


Random Fact:
Chewing/craving ice is a symptom associated with anemia. If your hospitalization could in any way be connected to an iron deficiency you should get your blood checked.

Of course I chew ice like a fiend and I wasn't anemic the last time I checked, but still...
posted by Wretch729 at 11:00 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]


If you're near the area with Taco Time fast food restaurants, they also have terrific pellet ice.
posted by bookdragoness at 11:55 AM on December 8, 2011


Love this ice. Which Wich sandwiches also has it. I've been hoping someone would make a not so expensive residential machine but I can only find commercial ones like Vivian ice machines. Here's an old home theater thread about it.
posted by dog food sugar at 1:03 PM on December 8, 2011


In case you didn't know, chewing ice is bad for your teeth. I still do it but not as often since I found this out.
posted by jabes at 2:47 PM on December 8, 2011


QuikTrip gas stations in the midwest and southern states have crushed ice which is easily munched on. I know this because my anemic aunt would have me go on frequent trips to get her cups of just ice.
posted by erstwhile at 4:30 PM on December 8, 2011


Response by poster: i didn't know that about anemia. i was hospitalized for renal failure, which in turn makes me anemic. but the inject me with iron each dialysis treatment
posted by udon at 2:44 PM on December 9, 2011


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