Pellet Ice Is Extremely Overrated | Eater
"Best known for serving small nugget or pellet ice in its drinks, this national drive-in chain helped popularize the crunchy, chewable ice that fans celebrate for its porous, 'yielding' texture. The pellets are pinky-nail–sized pressed flakes that look like tiny tater tots, and demand for them led the chain to even sell 10‑lb bags and helped spur at-home nugget ice makers from appliance makers. Enthusiasts and food writers praise the ice as snackable and flavorful to chew, while critics argue the pellets absorb and melt quickly, leaving cocktails and sodas tasting watered down, filling the glass with ice rather than liquid, and producing a dissatisfying drinking experience for those who prioritize flavor over the novelty of crunching ice." - Jaya Saxena
