Which type of ice does an ice machine produce when ice forms on a vertical evaporator plate with flowing water?

The ice produced when water flows over a vertical evaporator plate and freezes onto it is known as cubed ice. This process involves a thin film of water continuously flowing over the plate, and as the water freezes, it forms solid layers which are eventually scraped off into individual cubes. This mechanism is common in many commercial ice machines designed for efficient ice production.

Cubed ice is particularly favored in various culinary applications and bars because it has a good balance of surface area for cooling drinks and a pleasant consistency for serving. It melts more slowly than crushed ice, making it ideal for cocktails and other beverages where dilution needs to be controlled.

Flaked ice, on the other hand, involves producing small, flaky pieces of ice and is typically created using a different type of machine that shaves the ice off a larger block or produces it through a freezing and crushing process. Crushed ice is made by breaking down larger pieces of ice into finer particles, which again differs from the uniform cubes produced directly from the evaporator plate. Block ice refers to large, solid chunks of ice often formed in a mold rather than as individual cubes.