A method of producing a melted food or beverage liquid product from a receptacle containing frozen liquid contents, comprising the steps of: receiving a receptacle in a chamber of a dispenser, the receptacle defining an enclosed inner volume containing a frozen liquid contents; the method being characterized by comprising the further steps of: identifying at least one of a thermodynamic characteristic and a mass of at least one of the receptacle and the frozen liquid contents, wherein the thermodynamic characteristic is identified using at least one of an optical sensor, a thermal sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor, and wherein the mass is identified using at least one of a mass sensor, an optical sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor; melting at least a portion of the frozen liquid contents to generate a melted food or beverage liquid product by selectively performing at least one of: heating at least one of the receptacle when held in the chamber and the frozen liquid contents within the receptacle when held in the chamber without adding liquid to an interior of the receptacle when held in the chamber, supplying a dilution liquid to the interior of the receptacle, and applying motion to at least one of the receptacle and the frozen liquid contents, wherein the selectively performing at least one of heating, supplying a dilution liquid, and applying motion is based on the identified characteristic; perforating the receptacle; and dispensing the melted food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle. receiving a receptacle in a chamber of a dispenser, the receptacle defining an enclosed inner volume containing a frozen liquid contents; the method being characterized by comprising the further steps of: identifying at least one of a thermodynamic characteristic and a mass of at least one of the receptacle and the frozen liquid contents, wherein the thermodynamic characteristic is identified using at least one of an optical sensor, a thermal sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor, and wherein the mass is identified using at least one of a mass sensor, an optical sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor; melting at least a portion of the frozen liquid contents to generate a melted food or beverage liquid product by selectively performing at least one of: heating at least one of the receptacle when held in the chamber and the frozen liquid contents within the receptacle when held in the chamber without adding liquid to an interior of the receptacle when held in the chamber, supplying a dilution liquid to the interior of the receptacle, and applying motion to at least one of the receptacle and the frozen liquid contents, wherein the selectively performing at least one of heating, supplying a dilution liquid, and applying motion is based on the identified characteristic; perforating the receptacle; and dispensing the melted food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle. identifying at least one of a thermodynamic characteristic and a mass of at least one of the receptacle and the frozen liquid contents, wherein the thermodynamic characteristic is identified using at least one of an optical sensor, a thermal sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor, and wherein the mass is identified using at least one of a mass sensor, an optical sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor; melting at least a portion of the frozen liquid contents to generate a melted food or beverage liquid product by selectively performing at least one of: heating at least one of the receptacle when held in the chamber and the frozen liquid contents within the receptacle when held in the chamber without adding liquid to an interior of the receptacle when held in the chamber, supplying a dilution liquid to the interior of the receptacle, and applying motion to at least one of the receptacle and the frozen liquid contents, wherein the selectively performing at least one of heating, supplying a dilution liquid, and applying motion is based on the identified characteristic; heating at least one of the receptacle when held in the chamber and the frozen liquid contents within the receptacle when held in the chamber without adding liquid to an interior of the receptacle when held in the chamber, supplying a dilution liquid to the interior of the receptacle, and applying motion to at least one of the receptacle and the frozen liquid contents, wherein the selectively performing at least one of heating, supplying a dilution liquid, and applying motion is based on the identified characteristic; perforating the receptacle; and dispensing the melted food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle.