Have you ever noticed that the ice served at a good restaurant is clear, but the ice cubes you take from the ice tray in your freezer are white and cloudy? Ordinary ice becomes opaque when gases dissolved in water are trapped in it and forced into small bubbles, or when it freezes in a way that does not allow large crystals to form. Because of these things, ice that is foggy is weaker and melts faster than ice that is clear, pure ice. The "ice experts" have figured out several ways to make "premium"/quality ice without having to go to a restaurant. Try these methods to make clear ice cubes in your home.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using Boiled Water
Step 1. Use pure water
In this method the water used should be as free as possible from air impurities and minerals before freezing, so start with distilled water. You can also use purified bottled water, or any water that has been purified using a reverse osmosis system.
Step 2. Boil the water twice
Boiling will remove air bubbles from the water, which will make the water molecules stick together more tightly in the freezer.
- After boiling the first time, let the water cool. Then boil again.
- Close the water being cooled tightly so that it is not exposed to dust.
Step 3. Pour water into an ice tray or other mold and cover it with plastic wrap to prevent it from being exposed to dust particles
Make sure you let the water cool down a bit before pouring it into the mold so the water doesn't melt the plastic of the mold. If you want something impressive, try making extra large ice cubes and clear ice balls. It was impressive drinking a cocktail with one very large ice cube.
Step 4. Place the ice tray into the freezer
Leave it for a few hours to freeze it.
Step 5. Take out the tray and gently remove the clear ice cubes
Method 2 of 4: Top-Bottom Freezing
Step 1. Find a small cooler
A regular cooler will work as well, as you would normally use to keep food and cold drinks for picnics, but they need to be small enough to fit in your freezer. The cooler will insulate your ice cubes, allowing them to slowly freeze from top to bottom.
Step 2. Place your ice tray, mold or other freezing container in the bottom of the cooler, open side up
If you can, use a tray that makes larger ice cubes, or look for a series of smaller plastic or silicone square containers.
Step 3. Fill the ice tray or mold with water
Users of this method state that tap water can be used for this method as well as distilled and boiled water.
Step 4. Pour water into the bottom of the cooler, so that it fills around the perimeter of the ice tray or mould
This water will protect your ice cubes, preventing cold air from freezing the sides and bottom.
Step 5. Place the closed thermos in your freezer
Make sure the freezer is not set too cold – set it to between -8 to -4°C. Leave it for 24 hours.
Step 6. Take out your thermos flask and carefully remove the ice cubes with the ice tray or mold still frozen inside
The ice will have a thin layer that is foggy on top but clear underneath.
Step 7. Scrape the ice from the tray or mold and remove the ice cubes
Step 8. Let sit for one minute to allow the top layer of misty ice to melt
Now you have a large, sturdy ice crystal.
Method 3 of 4: High Temperature Freezing
Step 1. Set the temperature of your freezer to just below freezing, which is around -1°C
This is the warmest setting on your refrigerator. If you don't want your refrigerator to be that warm, set it as low as you want and place the ice tray on the top shelf.
Step 2. Fill an ice tray or mold with water and place it in the refrigerator
Let it freeze for 24 hours. Slow freezing will force any gases and impurities out, making your ice cubes very clear.
Method 4 of 4: Bottom Freezing
Unlike the previous method, this method is a super fast way to make clear ice cubes without cracking unless you're doing it for the first time. This method can even work if you pour water straight from the tap into your ice cube tray. Air bubbles can be removed by freezing from the bottom up. This can be done by placing the bottom of the container in contact with something completely cold. It would be better if something very cold was in a liquid form so that it could completely cover the bottom of the container so that the temperature of the water cools down quickly. One easy-to-use liquid to cool ice cube trays is brine.
Step 1. Fill a bowl with water then pour a lot of salt in it to prevent it from freezing then put it in the freezer
Be careful not to pour too little water into the bowl or the freezing process will raise the temperature of the brine to 0°C before the ice cubes have finished freezing. The colder the freezer temperature, the higher the salt concentration needed to prevent the brine from freezing. You will learn from experience how much salt is needed for your normal refrigerator temperature.
Step 2. Leave the brine in the freezer for at least 3 hours to allow the brine to cool completely
Step 3. Remove the bowl of brine from the freezer to prevent the water in the ice cube tray from freezing from the top
Step 4. Boil some water, then let it cool to remove any microscopic bubbles
Step 5. Fill the ice cube tray with water then let the tray float on the salt water in the freezer because salt water is denser than fresh water
The result is bubble-free ice that is super strong and crack-free because there are no air bubbles that trap some of the water during the freezing process.
Step 6. Put the frozen ice cube tray back in the freezer to prevent it from melting
Step 7. Put the bowl of brine back in the refrigerator so you can skip the first step the next time you want to make clear ice cubes
Tips
- There are ice trays with lids you can buy if you can't find a cooler small enough to fit in your freezer.
- Use a stainless steel pot to boil water instead of an aluminum pot.
