With the right tools, crushed ice cubes are certainly easy to make. There's no need to buy special crushed ice cubes when you want to make iced tea with mint leaves or maybe a mojito. Simply take the ice out of the freezer and put it in a blender or food processor, or a Lewis bag (a special cloth bag for breaking ice) or a cocktail shaker. The ice cubes will crumble and break quickly!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using a Food Processor or Blender
Step 1. Put a few glasses of ice from the freezer into a blender or food processor
Remove the box or ice cubes from the freezer and place them directly into a blender or food processor. Put the ice cubes as much as you need or a lot at once to store in the freezer.
This step will give the best results if all the ice cubes are approximately the same size
Step 2. Crush the ice cubes to the size you want
Close the blender/food processor tightly. Use the pulse button to crush the ice in a short amount of time until the big chunk is no longer visible.
If you don't have a pulse button on your blender or food processor, just use the highest speed option in the shortest amount of time
Tip: For reference, stop crushing the ice once there are no more chunks more than 0.5-1 cm in diameter.
Step 3. Pour the crushed ice through a sieve and set the water aside
The heat from the blender motor or food processor will partially melt the ice cubes. So, to keep your drink from getting runny, pour the crushed ice through a strainer to get only the ice.
If you don't have a colander, just use something to hold the ice in the top of the blender or food processor then slowly pour the water out
Step 4. Use crushed ice cubes immediately or store them in a container in the freezer
Store the remaining crushed ice in a plastic bag that can be tightly closed in the freezer for future use. Try to make the drink as soon as possible because the ice cubes will melt faster than the ice cubes.
Ice cubes stored in the freezer may stick together again. However, these ice cubes would be easier to break once again just by banging the storage bag
Method 2 of 3: Crushing the Ice inside Lewis Bag
Step 1. Remove the ice cubes from the freezer just as they are about to be crushed
Ice must be very cold and dry for good sharding. You can use ice cubes of any size or shape.
- Note that it will be easier for you to crush ice cubes that are all roughly the same size.
- You will need more ice cubes than you think. As an estimate, to fill half a glass, it takes about 2 times more crushed ice cubes than blocks or chunks of ice.
Step 2. Immediately put the ice into the Lewis bag then roll up the ends
Lewis bag is a canvas cloth bag specifically used for crushing ice. Put the ice in this bag as soon as possible after removing it from the freezer to prevent it from melting.
- You can buy Lewis bags online or at a bartender supply store. Usually, this bag is equipped with a wooden hammer to crush the ice.
- These bags are great for crushing ice because the canvas absorbs liquid. That way, you will only get dry ice shards.
Tip: If you don't have a Lewis bag, just use a clean, lint-free towel or a piece of canvas instead. Wrap the ice tightly with a towel or cloth so that no shards jump out when struck with a hammer.
Step 3. Place the Lewis bag on a hard surface and seal the ends tightly
Choose a surface that won't break when you hit the hammer against the ice in the Lewis bag. Use your non-dominant hand to close the end of the bag so that your dominant hand can be used to crush the ice.
It's a good idea to do this step as quickly as possible because the ice will melt as soon as it's taken out of the freezer
Step 4. Hit the ice in the bag with a wooden hammer or other heavy object
Lewis bags are often equipped with a wooden hammer to crush the ice. However, if you don't have a hammer like this, you can use a grinding roller or a meat hammer instead.
- You can even use a rubber mallet if you don't have any other kitchen tools to work with.
- You can also use a plastic bag if you don't have a cloth bag or towel for ice. However, keep in mind that plastic bags don't absorb water that melts and can easily perforate and make a mess.
Step 5. Stop when there are no more chunks of ice
Open the bag to check for ice inside. See if there are still chunks of ice with a diameter of 0.5-1 cm. Roll up the bag again and continue crushing the ice until there are no more lumps larger than that.
The finer the size, the faster the ice shards will melt in the drink. With a little practice, you'll find the best ice shard consistency
Method 3 of 3: Using a Drink Shaker
Step 1. Add enough ice for one serving to the drink shaker
Fill about half of the drink shaker with ice. Take the ice cubes straight from the freezer and put them in the drink shaker just as you're about to make your drink.
This method is suitable if you only want to make one drink. Also, if you want to make a cocktail, you can just pour the ingredients into the ice cubes after crushing them
Step 2. Hold the drink shaker perpendicular to a firm surface
Use your non-dominant hand to hold the drink shaker on a sturdy counter or a firm, hard countertop. Make sure the table height is suitable for you to crush the ice in the drink shaker.
If you don't have a shaker, you can use a sturdy drinking glass. Also make sure the glass is thick enough so that it can withstand the impact of the stirring spoon
Step 3. Use a strong stirring spoon to crush the ice until you get the right consistency
Hold the mixing spoon firmly with your dominant hand. Hit the spoon directly with the ice in the drink shaker until the ice is crushed to the size and texture you want.
You can use a wooden or stainless steel mixing spoon for this method
Tip: To make a cool and refreshing drink, whether it's a cocktail or another drink, you can simply pour the ingredients into the ice, close the drink shaker and shake them all together.
