When it comes to cocktails, ice isn’t just ice. Clear ice adds a touch of elegance and can elevate your drink from ordinary to extraordinary. And that’s not all. Clear ice melts slower than its cloudy counterpart, meaning you won’t water down your drink as quickly. It’s simple, clear ice makes better cocktails.
While there are several products in the market that make clear ice, let’s dive into making clear ice on your own. Here are the tools and ingredients you’ll need to get started.
Filtered Water The key to clear ice starts with the right water. Tap water can have minerals and bubbles, leading to cloudiness. A Cooler Using a small, 5 liter, hard-sided cooler that fits in your freezer works best. Please note to remove the cover so that it will fit into your freezer and allow you to remove your frozen block of ice. Freezer Make sure you’ve got enough room to place the cooler. Now that you have what you need it's time to make some ice.
Prepare Your Water Start by boiling your filtered water. This will remove any gases that create those unsightly bubbles. Allow the water to cool completely before pouring it into your cooler. Fill the Cooler Pour 4 liters of your cooled, filtered water into your 5 liter cooler. This will leave enough space at the top to accommodate any expansion during the freezing process. Let It Freeze Now comes the waiting game. Place your cooler in the freezer (do not place anything on top of the cooler). Let it freeze for about 24 hours. The slow freezing allows impurities to settle at the bottom, resulting in clear ice on top. Remove, Cut and Store Once frozen, take your cooler out and flip it upside down on a cutting board and let it sit for a few minutes. Then tap the sides of the cooler, slowly lift the cooler and the ice block should slide out. Now move the block of ice over to your kitchen sink (make sure the sink is empty and clean). You’ll notice the block may have a water bubble inside of it. If it does, simply cut into the ice with a serrated knife and drain the water. Take your serrated knife and begin scoring the ice into roughly 2” x 2” squares and start cutting away. Place the squares in a plastic container and store the container in your freezer.
You've now mastered the art of making clear ice.