How to make clear ice at home: four proven freezing methods
At first glance, there is nothing difficult about freezing ice, but in the end the ice cubes turn out cloudy and with bubbles. And in cocktails served in cafes and restaurants, the ice is always transparent and very attractive. Let's try to make clear ice ourselves at home.
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Why does ice frozen conventionally become cloudy?
There is a scientific basis for this fact. As you know, water contains microscopic air bubbles and various impurities. Freezing of ice cubes occurs gradually, starting from the walls of the mold. Freezing water pushes air toward the center, and then, as the air bubbles freeze, they give the ice cube a cloudy color.
How to freeze clear ice: proven methods
Method No. 1: Freeze boiled water
For this method, water must be passed through a filter, then boiled for several minutes. During boiling, excess air will be released from the water. Afterwards, you need to wait for the water to cool naturally.If you boil water in a pan, then during the cooling period, the pan must be covered with a lid or cloth to prevent dust from settling into the water.
Next, you should repeat the procedure, starting with filtration and ending with cooling, again.
Now the water can be poured into freezer molds and placed in the freezer. After 24 hours, you will be able to remove completely clear ice from the molds.
Watch the video: The Chips for Life channel will tell you about two guaranteed ways to make (freeze) transparent ice
Method #2: How to freeze ice in a plastic container
Here we need a plastic refrigerator container that can hold the temperature. It will help the ice freeze slowly. The main thing is that the box fits into the freezer compartment.
Place ice cube trays in a container and fill them with clean water. Ordinary tap water will do, but it needs to be filtered first.
Fill the bottom of the container with water so that the water is poured according to the water level in the molds. This water will allow the ice to freeze in the molds from top to bottom.
Place the box in the freezer without closing the lid tightly. The temperature in the freezer should not be very low, approximately -8 ºС.
After 24 hours, remove the frozen bottom of the box along with the molds. Beat off the excess ice around the mold, and take out transparent cubes from the molds.
Method number 3: Slow freezing method
This method involves using your freezer temperature as high as possible. The desired value is -1ºС. Forms with filtered water are placed on the top shelf of the freezer. It is advisable to wrap the molds with cling film. In a day, transparent ice will be ready.
Method #4: How to make clear ice using salt
To do this, put salt in a bowl. The amount of salt should be sufficient so that the water does not freeze in the freezer at a temperature not lower than -2ºС. As you know, salt water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water.
First, put the salted water in the freezer and cool it as much as possible. Place the molds with water in cold salted water. All that remains is to put this design in the freezer for a day. Transparent ice prepared in this way is guaranteed to you.
Ideal transparent ice is obtained using special ice makers, but you are unlikely to want to install such a unit in your home.
See the video on the channel “Svoimi rukami” - How to make ice from distilled water