Use Kitchen Science to Create Clear Ice Cubes and Spheres

Finding crystal-clear ice at a bar is like finding the frozen equivalent of a unicorn. Some upscale places carve cubes or spheres out of slabs of ice, but not all bartenders are interested in all that work—even for a $12 cocktail. Laughing Squid recently shared a video from the YouTube channel Cocktail Chemistry that demonstrates how you can make your own fancy clear ice at home to give your drinks a touch of glass, and you don't even need expensive facilities or chainsaws to do so.

Some claim that boiling water and standard ice trays are all you need for clear ice, but that method has proven unreliable. The Cocktail Chemistry technique uses cooler tap water, and a technique called directional freezing. "When water freezes, the impurities actually form at the end of the freezing process," the narrator of the video explains. He pours the water into the cooler and leaves the lid open as it is placed in a freezer for a full day. The block is not allowed to freeze completely, and the insulated sides and open top help create the desired effect. "By forcing the freezing to go from the top to the bottom, we're able to separate the clear ice from the cloudiness."

A serrated knife and mallet are used to cut the slab into cubes and sticks. For spheres, the process is a bit more involved and requires a shaker tin and ice ball mold. Check out the video above to learn the fun new skill and add some style points to your drink presentation.

Banner image via YouTube

[h/t Laughing Squid]