How to freeze ice into cubes if you don't have a mold

The question “How to make ice at home?” makes many people smile. After all, what could be easier than pouring water into molds and putting it in the freezer?! Just what to do if you don’t have an ice cube tray on hand or it’s cracked? And for some reason the ice in restaurants and in the photos is transparent, but at home it turns out white and cloudy. Of course, restaurants use ice makers, but at home you can do without them and make a small amount of clear ice in the freezer. We'll tell you in detail how to do this.

Why does ordinary ice have a heterogeneous structure and white crystals in the center? The answer is simple: because of the composition of the water from which we prepare it. Everyone knows that water can be hard or soft, and different substances can be dissolved in it. It is salts, gases and other impurities in the process of freezing water that form large white crystals in pieces of ice and change its color.

Only non-carbonated purified water with minimal hardness can form transparent ice when frozen. If you prepare ice correctly, it will have no taste or smell, and will melt about 40-50% slower. How to prepare it:

Take purified water for baby food on the basis that each guest needs 500-600 grams of ready-made ice.
Pour water into an enamel or stainless steel pan, bring to a boil, boil for 2 minutes, turn off the gas, cover with a lid and let cool.
Repeat boiling again, cool under the lid to room temperature. This way you will get rid of gases dissolved in water.

Pour the prepared water into molds and cover them with cling film and place them in the freezer until completely frozen.

A few important details:

The freezer compartment must be clean to prevent bacteria from getting into the ice and unpleasant odors from being absorbed. Do not store ice in fish or meat containers.
To avoid the formation of bubbles, pour water in three stages - first to the bottom, then to the middle, and only then to the edge of the mold, allowing each layer to harden completely. You can also use the slow freezing method for this purpose (temperature -1 Celsius for 24 hours).
You can also freeze hot water (without covering it with film), taking into account the quality of the mold material and the power of the freezer.
Ice can be stored indefinitely.

You can use any form to make ice except glass - the glass will simply burst when freezing water expands. You can remove the finished ice from a mold of any size and material if you slightly heat the mold itself from the outside. If you don't have a special ice tray, you can use:

plastic glasses
plastic or metal lids
silicone molds for miniature cupcakes or sweets
chocolate box insert
small plastic bags
parts of a large Lego set and other plastic toys

All these form options need to be processed before use. New plastic bags and plastic cups do not need to be washed, but it is better to wipe children's toys with alcohol.

In Asian countries, they even prepare desserts from crushed ice, pouring it with fruit juices and syrups. Special equipment is used to crush ice. But it’s unlikely that anyone would install such a thing at home just for crushing ice. Therefore, you can use other methods to prepare small portions of crushed ice.

Use a hand crusher . This will take a lot of time and effort, but there will be little ice.
Use a food processor or blender : container with an S-shaped blade, pulsing mode. It will be noisy, but everything will work out provided the device has normal power and sharp knives.
The best method is to place the ice in a thick kitchen towel, wrap it tightly, and smash it directly into the towel with an ice mallet (or a clean meat mallet). Use a flatter surface. We do not recommend using a plastic bag - the ice will simply tear it and fly apart.

About the author: porezeptu

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How to freeze ice if there are no molds

The situation when you need to get cubes urgently, but there are no containers at home, happens often. Therefore, life hacks about what to use instead of plastic containers are in demand more than ever.

It turns out that you can use various improvised objects. Including disposable tableware.

Plastic cups

Small plastic containers designed for alcoholic beverages are best. They have a small volume of about 50 ml and are an ideal solution for freezing ice.

Plastic is resistant to deformation and temperature changes, easily tolerates the properties of freezing water, adapting to its shape. In addition, the volume is great for making cocktails. If necessary, frozen water can be crushed or split into several parts.

Silicone molds for candies

This option is a great opportunity to add some originality to your cocktail party. Figured ice will become the “highlight” of the drinks. For beauty, mint leaves or raspberries, cherries, and strawberries are added to it.

Frozen water cubes are easily removed from the soft silicone mold without much difficulty. There are different sizes, buy several - for a large group and enough for 1-2 people.

Chocolate box inserts

In a similar way, plastic inserts are used in which sweet treats are placed. They, like disposable cups, can easily withstand low temperatures. The ice cubes are small, often of an original shape.

In this case, it is also recommended to add berries, decorative leaves or even dyes. It all depends on your imagination and the preferences of your guests.

Plastic bags

This option is more often used for preparing desserts with crushed ice or drinks to which a large amount of finely chopped ice is added. The water is frozen volumetrically, and after reaching the desired shape, it is split or crushed with a blender.

The bags do not deform, prevent leakage and cope with temperature changes. The ice is not very elegant and neat, but it more than pays for itself in terms of volume.

Plastic toys

Resourceful citizens came up with the idea of using children's toys. For example, Legos or small containers are great for freezing ice for cocktails and spirits.

Use shaped molds. However, do not forget about hygiene. Before using the toy for cooking, rinse it thoroughly and disinfect it.

Metal lids

Deep lids from bottles and jars are used for freezing. The metal is resistant to deformation and negative temperatures, and holds water well. With enough lids you will get smooth and beautiful ice cubes for cocktails with or without alcohol.

Finding a way out of the situation when there are no molds for freezing ice in the house is simple. Show your imagination and you will have at least five options for freezing water for making desserts and drinks.

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How to make clear ice for drinks at home?

Before making ice, you need to thoroughly study this process and its nuances. It’s not enough to just pour water into special forms and put them in the freezer. To make a transparent and beautiful product that will decorate cocktails, you will have to work hard. And yet, contrary to popular belief, you do not need to use any special refrigerators for this.

Everything can be done with your own hands with minimal financial and energy costs. The main thing is not to be afraid to experiment and not to stop if your first attempts fail.

There is a problem

Any modern refrigerator, as standard, contains an egg tray and shelves of different sizes and purposes, as well as a miniature mold for freezing water. By the way, inventive housewives not only use it for its intended purpose, but also freeze aromatic herbs, berry, fruit and vegetable purees in it, which are then used to prepare a variety of dishes.

Such skill, however, does not mean at all that at least half of the experienced girls know how to prepare the elementary component of cocktails and soft drinks - clear ice. How to make it crystal clear and beautiful, the way it is served in bars, restaurants or shown in television commercials?

The usual one always gives an unexpected and rather unsightly result. The cubes look unsightly, they contain inclusions of unknown origin, multiple chips and cracks, in addition, they have an uneven consistency.

Secrets of clear ice for drinks

Those who want to learn how to make real ice for drinks with their own hands, and not just cloudy pieces of frozen water, should adopt the following approaches:

Use of pre-treated water. Pour the liquid into an enamel or steel bowl, bring to a boil and let it simmer for a few minutes. After this, cover with a lid and leave to cool naturally. We repeat the manipulation and cool the composition again. Then we fill the ice molds and freeze the pieces. With this approach, the cocktail filler becomes transparent due to the removal of air bubbles.

Slow freezing. You can displace bubbles that make the product cloudy if you freeze the product not quickly, but very slowly. The final version will not only be transparent, but also very smooth. True, the time for preparing ice in this case is at least a day. To carry out manipulations in the freezer, you need to set the temperature no higher and no lower than -1ºС.

Freezing in salt water. This method also allows you to make clear and beautiful ice without cracks. Ideally, you should use sea salt, but if you don’t have it, you can make the mixture yourself. To do this, fill a deep bowl with water, add fine table salt and stir well (unfortunately, the concentration of the composition will have to be determined experimentally). We place the container in the freezer, the temperature in it should not be lower than -2ºС. As soon as the liquid has cooled down greatly, lower the filled ice trays into it and put them back in the freezer until cubes form. If the liquid in the bowl begins to freeze, this indicates an insufficient amount of salt, and the solution will have to be redone.

Advice: In general, no matter what approach to making ice is used, you need to take drinking or filtered water. Otherwise, the unpleasant smell will only go away temporarily. As soon as the product gets into the drink and begins to melt, the specific aroma returns, which noticeably spoils the taste of the cocktails.

Experienced housewives prefer to prepare ice at home according to the latest instructions. It turns out transparent, smooth, without cracks, and does not crack when adding cocktails and other drinks. The saline solution only needs to be prepared once. It can be poured into a convenient container and kept in the freezer at all times.

Frozen herbal infusions

Cosmetic ice is prepared with different herbs; you can make it according to your skin type. Fresh or dried herbs are used in production. Usually, a teaspoon of herb is poured into a glass of boiling water, left for 20-30 minutes after the infusion has cooled, filtered and poured into molds.

Mint, dill, lemon balm, parsley, sage - herbs have a positive effect on dry and normal skin. Ice from this decoction activates metabolic processes in cells, restores and tones the skin, and smoothes out fine wrinkles.

Chamomile, calendula, wort, yarrow, coltsfoot - ice made from these herbs is suitable for oily, problematic skin, heals acne wounds, soothes inflammation, and disinfects.

The most universal are decoctions of sage, linden blossom, mint, St. John's wort, chamomile and are suitable for all skin types. When frozen, it improves complexion, tightens, refreshes and tones the skin. Ice from a decoction of these herbs has antiseptic properties and prevents irritation.

Aloe ice

Use this remedy for irritated skin. First you need to properly prepare aloe juice, then dilute it 1:3 with water and freeze it. These frozen cubes are suitable for problem skin.

Use ice with caution if you have sensitive skin, especially if there are purulent pimples or ulcers on the surface of the tissue.

How to make ice without special ice molds?

The lack of molds is not a problem if you have imagination. You can make them yourself or even use improvised means. The approach option and the specifics of its implementation depend on the type of drink consumed and what is on hand:

If you plan to serve not cocktails, but simply pour one-ingredient drinks, you should take care of the dishes in advance. To do this, take the selected glasses (preferably thick glass, it will not crack from exposure to cold air), pour about 1 cm of boiled drinking water into them, wipe them thoroughly so that no moisture remains on the surface. Next, carefully place the containers in the freezer (temperature is -1ºC), trying not to spill anything on the walls. The finished ice will not only be beautiful and perform the specified functions, but will also give the spilled drinks an original look.
It's very easy to make your own ice using plastic or metal lids. For the first ones, it is better to trim them inside in advance so that the thread does not interfere with the extraction of the product. The main secret of the process is to pour the liquid to the maximum and reach the very edge. In this case, it will expand, protrude above the surface and the pieces will be easier to get out. You just need to keep them at room temperature for a few minutes until they melt.
One of the easiest options for making ice is to use plastic cups. Pour pre-prepared water onto the bottom, determine the thickness yourself, but remember that the mass will still expand. Freeze the product and carefully remove it. You don’t have to settle on round “cubes”; if you insert homemade plastic dividers inside the cup, the shape can be adjusted.
It’s worth looking around the kitchen and rooms; in most cases, something can be adapted for making ice. These include parts from children's construction sets, candy inserts, and silicone baking molds. Only available products must be thoroughly disinfected before use.

Celebration on a grand scale

Many readers may be interested in the question of how entertainment venues manage to create large quantities of ice cubes. How to make clear ice so that there is enough for hundreds of visitors and guests? For this purpose, special units are used - ice generators. With their help you can freeze a lot of water; they maintain an optimal temperature inside the chamber, which allows you to make the ice transparent.

But even when working with such a machine, it is important to observe certain conditions. In addition to the fact that the quality of the water must correspond to the specified parameters (the absence of impurities is mandatory), batches of ice must be made simultaneously. That is, adding water to the cells while ready-made cubes remain in the chamber will lead to a poor final result. It is best to use the liquid at room temperature: as practice shows, cooler water freezes unevenly, and the ice turns out cloudy.

How to make ice for drinks at home?

Why isn't homemade ice clear? Read about how to make clear ice at home

Ice "pop"

We have sorted out the quality of water, but an equally important factor will be the creation of the correct microclimate for freezing. In general, this topic is most likely of concern to lovers of soft drinks (of different strength levels). Cloudy cubes in a glass of soda or alcohol are quite suitable for personal needs, but you don’t really want to treat your guests to such drinks, so the question of how to make transparent ice cubes is relevant for many people.

It has been experimentally observed that the ice turns out cloudy and unsightly when it freezes unevenly. To reduce the likelihood of temperature fluctuations, it is important to quickly freeze water in a stable microclimate.

Here the opinions of experts differ somewhat. Some argue that the faster the ice forms, the more beautiful it will be, and to do this, the water needs to be placed in the freezer at the lowest possible value on the thermometer. Others, on the contrary, advise setting the thermostat to -1 Cº and letting the water freeze in such conditions, the main thing is not to open the chamber in order to avoid the entry of warm air from the outside.

How to make clear ice

Take purified water for baby food on the basis that each guest needs 500-600 grams of ready-made ice.
Pour water into an enamel or stainless steel pan, bring to a boil, boil for 2 minutes, turn off the gas, cover with a lid and let cool.
Repeat boiling again, cool under the lid to room temperature. This way you will get rid of gases dissolved in water.

Pour the prepared water into molds and cover them with cling film and place them in the freezer until completely frozen.

A few important details:

The freezer compartment must be clean to prevent bacteria from getting into the ice and unpleasant odors from being absorbed. Do not store ice in fish or meat containers.
To avoid the formation of bubbles, pour water in three stages - first to the bottom, then to the middle, and only then to the edge of the mold, allowing each layer to harden completely. You can also use the slow freezing method for this purpose (temperature -1 Celsius for 24 hours).
You can also freeze hot water (without covering it with film), taking into account the quality of the mold material and the power of the freezer.
Ice can be stored indefinitely.

Lifehack: DIY silicone molds

The role of silicone in our life

Silicone has become the main material of the 21st century. He is present in our lives much more than we think. Silicone is used in industry. manufacturing, space and automotive industry, repair and construction (sealing), medicine (contact lenses), cosmetology (care products, injections), cooking (potholders, molds) and electronics.

A group of synthetic silicone polymers has many beneficial qualities for humans. The main one is inertia. Silicone itself does not have any effect, it only forms a thin breathable film.

Silicone: - Elastic; — Resistant to deformation; — Has light weight; — Durable; — Does not stick (lack of adhesion); — Has minimal shrinkage; — Does not transmit heat and electricity; — Chemically inert; — Easy to care for; — Does not promote the growth of bacteria; - Has a long service life.

How to make ice without molds

plastic glasses
plastic or metal lids
silicone molds for miniature cupcakes or sweets
chocolate box insert
small plastic bags
parts of a large Lego set and other plastic toys

All these form options need to be processed before use. New plastic bags and plastic cups do not need to be washed, but it is better to wipe children's toys with alcohol.

Facial scrub

Cosmetics from the freezer are convenient. Especially relevant in hot weather

There are many options. Sugar is intense, but “cucumber + honey” is gentle.

To make it, finely chop the cucumber, add lemon juice and honey. Pour the mixture into molds. Wipe your face with frozen scrub cubes, rinsing off the remnants with warm water without soap, but after 15–20 minutes. This is necessary so that the skin has time to absorb all the benefits.

How to make crushed ice

Use a hand crusher . This will take a lot of time and effort, but there will be little ice.
Use a food processor or blender : container with an S-shaped blade, pulsing mode. It will be noisy, but everything will work out provided the device has normal power and sharp knives.
The best method is to place the ice in a thick kitchen towel, wrap it tightly, and smash it directly into the towel with an ice mallet (or a clean meat mallet). Use a flatter surface. We do not recommend using a plastic bag - the ice will simply tear it and fly apart.

Source

Idea 4. Mini ice cream and desserts for children

For some children, eating ice cream in standard doses is not recommended. And in such mini-portions from ice cells you can treat every child with a treat! In addition, what dessert can be decorated with fresh berries, candied fruits, nuts or grated chocolate. Or pour milk over colored ice cream cubes and surprise the children with a bright cocktail)

The children will be delighted!

Mini ice cream