I love going to restaurants or bars and getting a nice perfectly clear piece of ice with my cocktail. I've tried multiple different ways to do this at home to no avail, until now! And, it's surprisingly easy!
This is the best way that I’ve found and one that doesn’t require anything too special, just a cooler, a serrated knife and a hammer. No molds that make just a cube or two at a time. This method you can make a decent batch at once and cut them into whatever size fits your desire.
Supply List
Instructions
Watch the video above for this one!!!
Step 1: Remove the lid to the cooler and add filtered and/or purified water leaving about an inch of space for the ice to expand when it freezes. Place in the freezer for 24-30 hours.
Step 2: You'll want to do this next step either outside or over a large sink. Remove the cooler from the freezer. You should be able to see that about one half or two thirds of the water is frozen through. It should NOT be frozen all the way through. The reason this works is that the air bubbles should migrate to the non-frozen water leaving you with a nice clean block of ice. Over a cutting board or a large enough plate, flip the cooler upside down. Be patient, the ice block will naturally slide out in about 3-5 minutes. Once that happens, BE CAREFUL as water will spill out.
Step 3: Once you have your ice block, it's time to cut your pieces. Using a serrated knife, carefully cut back and forth where you want the ice to break. Using your hammer, tap on the top of the knife and ice will break where the incision is. Continue to do this until you have the quantity of ice blocks you want in whatever size you want.
Enjoy!
Be sure to check out these recipes as well:
Lessons Learned (Note: I will update this section to include your lessons learned from the comment section)