How can you make your Ice cubes come out crystal clear instead of having all of those cracks and white inside?

Question

I like to serve drinks at home to my friends and colleagues. I just think that clear ice in a high ball glass or rocks glass is much more appealing in a drink than the cracked milky looking center that most ice has. How can you do this at home?

Answer 1

Here is the correct answer:

If you ever look inside a restaurant ice maker, you will find that it makes ice in layers. Cold water runs continuously over a plate or a grid where the ice is forming, and the ice cubes (or ice disks in some machines) grow in layers.
If you would like to try creating clear ice at home, start with distilled water (to eliminate the minerals) and boil it (to eliminate air dissolved in the water). Make the cubes small or thin to get closer to the way that icicles are formed.

Robert Fulghum adds the following:

A technique used in most ice manufacturing plants that make large blocks of ice is to put a tube in the center of the container of water that is to be frozen. Through the tube they bubble a very low pressure stream of air. Before the tube becomes ice-bound, they remove it, and they pour or suction the water that is left in the center of the ice block away. All of the impurities -- dirt, dissolved air and minerals -- are forced into this water by the crystallizing ice. They fill the void with fresh water (or not) and continue freezing. The core of the block is clouded but the rest of the block is clear. If the core is not refilled and frozen, the entire block is clear

Answer 2

I saw an episode of Mythbusters and they were trying to use ice to start a fire. The way they made the ice clear was to force air through it to keep it moving therefore making the ice and layer and not allow anything that might be heavier than the water accumulate in the bottom of the cubes. That is how they make the ice that they use in ice sculptures.

Answer 3

as well as the last answer.... scour around your local second hand store and look for METAL trays.... I have a theory that when the freezing mass tries to expand, that the plastic will bulge, thus distorting the shape.... or i could just be crackers. It also happens that ice cracks apart when suddenly immersed in a body of higher temperature.
or just click here.
http://home.howstuffworks.com/question205.htm
... seems you're not the only cat that's metrosexual

Answer 4

The gray inside is from the water quality in your area. There could be too much chlorine or flouride in the water which gives it such color. Your best bet is to use warm water or use bottled water. As far as the cracks go, thats a part of its process when its disturbed. The slighest movement when it starts to freeze causes a ripple in the water which then freezes.

Answer 5

You cannot do that at home unless you have an ice-maker. An ordinary home fridge/freezer will not produce crystal clear ice cubes.

Answer 6

I think if you put the icecube tray on a device that vibrates, it vibrates the air out of the cubes and is clear

Answer 7

that's the reconciliation technique, the democrats are utilising to get some type of obamacare through, and then regulate it later to rein interior the accepted public option, and spoil the personal sector healthcare. I doubt it is going to artwork and that i wish it receives uncovered by technique of the Republicans on the healthcare convention.

Answer 8

Try filtered or bottled water

Answer 9

fill your trays with really hot water, then freeze them; it will be clear!

Answer 10

use distilled water