In luxury bars and restaurants, ice does more than simply chill your drink.
It’s clear, elegant, a subtle enhancer of flavour, admired for its slow melt rate and minimal dilution. And the secret to creating your own clear ice element at home lies in a method known as directional freezing.
Directional freezing describes the process of freezing water from the top down, pushing air bubbles and impurities downward and leaving the upper layer of ice pristine and transparent. At home, the process requires an insulated container, such as a small cooler, to moderate the freezing process, allowing the water to solidify evenly from the top. The result is a layer of clear ice, easily separated from the cloudy residue at the bottom.
The technique of directional freezing was brought into the limelight by Camper English, a Bay Area bartender and writer. After six years of meticulous research and experimentation, English mastered the art of directional freezing of water. His findings, shared on his blog, remain a treasure trove for clear ice enthusiasts, inspiring countless bartenders and aficionados to experiment with directional freezing in their own homes and workplaces.
To experiment with crafting clear ice, follow these steps:
• Begin by boiling a pot of water, then allow it to cool slightly. This step aids in removing dissolved gases and minerals that could compromise the ice’s clarity.
• Pour the water into a small cooler, leaving some space at the top for expansion. Refrain from covering the cooler; the cold air from the freezer should circulate over the water surface.
• Position the cooler in the freezer and let it freeze for 24 hours, or until completely solid. The cooler’s insulating properties will enable the water to freeze slowly and evenly from the top.
• Once frozen, remove the cooler from the freezer and extract the ice block. You should observe a layer of clear ice on top, with a layer of cloudy ice at the bottom.
• With a serrated knife, carefully remove the cloudy ice. You can then use an ice pick or serrated knife to fracture the clear ice into smaller pieces.
And that's it - a straightforward yet effective method to create professional quality clear ice in the comfort of your own home.
