Why does the ice cube crack when you pour the drink over it? This is one of your most frequently asked questions. Let's find out how to make sure your ice cubes stay crystal clear and transparent!
What causes ice cubes to crack?
Ice is too hard and too cold when it first comes out of the freezer. If you pour the drink over it straight away, it will crack and it will not look crystal clear. The “cracking” sound you hear when you pour the liquid over the ice is caused by a phenomenon called “differential expansion”.
Simply put, the bigger the difference in temperature between the ice cube and the liquid, the more time you need to let it temper before serving.
Luckily, there is an easy way to prevent cracking, and ensure the diamond clarity of your ice.
How to prevent the ice cubes from cracking?
Allow the ice to sit in the glass at room temperature for 5 minutes (or until the freezer frost disappears) before pouring the drink over it. The bigger the ice cube (or ice ball), the longer it needs to temper.
This prevents cracking of the ice cube. It also allows the outer layer (and any freezer burn) to melt off of the ice.
Top 3 tips to prevent clear ice cracking
1) To save time, put ice in the glass before you start preparing your drink
2) You can shorten the tempering time if the drink you pour is already cold
(e. g. shaken or stirred with ice)
3) Allow the ice ball to sit for longer than other shapes as it has the largest surface area
Comentarios