I’m aware of a few different ways to make perfectly clear ice, but each has its own tradeoffs.
I’m also aware of a whole bunch of different ways people claim to be able to make clear ice, but I’ve been unable to replicate.
What are you doing? Does it require special equipment? Do you recommend it?
This is the exact method I used to use. Unfortunately, it cracked my cooler interior, so I can’t just dump water right in there anymore. I bet it depends on the exact shape of your cooler, and if you let it freeze solid or pull it out while there’s still liquid water.
I have a thick wooden towel that I use as a muddler, and I use it as a mallet to hit the back of my crappy serrated knife.
I saw a video or something of someone using cheap insulated coffee mugs (like the type you get as a freebie with a company logo on it) to freeze individual cylinders, but the effectiveness probably depends on the shape of the mug.
The mugs seem like an interesting approach. I might try that later.
I use the coffee mugs things and they work very well. Really don’t need to worry about the shape since just the top couple inches should be freezing which is usually the widest part.
But yeah you generally don’t want to let it freeze completely. Ice expands a lot but the steel liners in the cheap tumblers seem to hold up for some reason.
Also I really can’t recommend an ice pick enough. Just a simple bamboo handled aluminum pick should be enough just having that pointed tip makes cracking the ice so much easier. And can still wack the back of it.