Welcome to my article about clear ice molds!
Any bartender worth their salt will tell you that clear ice matters.
For the uninitiated, ice is ice, or to put it bluntly, ice is just frozen water.
But there are many advantages of clear ice over cloudy/regular ice which make it the choice of bartenders and mixologists worldwide.
Below I’ll go through the main reasons why clear ice is preferable to cloudy ice, and then further down this article I’ll review the top 7 clear ice molds available on the market today so you can make your very own clear ice at home. Let’s get started.
Contents
Why Is Clear Ice Better Than Cloudy Ice?
Clear Ice Is Pure
Cloudy ice forms because of the way it freezes and the impurities that are in it.
When you place water in a tray, it freezes from the outside in.
This means that the first to freeze is the cleanest and purest of water.
The air bubbles, minerals, and impurities are pushed towards the centre causing the ice to become cloudy.
To avoid this, clear ice is generally made from distilled or at least boiled water, which removes some of the impurities.
This means that when you consume clear ice, you’re consuming less impurities, which is better for you overall.
Clear Ice Tastes Better
Without the extra air and minerals, clear ice also tastes better than cloudy ice.
Water can sometimes pick up flavours from your tap or bottle that can affect the taste of the ice you make, and subsequently, the drink or food you put the ice in.
You’re less likely to taint the taste of your drink, cocktail, seafood or frozen dessert by using clear ice.
Clear Ice Melts More Slowly
Since clear ice is pure water, it melts much more slowly than cloudy ice.
This is because it has less air trapped inside it, and less impurities that have a higher melting point than pure water.
As such, clear ice is the better choice to prevent your drinks from being watered down too soon.
Clear Ice Molds: Quick Summary
Here is a list of the top 7 clear ice molds available on the market today:
- Adoric Sphere Ice Cube Mold (Most Affordable)
- ClearlyFrozen Clear Ice Cube Mold (Best Overall)
- OnTheRocks Crystal Clear Ice Cube Maker
- SIMPLETASTE Crystal Clear Ice Ball Mold (Great For Cocktails)
- W&P Peak Silicone Clear Ice Mold Tray
- Helpcook Crystal Clear Diamond Shaped Ice Mold (Most Unique Shape)
- TINANA Crystal Clear Ice Stick Mold (Second Most Unique Shape)
If you’re looking for an affordable clear ice mold that still works well, go for the Adoric. It’s excellent value of money and will provide crystal clear ice for under $10.
The best performing clear ice mold is the ClearlyFrozen. It’s priced at the mid-tier level, but is incredibly easy to use and delivers crystal clear ice every time without fail.
The Simpletaste mold produces beautiful, perfect clear ice spheres, and is my top pick for cocktails.
Finally, the diamond shaped ice of the Helpcook and the stick shaped ice of the Tinana deserve special mention. These shapes are unique and super fun, and are a great addition to any cocktail night or party. If you’re looking for something a bit adventurous, I recommend these ice molds.
Clear Ice Molds: Reviews of the Top 7 Models
Adoric Sphere Ice Cube Mold
Most Affordable!
The Adoric Sphere Clear Ice Mold is the most affordable clear ice mold in this article!
Despite it’s incredibly low price, it is designed with advanced features that give you ice spheres that are crystal clear and are slow to melt.
Just fill it in with water and wait for 6 to 8 hours to get your clear ice balls.
These large-sized balls will cool your margaritas, whiskeys, and other drinks longer than regular ice cubes.
This ice ball maker is equipped with silicone to give you odorless and tasteless ice.
It is BPA-free making it 100% safe and reliable.
Its slow-freezing technology guarantees you crystal clear ice each time you use it.
The ice maker comes with a matching tong to get the ice out easily.
If you’re looking for a good quality but affordable clear ice mold, this is the one I’d recommend.
ClearlyFrozen Clear Ice Cube Mold
Best Clear Ice Mold Overall!
The ClearlyFrozen Ice Cube Mold is my top pick of all the clear ice molds in this article.
It creates crystal clear ice every time without fail, and is incredibly easy to use.
While some ice makers will require you to heat the water first or use distilled water to get crystal clear ice, the ClearlyFrozen won’t.
You can use tap water and still get clear ice cubes every time.
It is made with high-quality food-grade materials with no toxic chemicals in them whatsoever, making it safe and great-tasting.
Whilst this is priced at the mid-tier level, if you’re looking for an easy and reliable clear ice cube mold, the ClearlyFrozen is the one I recommend.
OnTheRocks Crystal Clear Ice Cube Maker
If you want to serve beautiful whiskey on the rocks, you’ll need the OnTheRocks ice cube maker.
Clear ice from this ice cube maker lets you enjoy drinks that give out their undiluted purity.
It uses directional freezing to give you ice quickly and easily.
You can impress your guests by making six two-inch cubes that aren’t only crystal clear but are tasteless and odorless as well.
This ice maker comes with all that you need to get clear ice instantly. It has a moulded water reservoir that fits perfectly to hold the perfect amount of water to reduce spillages.
The insulation allows for a steady and even freeze to ensure the clarity of the ice cubes.
SIMPLETASTE Crystal Clear Ice Ball Mold
Great for Cocktails!
Chill your whiskey, cocktails, tequilas, and many more drinks with ice from the SimpleTaste ice ball maker.
With it, you’ll get two large ice spheres that are crystal clear and slow melting.
It uses directional delay refrigeration and freezing technology to make the ice balls clear as glass without the taste and odour that regular ice cube trays bring.
This ice maker has an innovative design that slowly freezes water to turn it into clear ice.
In just 18 hours, you’ll get your ice spheres that are clear and are sure to bring out the taste of your drinks.
It has tough silicon handles that make ice removal quick and simple.
W&P Peak Silicone Clear Ice Mold Tray
If you want your drinks to have that elegance and class, then the W&P ice cube maker is a good option for you.
You’ll wow your guests with ice that’s not only crystal clear but are also slow-melting.
This ice maker comes with a protective lid that prevents odours from sticking on the ice. This ensures that the taste of your drinks will not be tainted.
The W&P ice maker also comes with an insulated sleeve that freezes water from the top down.
This results in ice cubes that are clear and add grandeur to all your drinks.
It also uses silicone made from a zero-emission facility that meets LFGB requirements (this is the highest European food-grade standards).
Helpcook Crystal Clear Diamond Shaped Ice Mold
Fun Ice Shape That’s Great For Parties!
I love how fun and quirky the diamond shaped clear ice is from this Helpcook ice mold!
It will make you two large diamond-shaped ice that’s exceptionally crystal clear, and a great touch for parties or cocktails.
No need for distilled or pre-boiled water to make clear and slow-melting ice cubes.
This ice maker comes with a tray that is made with food-grade ad durable silicone.
It has a compact design that saves space in your freezer.
This same design helps to slow freeze the ice, making them slow-melting which allows you a long time to enjoy your drinks without diluting them.
TINANA Crystal Clear Ice Stick Mold
Great Unique Shape For Cocktails!
Similar to the Helpcook diamond shaped clear ice molds above, the Tinana stick molds also offer a unique and fun ice shape.
In addition, while some ice moulds give you six ice cubes at a time, the Tinana ice cube tray will give you eight, making it a good choice for parties with lots of guests.
The ice comes out as a cylindrical stick shape that adds class to any type of drink, whether at home or at restaurants and bars.
The only downside with the Tinana ice cube tray is that you will need to wait for 24 to 36 hours to get slow-melting ice that won’t dilute your drinks or water them down.
The one-of-a-kind shape makes it an interesting conversation piece that can add spice to your parties and events. It comes with a storage bag that allows you to make ice in advance.
Best Clear Ice Molds: Conclusion
As you can see, there are a number of ice molds on the market that offer clear ice in a variety of shapes.
The right one for you will depend on your budget, the kind of drinks you plan on using the ice in, and the shape you want the ice to be.
I hope this article has helped you find the right clear ice mold for your next party or drinks night at home!
Here are some related articles you may also enjoy:
Clear Ice Ball Makers
Block Ice Molds
Best Ice Maker Canada
Hi there, I’m Richard Parker! I own two food truck businesses in Hawaii, selling snow cones, gelatos and frozen drinks. I’ve been working with ice makers for most of my professional career, and created this website to pass on my knowledge. I hope you enjoy!
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