Different Methods for Making Crushed Ice from Ice Cubes
Cool drinks are a special treat, and not just in the summer. Anyone who loves mixing cocktails knows that in many recipes, crushed ice is a crucial ingredient that adds the perfect finishing touch to drinks, both in taste and appearance. Various supermarkets and gas stations carry crushed ice in their range, but if you want to save on costs, you can also make your own crushed ice with just a few simple tools. But how exactly does it work? What methods are there and what do you need to make it? We have put together all the key information, as well as tips and tricks on the subject of crushed ice, for you below.
What can crushed ice be used for?
Although crushed ice is typically made from ice cubes, there are some key differences between the two. The main advantage of crushed ice over traditional ice cubes is its larger surface area. This allows for a faster heat exchange between the liquid and the ice, resulting in much quicker and more effective cooling. Crushed ice is perfect for chilling alcoholic drinks, fruity shakes, smoothies, iced desserts, and much more. Keep in mind that cocktails with a high alcohol content may be slightly diluted as the ice melts. In addition to cooling, crushed ice also serves a great decorative purpose.
What do you need to make crushed ice?
To make crushed ice at home, you will definitely need ice cubes. You can buy these at the store or make them yourself. If you don't have an ice maker, you can easily use an ice cube tray, fill it with tap water, and place it in the freezer or the freezer compartment of your refrigerator. You will get the best taste if you filter the tap water beforehand. As soon as the water is frozen, the finished ice cubes can be removed from the tray and used to make crushed ice. Instead of an ice cube tray, you can also use special freezer bags to make ice cubes.
Three methods for making crushed ice at home
There are several ways to turn ice cubes into crushed ice. If you have a blender or even a dedicated ice crusher, you can use these appliances to make crushed ice quickly and easily. Some juicers or slow juicers are also suitable for this. But don't worry, even if you don't have a kitchen appliance on hand, you don't have to miss out on crushed ice in your drinks. You can also crush ice cubes using a hand towel or dish towel and a hammer or meat mallet. In the following, you will learn exactly how to use the three different preparation methods.
Using a Blender
If you own a blender, you can use it to make crushed ice. This method is quick, easy, and requires no physical effort. The following step-by-step guide explains how to do it and what you should keep in mind.
Step 1: Make ice cubes
Make ice cubes using an ice cube tray. Depending on the temperature of your freezer, you should plan for at least two hours for this.
Step 2: Add ice cubes to the blender
Add five to ten ice cubes to the blender. To ensure the blender can easily crush the hard crystal structure of the ice cubes, it should have a power output of at least 1000 watts and a speed of at least 10,000 RPM.
Step 3: Turn on the pulse function
Turn on the blender. Make sure to set it to the pulse function (also called the crushed ice function), which alternates between increasing and decreasing the speed of the blade. This creates beautiful crushed ice rather than fine snow. If needed, you can add a small amount of water to keep the ice cubes from sticking together.
Step 4: Fill glasses with crushed ice
Fill your glasses with the freshly crushed ice to use it right away, or transfer it to a container to store in the freezer for later.
With an Ice Crusher
An ice crusher – also known as an ice mill or ice shredder – is a kitchen appliance specifically designed for making crushed ice. Generally, you can choose between manual and electric ice crushers. Manual models are operated with a hand crank, which typically sets a rotating drum in motion. This crushes the ice cubes into relatively coarse but uniform pieces, which are better suited for cocktails than for desserts. Manual ice crushers are great for smaller amounts of ice. However, if you need a large amount of crushed ice, an electric ice crusher is the preferred choice. In these models, a rotating disc equipped with blades shaves thin slivers off the ice cubes. The resulting crushed ice is very fine and therefore melts relatively quickly. It is particularly well-suited for iced desserts.
Crushed Ice with a Towel and Hammer
If you don't have a blender or ice crusher handy, you can easily use a kitchen towel and a hammer to make crushed ice without any kitchen appliances. Simply spread a kitchen towel on your countertop and press the ice cubes out of the tray onto the towel. Now, gather the towel around the ice cubes to form a secure bag. Grip the bag just above the ice cubes and place it on a firm, sturdy surface. To crush the ice, gently tap the bag several times with the hammer. Instead of a hammer, you can also use any other hard object—such as a shoe, a rolling pin, or a meat mallet.
