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August 22, 2012 1:54 PM Subscribe
Ice Cubes - A Recipe. The comments offer many helpful tips.
Haha, the "note" is the best:
I am publishing this recipe, because I am sure that there are other families who have members who don't know how or have forgotten how to make ice when the ice tray is empty.
posted by King Bee at 1:59 PM on August 22, 2012 [18 favorites]
I am publishing this recipe, because I am sure that there are other families who have members who don't know how or have forgotten how to make ice when the ice tray is empty.
posted by King Bee at 1:59 PM on August 22, 2012 [18 favorites]
"2 cups water"? Is this another one of those crappy "semi-homemade" recipes? In our house, we use our own hydrogen and oxygen (all locally sourced), stick a fork in an electric socket and bam! before you know it, we've got easily enough water to double the recipe. I don't know why people can't be bothered to make it from scratch -- it's not rocket science.
posted by PlusDistance at 2:10 PM on August 22, 2012 [27 favorites]
posted by PlusDistance at 2:10 PM on August 22, 2012 [27 favorites]
This recipe is useless. It shows you how to make the ice, but it doesn't explain what you can do with it. Here's one recipe.
posted by phunniemee at 2:12 PM on August 22, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 2:12 PM on August 22, 2012 [5 favorites]
I dunno, there aren't a lot of reviews for that boiled water recipe. It makes me a bit less confident about how it will turn out. If anyone here has tried it, let me know, because it looks delicious but I don't want to waste the ingredients if it's not going to work!
posted by Miko at 2:17 PM on August 22, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Miko at 2:17 PM on August 22, 2012 [4 favorites]
I made a few adjustments...... used a pot instead of trays. boiled instead of freezing. Added salt, potatoes, carrots and beef to the water. It turned out more like soup instead of ice cubes. Next time I will make a few more adjustments to try and get this recipe to work for me.
posted by scose at 2:17 PM on August 22, 2012 [19 favorites]
posted by scose at 2:17 PM on August 22, 2012 [19 favorites]
As usual, no alternate ingredients for those among us who are water-intolerant.
posted by prinado at 2:18 PM on August 22, 2012 [30 favorites]
posted by prinado at 2:18 PM on August 22, 2012 [30 favorites]
Yeah, and if I slice bananas with a handy device, then stick the slices in the freezer, and then take them out, and then do something else, then I can have banana ice cream.
Pull the other one, it's got bells on.
posted by maudlin at 2:18 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
Pull the other one, it's got bells on.
posted by maudlin at 2:18 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
When Mr. Cube loves a Mrs. Cube very much...
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:19 PM on August 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:19 PM on August 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
This is the a distinctly traditional method for making water-Ih ice only. I was hoping for instructions on ice-VIII cubes or even the ever elusive ice-IX.
posted by bonehead at 2:22 PM on August 22, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 2:22 PM on August 22, 2012 [5 favorites]
Gourmet ice is apparently actually a thing.
(Though, to be fair, there definitely can be bad ice. As in, the ice that's been in the freezer for 6 months sitting with the frozen meat and everything else and makes any drink you put them in taste like absolute crap.)
posted by kmz at 2:26 PM on August 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
(Though, to be fair, there definitely can be bad ice. As in, the ice that's been in the freezer for 6 months sitting with the frozen meat and everything else and makes any drink you put them in taste like absolute crap.)
posted by kmz at 2:26 PM on August 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
Wah. This recipe discriminates against those of us who have no ice cube trays.
posted by Cranberry at 2:28 PM on August 22, 2012
posted by Cranberry at 2:28 PM on August 22, 2012
bonehead: the trick in making ice-IX cubes is that you can't boil the water first and then hope for it to remain ice-IX upon refreezing in cube-form. Fortunately, you can manage without even using a freezer in just a few simple steps.
1. fill an ice cube tray most of the way with normal tap-water-Ih.
2. carefully chip a small piece of ice-IX into each individual cup.
And let nature take care of the rest.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:29 PM on August 22, 2012
1. fill an ice cube tray most of the way with normal tap-water-Ih.
2. carefully chip a small piece of ice-IX into each individual cup.
And let nature take care of the rest.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:29 PM on August 22, 2012
Hmmm. And here I am mucking about with LN2-cooled diamond anvils like an idiot. Thanks for the tip Navelgazer!
posted by bonehead at 2:39 PM on August 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 2:39 PM on August 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
Best review thread since this classic.
posted by tempythethird at 2:41 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by tempythethird at 2:41 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
Bacon makes everything better:
"We started with cocktails - a cucumber martini that was stunning and a bourbon with bacon ice cubes that probably would have been improved by a higher quality bourbon"
posted by iviken at 2:43 PM on August 22, 2012
"We started with cocktails - a cucumber martini that was stunning and a bourbon with bacon ice cubes that probably would have been improved by a higher quality bourbon"
posted by iviken at 2:43 PM on August 22, 2012
oof, my blunder! Sorry, bonehead. I believed you were speaking of ice-nine. I cannot speak of the efficacy of my technique as regards ice-IX.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:45 PM on August 22, 2012
posted by Navelgazer at 2:45 PM on August 22, 2012
Two cups of water? Two?!
And people wonder why our kids are getting fat.
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:50 PM on August 22, 2012 [11 favorites]
And people wonder why our kids are getting fat.
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:50 PM on August 22, 2012 [11 favorites]
Wah. This recipe discriminates against those of us who have no ice cube trays.
I know. I don't have room in my freezer for that kind of single-use implement.
posted by maryr at 2:50 PM on August 22, 2012 [7 favorites]
I know. I don't have room in my freezer for that kind of single-use implement.
posted by maryr at 2:50 PM on August 22, 2012 [7 favorites]
This is an excellent post. The joke itself is one of those rare classics that never gets old. The basic twist is elegant in its simplicity and ensures that anyone can do it, with very little chance of failure, but a lot of room for success. This is why some of the greatest comedy minds on the internet enjoy doing these. This same elegance means that it's also timeless-- even ironic reviews from several years ago can still make me laugh! These are also a fun group activity. It's great helping my friends from here and elsewhere make fun of dumb products and articles, which is how I met my wife. We're looking forward to helping our kids write parody reviews in the future, which we believe will help encourage writing skills and critical thinking. Thanks again!
posted by This, of course, alludes to you at 3:01 PM on August 22, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by This, of course, alludes to you at 3:01 PM on August 22, 2012 [7 favorites]
Anybody have a good Ice-T recipe?
posted by Night_owl at 3:25 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Night_owl at 3:25 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
When Mr. Ice-T loves a Mrs. Ice-T very much...
posted by Gronk at 3:47 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Gronk at 3:47 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
I prefer making my ice by placing water between two diamonds and placing it under 15,000 atmospheres of pressure, but I suppose this works too.
posted by knapah at 3:58 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by knapah at 3:58 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
Empty the ice cubes that are left in the trays (if there are any left) into the bin.
I disagree with step one already. Ice doesn't grow on trees.
posted by Mezentian at 4:05 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
I disagree with step one already. Ice doesn't grow on trees.
posted by Mezentian at 4:05 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
That's pretty good, but my favorite Bad Internet Recipe That Didn't Need To Exist is Red Beans and Spaghetti. The recipe is, you take red beans, and you add them to cooked spaghetti.
What more can be said about a recipe whose own creator admits, right there in the recipe description, that "needless to say none of our friends enjoy this meal."
posted by ErikaB at 4:07 PM on August 22, 2012
What more can be said about a recipe whose own creator admits, right there in the recipe description, that "needless to say none of our friends enjoy this meal."
posted by ErikaB at 4:07 PM on August 22, 2012
They do look delicious but I'm on a low water diet. Maybe for a special occasion. Or maybe I could substitute cream for the water?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:07 PM on August 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:07 PM on August 22, 2012 [3 favorites]
And make some sort of ... iced cream?
That does sound tasty.
posted by Mezentian at 4:12 PM on August 22, 2012 [5 favorites]
That does sound tasty.
posted by Mezentian at 4:12 PM on August 22, 2012 [5 favorites]
Iced Cream Cubes...it does have a sort of ring to it.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:21 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:21 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
Ice doesn't grow on trees.
spend a few winters in the midwest and you'll know better
posted by pyramid termite at 4:22 PM on August 22, 2012 [15 favorites]
spend a few winters in the midwest and you'll know better
posted by pyramid termite at 4:22 PM on August 22, 2012 [15 favorites]
Can somebody post a low calorie version of this???
posted by LordSludge at 4:52 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by LordSludge at 4:52 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
LordSludge, just cut the water in half.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:49 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:49 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
Kidding aside the related link for Mojito Ice Cubes actually looks really good.
posted by bleep at 5:58 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by bleep at 5:58 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
The best recipe for making ice is to refill the fucking tray after you empty it, don't just shove it back into the freezer. Asshole.
posted by padraigin at 6:17 PM on August 22, 2012 [11 favorites]
posted by padraigin at 6:17 PM on August 22, 2012 [11 favorites]
Empty the ice cubes [...] into the bin.
Wait, this seems mad to me. You're just going to end up with dripping bins. Surely you empty them into the sink?
posted by lucidium at 6:19 PM on August 22, 2012 [4 favorites]
Wait, this seems mad to me. You're just going to end up with dripping bins. Surely you empty them into the sink?
posted by lucidium at 6:19 PM on August 22, 2012 [4 favorites]
The ice cube storage bin, not the British trash can bin.
or is my sarcasm detector on the fritz again?
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:46 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
or is my sarcasm detector on the fritz again?
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:46 PM on August 22, 2012 [2 favorites]
As my husband likes to say, the recipe for ice is water plus electricity.
posted by blurker at 7:53 PM on August 22, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by blurker at 7:53 PM on August 22, 2012 [4 favorites]
The ice cube storage bin, not the British trash can bin.
or is my sarcasm detector on the fritz again?
The thing come people use to store ice cubes out of their trays is not known as a bin in my part of the world at all.
Hence the confusion, I suppose.
posted by Mezentian at 8:00 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
or is my sarcasm detector on the fritz again?
The thing come people use to store ice cubes out of their trays is not known as a bin in my part of the world at all.
Hence the confusion, I suppose.
posted by Mezentian at 8:00 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
#2 Take the trays over to the sink and fill them with cold water.
Blew it right there-- the chlorination makes them taste terrible and smell worse.
posted by jamjam at 8:17 PM on August 22, 2012
Blew it right there-- the chlorination makes them taste terrible and smell worse.
posted by jamjam at 8:17 PM on August 22, 2012
First world problem... some of us are too poor to have icetrays!
posted by _paegan_ at 9:15 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by _paegan_ at 9:15 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
Very much similar to a recipe that's been in our family for generations. Ours, however, involves an extra step. Prior to emptying the original batch of ice, run warm water over the tray, then give it a firm twist. Forgetting this results in an inferior product, to be sure.
As my husband likes to say, the recipe for ice is water plus electricity.
One would think so, but oddly enough, this particular accident didn't result in frostbite.
posted by BlueHorse at 10:12 PM on August 22, 2012
As my husband likes to say, the recipe for ice is water plus electricity.
One would think so, but oddly enough, this particular accident didn't result in frostbite.
posted by BlueHorse at 10:12 PM on August 22, 2012
Then there was ICE-9.
...and so it went.
posted by mule98J at 10:35 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
...and so it went.
posted by mule98J at 10:35 PM on August 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
Though, to be fair, there definitely can be bad ice. As in, the ice that's been in the freezer for 6 months sitting with the frozen meat and everything else and makes any drink you put them in taste like absolute crap.
This is why when I make cocktails I rinse the ice in warm water and drain first. All that weird awful flavor seems to mostly be in the outermost layer of ice.
This recipe is useless. It shows you how to make the ice, but it doesn't explain what you can do with it.
This?
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:56 AM on August 23, 2012
This is why when I make cocktails I rinse the ice in warm water and drain first. All that weird awful flavor seems to mostly be in the outermost layer of ice.
This recipe is useless. It shows you how to make the ice, but it doesn't explain what you can do with it.
This?
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:56 AM on August 23, 2012
Thank you so much for posting this! I recently moved from the US to the UK and I have really been missing these. Apparently most people here have never heard of them, they definitely don't now how to make them. Occasionally in a resturant you can get one or two if you ask very nicely and are lucky, but usually they look at you like you are crazy. Now I can make them at home and feel just like I am home in Los Angeles!!
posted by crabintheocean at 4:21 AM on August 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by crabintheocean at 4:21 AM on August 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
The thing come people use to store ice cubes out of their trays is not known as a bin in my part of the world at all.
Here it's called a Gin and Tonic.
posted by generichuman at 4:24 AM on August 23, 2012 [9 favorites]
Here it's called a Gin and Tonic.
posted by generichuman at 4:24 AM on August 23, 2012 [9 favorites]
phunniemee: This recipe is useless. It shows you how to make the ice, but it doesn't explain what you can do with it. Here's one recipe.Here's a better one.
posted by IAmBroom at 10:50 AM on August 23, 2012
That recipe sucks. Ice isn't even listed on the ingredient list. What do they think I am, some kind of wizard!?
posted by phunniemee at 10:54 AM on August 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 10:54 AM on August 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
I stick to the Cook's Illustrated version. Their technique of briefly heating the water first in a stainless steel pot with a capsuled copper base, while stirring with a wooden spoon at 25.4 rpm, before freezing makes far superior cubes. You'll never go back to the old version after trying CI's method.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 12:15 PM on August 23, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 12:15 PM on August 23, 2012 [6 favorites]
Heh. I see DevilsAdvocate subscribes to CI too.
posted by happyroach at 12:27 PM on August 23, 2012
posted by happyroach at 12:27 PM on August 23, 2012
Finally, a recipe that I think I can cope with. I am a little kitchen challenged.
But please hope me! Once they are ready, how do you get them out of the tray? The blow torch idea didn't work out so well.
posted by madamjujujive at 1:17 PM on August 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
But please hope me! Once they are ready, how do you get them out of the tray? The blow torch idea didn't work out so well.
posted by madamjujujive at 1:17 PM on August 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
You'll never go back to the old version after trying CI's method.
The CI method certainly freezes faster, but for truly, crystal clear superior ice (Ih) cubes, I find that degassing the water is best. I prefer the vacuum-pump-freeze thaw cycle myself, as it's more "green" than boiling the water first.
posted by bonehead at 2:23 PM on August 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
The CI method certainly freezes faster, but for truly, crystal clear superior ice (Ih) cubes, I find that degassing the water is best. I prefer the vacuum-pump-freeze thaw cycle myself, as it's more "green" than boiling the water first.
posted by bonehead at 2:23 PM on August 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
...I rinse the ice in warm water and drain first.
I hope this is for realz. Gack, but I hate the taste of refrigerator ice cubes. Apparently, people get used to the taste of the inside of their freezer. I house sit for people who have a propane fridge--Nothing worse than cubes that taste like propane smells.
The best recipe for making ice is to refill the fucking tray after you empty it, don't just shove it back into the freezer. Asshole.
This fer truth. Expecting that refreshing cold drink, then finding nothing but slivers in the bottom of the tray sucks. Or when the automatic bin fills and the stop lever gets shoved up and never gets put back down again. Dammit, people inhell Idaho want ice water!
Madamjujujive, as per my post:
[This is] Very much similar to a recipe that's been in our family for generations. Ours, however, involves an extra step. Prior to emptying the original batch of ice, run warm water over the tray, then give it a firm twist. Forgetting this results in an inferior product, to be sure.
The action should come from the wrists, not the elbows. Try strengthening your forearms by wringing a wet dishtowel several times a day for a couple weeks. Practice the twist with an empty tray until you can do it in one smooth motion. Do not use non-frozen cubes for this step, as it results in mess. When you have the technique down, try twisting your newly frozen water quickly, and enjoy your frosty cold drink.
(Unfortunately, practicing this now will delay your cube production until late fall. You may have to buy cubes. Persevere, as the taste of home made cubes is vastly superior to store bought.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:58 AM on August 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
I hope this is for realz. Gack, but I hate the taste of refrigerator ice cubes. Apparently, people get used to the taste of the inside of their freezer. I house sit for people who have a propane fridge--Nothing worse than cubes that taste like propane smells.
The best recipe for making ice is to refill the fucking tray after you empty it, don't just shove it back into the freezer. Asshole.
This fer truth. Expecting that refreshing cold drink, then finding nothing but slivers in the bottom of the tray sucks. Or when the automatic bin fills and the stop lever gets shoved up and never gets put back down again. Dammit, people in
Madamjujujive, as per my post:
[This is] Very much similar to a recipe that's been in our family for generations. Ours, however, involves an extra step. Prior to emptying the original batch of ice, run warm water over the tray, then give it a firm twist. Forgetting this results in an inferior product, to be sure.
The action should come from the wrists, not the elbows. Try strengthening your forearms by wringing a wet dishtowel several times a day for a couple weeks. Practice the twist with an empty tray until you can do it in one smooth motion. Do not use non-frozen cubes for this step, as it results in mess. When you have the technique down, try twisting your newly frozen water quickly, and enjoy your frosty cold drink.
(Unfortunately, practicing this now will delay your cube production until late fall. You may have to buy cubes. Persevere, as the taste of home made cubes is vastly superior to store bought.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:58 AM on August 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yes, I really for realz rinse the ice enough to melt off the outermost layers. I think the awful flavor of ice has something to do with the defrost cycle partially melting the outside over and over, but regardless it does remove most or all of the nasty flavor. I also use older ice to water my plants just to get rid of it so I have fresher ice on hand.
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:05 AM on August 25, 2012
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:05 AM on August 25, 2012
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