SMOWK Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 I'm looking for new ice trays. I like big cubed ice, but the silicone trays make your drink taste horrible. Other than the Makers Mark Ice Ball Maker, does anybody know of any quality ice trays that make big ice?All I can find are el-cheapo plastic ones you can buy at any grocery store? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerfactory Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 how about some japanese ice balls?http://thejapanoutlet.com/Japanese-Ice-Ball-Maker-Tray-P1659987.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wadewood Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 Ice is easy to carve if at right temp. So freeze a big ziploc bag or gallon container, then carve your own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barturtle Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 Get some Tupperware Popsicle makers and only fill them part way. You can have big chunks of ice however big you want them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMOWK Posted July 26, 2011 Author Share Posted July 26, 2011 Get some Tupperware Popsicle makers and only fill them part way. You can have big chunks of ice however big you want themThat's a good idea, but I really think I can taste the plastic. Especially in a glass of water.I'm leaning towards the Onyx Stainless Steel ice trays: http://www.healthegoods.com/stainless-steel-ice-cube-tray-onyx.html# Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p_elliott Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 That's a good idea, but I really think I can taste the plastic. Especially in a glass of water.I'm leaning towards the Onyx Stainless Steel ice trays: http://www.healthegoods.com/stainless-steel-ice-cube-tray-onyx.html#I was going to recomend those but I wasn't sure they made them any more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brisko Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 Mini-muffin pans would probably work, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILLfarmboy Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 Mini-muffin pans would probably work, too.That's a great Idea. My automatic ice maker hasn't been keeping up and I broke out the ice trays a few days before this thread apeared. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMOWK Posted July 28, 2011 Author Share Posted July 28, 2011 I ended up buying some vintage Frigidaire Quickube Ice Trays in perfect condition off of eBay. I'll let you guys know how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcg9779 Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Ice is easy to carve if at right temp. So freeze a big ziploc bag or gallon container, then carve your own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronHead Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 What is the right temp?The right temp is not directly out of the freezer. And what I mean by that is that you need to let it sit out and temper for a little bit before carving so it doesn't just shatter each time you try to chip or chisel it. You want the ice to shave rather than chip (except for when removing larger chunks)A typical ice block used for ice sculpture is about 20" wide x 40" tall x 10" deep and weighs in at nearly 300 pounds. You usually let those sit for about 1 to 2 hours before carving. Of course, the smaller the block the less time it is going to take to temper. A good rule of thumb is to carve when the ice stops looking cloudy on the outside due to freezing condensation on the outside of the ice. Melting ice is easier to work with then stuff right out of the freezer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgriff Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 What is the right temp?I was curious about that too. Just noticed the response, thanks for clarifying! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMOWK Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 I ended up purchasing some vintage aluminum Frigidaire Quickube double wide trays in new condition. It puts plastic and silicone ice trays to shame in every way. The ice from the aluminum trays is bigger, easier to get out, doesn't taste like plastic, and freezes very fast. I don't understand why the shift from metal to plastic, or better yet, why consumers adopted it.Highly Recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enoch Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 I purchased a couple of plastic trays off ebay that make 60 gun drop size/shape ice cubes: Arrow Plastic 55 60 Cube Plastic Ice Tray They are perfect for shot glasses to just cool a bit. I fill them with distilled water and can use as many as I want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcg9779 Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 The right temp is not directly out of the freezer. And what I mean by that is that you need to let it sit out and temper for a little bit before carving so it doesn't just shatter each time you try to chip or chisel it. You want the ice to shave rather than chip (except for when removing larger chunks)A typical ice block used for ice sculpture is about 20" wide x 40" tall x 10" deep and weighs in at nearly 300 pounds. You usually let those sit for about 1 to 2 hours before carving. Of course, the smaller the block the less time it is going to take to temper. A good rule of thumb is to carve when the ice stops looking cloudy on the outside due to freezing condensation on the outside of the ice. Melting ice is easier to work with then stuff right out of the freezer.Thank you, Mike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishnbowljoe Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I have a couple of these. They work pretty good. Even fit in a glencairn. :grin: http://www.gourmac.com/iceballtray.html Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timd Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Ironically, today's Garden & Gun email (yes, a truly southern publication!:slappin:) has a feature on... Ice!The Ice Rage - http://app.emailtransmit.com/util/view.php?a_i=11339290&ac_i=315&t=o&l_i=6604&t_i=74762 for the online version.The rest of the article is below:The Ice Rage Southerners have always been picky about our ice, especially in our cocktails. We like large, slow-melting cubes in our whiskey. We crush ice to create frozen pillows for our juleps. And while we may not always be proud of it, from time to time we might even put one or two cubes in our white wine, you know, just to cool it down. Recently, it seems like the rest of the country is catching on, and frozen water is reaching a whole new level of artistry. To ensure your home bar is up to snuff when it comes to the cold stuff, here are a few of our favorite ice tools. Say goodbye to watery cocktails. Silicone Ice Ball Maker The Japanese were the first to use round ice, which has maximum surface area for cooling. These extra large ice balls melt very slowly, so they won't dilute your drink. $11.75; muji.us.com Lewis Ice Bags These canvas bags are bartender favorites for crushing ice because they wick away excess moisture that would otherwise end up in your cocktail. $3.95; cocktailkingdom.com Anvil Ice Pick Use this to control the size and shape of your ice chips. Bonus: It looks awfully pretty displayed on your bar. $50.95; cocktailkingdom.com King Cubes Silicone Ice TraysIf you prefer a more traditional ice shape, try these perfectly edged, oversize cubes. They instantly up any drink’s presentation and dissolve slowly enough to preserve its integrity. $14.95/set of two; williams-sonoma.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMOWK Posted August 5, 2011 Author Share Posted August 5, 2011 I use a Klein Tools Canvas Bag to crush ice. As far as silicone ice trays goes...blech. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcg9779 Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 Ironically, today's Garden & Gun email (yes, a truly southern publication!:slappin:) has a feature on... Ice!My favorite magazine....of the magazines that I get it is the one that I most look forward to. I just wish it wasn't every two months! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtoys Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 saw the pricey metal ice ball makers; I went for the silicone version from Amazon. Not clear, but round. It did break in half after about 15 minutes. used distilled water. comes in a 4 pack. glass is Spiegeleau whisky on the rocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMOWK Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Silicone imparts a terrible flavor to the ice. Let one of those ice balls melt in a glass of water and then drink it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trey Manthey Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Silicone imparts a terrible flavor to the ice. Let one of those ice balls melt in a glass of water and then drink it.I've heard this complaint so many times, but either I can't smell/taste it or my trays are immune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts