The Simple Trick That Keeps Ice Cubes From Sticking Together
You'll never have to chisel ice cubes apart again!
It’s almost party time! Guests will start arriving soon, and you’re dashing around, putting the final touches on everything. All that’s left to do is tidy up your home bar. You hit the freezer to fill the ice bucket and… ugh! The ice cubes are stuck together in one giant clump. You either need to take the time to bust those frosty suckers apart or find really huge cocktail glasses.
Don’t put yourself in this situation again! While there are dozens of ways to break up ice cubes, it’s actually a cinch to keep them from sticking together in the first place. In fact, this secret has been around so long, your great-grandparents likely knew about it. What is this sub-zero strategy? It’s simple: store your ice cubes in a paper bag.
How to Keep Ice Cubes From Sticking Together
We’re talking about the sort of bag your mom used for school lunches or the type that the grocery store provides now that they’ve abolished plastic. Whether you rely on your ice dispenser, use an ice cube tray or buy it by the pound, quickly transfer the cubes to a clean paper bag. Fold it closed and store it in the freezer. Pull out the cubes as you need them. They shouldn’t stick together.
Why does this work? Some sources say the paper absorbs extra moisture, unlike plastic-bag counterparts. When excess moisture is minimized, there’s less chance of it freezing the cubes together.
If you’re making a lot of ice for a party, start filling the bag a week or two early. If you’re using the ice for adult beverages and mocktails at home, fill a smaller bag, and refill as needed. So stop chiselling blocks of ice, and quit ticking off your downstairs neighbours by banging bags of ice on the floor. Just grab a paper bag, fill it with cubes and let the party commence!
Now that you know how to keep ice cubes from sticking together, check out 20 summer drink recipes to cool you down on a scorching day.
