What are some good ice makers that make clear ice?
Ideally something affordable.
If you're not into boiling, distilling, boiling, decanting, and massaging your ice into clarity... read below.
The standard refrigerator ice-maker or even ice-trays put water in a mold and let it freeze. This traps air pockets in the ice and it becomes cloudy and heats-up (melts)faster than clear ice.
Primarily, clear ice is created by ice-makers that use the "pour-over" method to create ice (my term) that slowly runs and reruns water over a chilling plate that causes the water to freeze from the plate up. Once enough water has "frozen up" from the chilling plate, the water stops running and heated wires cut through the large sheet of ice into the ice cube size (often adjustable) and the process repeats...
Pair any icemaker with this ability with a water filter (built-in or in-line) and you'll have ice for your drinks that will change your life: clear, clean, slow-melting dense cubes of happiness.
Just about every major appliance brand and then some make in-home icemakers like this, so look into your favorite brand for these features, buy and enjoy.
7 Answers
If you don't want to spend too much, check out this portable ice maker:
http://www.kegworks.com/product.php?productid=172870
The ice comes out crystal clear, you can make 3 different sizes and you don't even need a water line connection.
If you're not into boiling, distilling, boiling, decanting, and massaging your ice into clarity... read below.
The standard refrigerator ice-maker or even ice-trays put water in a mold and let it freeze. This traps air pockets in the ice and it becomes cloudy and heats-up (melts)faster than clear ice.
Primarily, clear ice is created by ice-makers that use the "pour-over" method to create ice (my term) that slowly runs and reruns water over a chilling plate that causes the water to freeze from the plate up. Once enough water has "frozen up" from the chilling plate, the water stops running and heated wires cut through the large sheet of ice into the ice cube size (often adjustable) and the process repeats...
Pair any icemaker with this ability with a water filter (built-in or in-line) and you'll have ice for your drinks that will change your life: clear, clean, slow-melting dense cubes of happiness.
Just about every major appliance brand and then some make in-home icemakers like this, so look into your favorite brand for these features, buy and enjoy.
I have never tried tried the using distilled water or boiling water to get clear ice, but if you are using the ak-47 bullet ice tray, you can easily get clear ice by flashing it with a hot flame.
They do it at the ice hotel with their mugs; they carve a new mug and then pass it quickly in front of a flame and voila it is clear.
If you are looking for ice to be clear every time, this obviously is not the method for you.
This instructional video helped me to make clear ice. its easy to follow too.
No need for a special ice machine. Just use distilled water, boil it, let it cool, boil again, let it cool. Fill a very clean ice try with your very clean water. You can also shake or tap the tray every few minutes to knock out some of the air bubbles.