No room in your freezer? No Problem! Clear Ice Cylinders!

[@AndersErickson]

You're method to achieve the cylinder is brilliant! Using a koozie makes so much sense. Thanks for sharing your tip!

[@UnclePete]

I'm trying to spread this method around lol. I take every chance I get.

[@Barprints]

Genius right?! If I get it to work I'm telling EVERYONE and shouting Pete out in the process!

[@StevetheBartender_]

A koozie? That's a hilarious name for a stubby holder 😂😂

[@UnclePete]

😂😂

[@waytospergtherebro]

Your English is appalling.

[@ism822]

I actually cut ice for a living in my bar in Melbourne. Whilst your clarity looks bang on, if I may, my pointers for producing a more consistent cut would be 1.) Score the surface with a serrated 'bread' knife (or multiple surfaces, aka all the way around the block.) doing all surfaces is more consistent but takes a lot longer 2.) Switch to a cleaver or something with a thin but durable blade that will be able to drive through the ice and hit it with a mallet. The lighter, more repetitive hits cause straight line fractures (this is good) like it's chiseling into the ice progressively. You're almost trying to vibrate the cube apart 3.) The more time the ice has had to 'temper' the better, as it will be less prone to random chips and fractures and last but not least but this one I can't stress enough 4.) ALWAYS have your FINGERS ABOVE or LEVEL with the ICE, sorry about the caps on this one but it's just important, search a KZbin video on how to cut an onion, with your lead fingers behind the blade but above the level of the onion for stabilisation. THIS IS ONLY FOR SCORING THE ICE. once the cleaver comes out you want the mallet in your dominant hand and the cleaver along for the ride in the other. Ice has a tendency to randomly want to skew out. It can be incredibly dense whilst also at times it'll cut prematurely or unexpectedly. If your finger is anything less than level you will lose it, I have almost seen it happen before and we have a policy that if you put your fingers below the line youll get fired. Firm but fair as we have all been taught the proper technique and to ignore would be to purposefully put ourselves in harm's way So whenever your trying to make it through ice, you want anything that you don't want the knife to slice through above the level of the blade. Hope this helps even if it's not just for cutting ice but tips for not losing a finger 😂 Cheers from down Under

[@UnclePete]

Yeah i mostly just make cylinders now, much easier and not dangerous. Which is kind of the point of this video, but also I made some forms I like to use that eliminated the need to cut it at all. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYfchmamgdCglbc Cheers!

[@nicola3540]

Where abouts in Melbourne is your bar?

[@retronartz1268]

FINALLY! A method I can actually use… you don’t understand how much of a lifesaver this one is. Thank you

[@UnclePete]

Glad it helped!

[@PirateDonBrown]

My wife eats lots of yogurt so i have all these empty yogurt cups. They are sized right for a cocktail and make excellent clear ice cubes. I'll have to put them in a coozie to see if that minimizes the cloud at the bottom. Great video. I love your simplistic approach

[@UnclePete]

Try it! the top half will be clear, the bottom will get cloudy.

[@AngryCocktails]

I love the simplicity of this. I'll have to try it.

[@UnclePete]

Oh yeah this works great and its cheap! hot water makes them clearer, but boiling water melts the water bottle, so be warned. Let me know how it goes.

[@icemancantcook]

I love this method! I just went a few months without the ice I like, because just no freezer space... And we have two freezers... Too much Ice Cream I suppose... This would have done the job! I enjoyed watching you cut up the ice block, so I know I'm not the only one that hopes to have a nice line, but only to get it to be all wonky. I tempered my ice blocks for at least a half hour yesterday and had much better success.

[@UnclePete]

I do get impatient with the tempering its true. I make cylinders most of the time though. I highly reccomend this method!

[@midnightfury4584]

I use ice molds that fit in the cooler. Some of them come in a 2 pack from amazon. In that case, i poke holes in one of molds, use that as the top so it drains and use the other to stack. That method is a lot more cost effective considering I’m not buying smart water bottles daily.

[@UnclePete]

Yeah that’s a good method! Though I don’t buy water bottles daily. I reuse them many times, so I buy water bottles more like annually

[@thestoneman101]

. You are the professor of clear Ice. Excellent !!! This is the best method I have ever seen. Thanks

[@UnclePete]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Brian_Patrick]

1) I just use insulated 20oz tumblers (make sure it's the kind with no lip around the top), then I use an ice sphere press to melt them into spheres; 2) you don't have to cut the cloudy part off if you don't let them freeze all the way to the bottom; 3) you can smooth out rough edges by holding the rough edge against a flat metal surface (like a frying pan) with tongs for a few seconds.

[@UnclePete]

Yes I’m familiar with these strategies! Fun stuff

[@martinolsson6341]

I’ve been using your method for a couple of weeks now and I think it’s just perfect. Cheers from Sweden!

[@UnclePete]

Great to hear! Cheers to you!

[@dtape]

Great method. Regarding getting predictable cuts when carving up a block of clear ice made via directional freezing in a cooler, you can increase your chances of straight and square cuts if you score around the perimeter of the ice block and ice pieces. The ice is definitely going to split in unpredictable ways more often if you only score and cut from one side. Not saying that even with this pointer that the cooler made ice block is better than the koozie method you show here, but it is worth noting how cooler made blocks can be done with higher success.

[@UnclePete]

For sure. Thanks for the tip!

[@Chevyguy723]

This is awesome! I bet you can even find a plastic or glass vessel that's already perfectly smooth on the bottom so you wouldn't even have to cut it! It looked so beautiful in the drink at the end.

[@UnclePete]

Oh thanks! You may be right!

[@jacqsprat4645]

Excellent! I made two cylinders overnight. I also have a the big cooler version in my chest freezer but the small way will be easier to do when I forget to be prepared. And a quicker turnover aswell.

[@UnclePete]

Cool! I do find it to be a much easier process. Thanks for watching!

[@Barprints]

This is an awesome hack! I'm having an issue with freezer space as well and this is definitely something I'm gonna try!

[@UnclePete]

Oh yeah it is a great system if you are short on space. let me know how it goes!

[@livingyourstory]

I don't know how I missed this whole series by you. Very clever Pete.

[@UnclePete]

Thanks buddy!

[@danarnold9956]

Pete! Great video! Best I've seen. I started making clear ice more than ten years ago. As an 8 year old I was puzzled as to why freezer ice cubes had cloudy centers. Now we know. :) You have covered every detail I have discovered, and then some, ncluding being careful not to let any water get between the mold and foam insulation. I started by making a silicone or plastic matrix for cubes, then switched to using 2" silicone ice cube trays, putting holes in the bottom, then placing in a cooler with water. I've also used the bread knife and hammer technique. Some people prefer the irregular, 'natural' shapes we get. Just today I'm experimenting with cylinders, the perfect shape for a glass. I didn't think of the water bottle/beer cozy method, tho' when visiting friends, I'll just take a couple plastic tumblers and put anything between them for insulation. Today I'm recycling large pill bottles. I had a foam packing box six crystal tumblers came in. Into some of the holes I put the plastic bottles, one has a glass tumbler, and another an insulated metal water bottle. 20 hours or so later I'll compare the differences. In addition to the clear, pure ice from tap water, it's fun to experiment. Nice to meet an Ice Brother! :)

[@UnclePete]

Oh yes! Another iceman! Thanks for commenting, I have lots of other ice experiments on the channel if you’re interested! Cheers!

[@danarnold9956]

@@UnclePete :) I'm sure you share my thought that many people don't know that it is actually FUN to make clear ice rather than it being a burden/hassle. One of the interesting things is that clear ice is actually clearer than pure water; light travels faster thru ice than water... one of the reasons clear ice is so beautiful. I'll check out your other experiments. Thanks! Ice is SO much more interesting than I thought. One of the questions I have, is "Why do my clear ice cubes sometimes get a random pattern of small grooves on the surface as it sits in a glass of whisky?"

[@UnclePete]

I think the whiskey melts the ice, but I’m no scientist!

[@november_whiskey85]

Thanks man!

[@UnclePete]

you bet!

[@maz8869]

That is flippin genius!! I’ve just found some slim plastic bottles, I’ve only got 2 maybe 4 cheap coozies so it may take a while to get some ice blocks, but so worth trying!! Thank you

[@UnclePete]

Have fun!

[@katherineheufel6953]

I love how you captured the cat in slowmo as well. Great video, I will definitely try this method.

[@UnclePete]

Its a good method! and a good kitty.

[@dancingtomato6576]

I am interested in clear ice and this is way better than a cooler and really genius

[@UnclePete]

Thank you! it is the only way I do it any more.

[@adiands850]

Great video man. Exactly what I was looking for after sifting through the dozens of other 'clear ice' videos.

[@UnclePete]

Glad to hear it! It really is a very simple method.

[@jaydeepsingh53]

what should be your freezer temperature if you keeping it inside for 22 Hours🤔🤔

[@halflitcocktails6964]

Very nice! Seems quite a bit simpler than the cooler method in the beginning of your video which we also use. I'm sure it is a better fit for a rocks glass too!

[@UnclePete]

It is very convenient!

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

I've been watching clear ice videos on KZbin. I love your Technique and Wow saving money making and easy-to-use mold that is free. You're a genius

[@UnclePete]

Glad it was helpful! You can call me a genius any time!

[@richardgregory1264]

Smartest method ever! Exactly what I was looking for!

[@UnclePete]

Glad it helped! It really works great for me.

[@ddunvideo]

Thanks for the insight

[@UnclePete]

No worries!

[@bjchaffin2]

I do the cooler thing, but haven't tried the water bottle trick. Great tip. Glad to see others appreciating the the extras for making a good cocktail.

[@UnclePete]

Thanks Billy! I do the cooler thing too sometimes, but the water bottles are much easier. Cheers!

[@Mas1337]

Great up to a point where you called cylinder platonic solid! 😠 ..but seriously. Great tip, cheers! 😊

[@UnclePete]

LOL yeah that was a mistake. I'm dumb!

[@kkonvicka25]

That is so kewl. Are you a chemical engineer? You perceive a process and then condense it to an extreme degree. BTW, I predict you’ll be a star in the next movie about Fidel Castro or Osama Bin Laden. You’re a natural.

[@UnclePete]

LOL Im just an ice nerd!

[@hi92446]

I enjoyed seeing you work very much

[@UnclePete]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@oscargo29]

This is brilliant!!!...😀👍Thanks for sharing.

[@UnclePete]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@vroyen]

Very cool. I may have to try this one.

[@UnclePete]

You should!

[@Lucifurion]

I always cut a groove with a bread knife and then put a sharp cleaver in the groove and then tap with a mallet. Cuts perfect edges every time.

[@UnclePete]

I find the cylinders to be very satisfactory

[@CocktailsWithAdele]

This is SO awesome, I think you just changed my life!! 😍😂

[@UnclePete]

For the better I hope!

[@stanleyw985]

Great method.. less work, same results.. thanks for sharing 👍

[@UnclePete]

My pleasure 😊

[@cobylyons4439]

Genius

[@UnclePete]

Thanks!

[@markanderson8677]

Great idea . . . will give it a try starting now '-)

[@UnclePete]

Have fun!

[@pastimepursuit7212]

You are creative, you remind me of myself. Or maybe it's the similar glasses. Thanks!

[@UnclePete]

Thank you! I guess. Cheers!

[@southern_merican]

U should glue some together to wrap a 2-liter . Ice makes great targets for guns!

[@UnclePete]

Go for it!

[@southern_merican]

@@UnclePete lol, i already do that,lol. I was telling yall to do that.

[@Berkana]

This is brilliant and inexpensive. I love it!

[@UnclePete]

Thanks! It’s a great method!

[@agecali7893]

Wow what a genius. Dude I'm subbing lmao. Thanks brudda

[@UnclePete]

Thanks! Glad I could help!

[@brakefree6434]

Thanks for this!

[@UnclePete]

My pleasure!

[@jruffalo1]

That worked great.

[@UnclePete]

Good to hear! Clear ice for all!

[@evanh724]

Great idea. If you include a small straw in the mold the ice should come out easier.

[@UnclePete]

For air? worth a try! thanks!

[@tompoynton]

Ah is that why commercial ice always has those little holes running through them?

[@evanh724]

@@tompoynton not sure. Could be.

[@hognut58]

Brilliant 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@UnclePete]

Thanks!!

[@ManojKumar-et1yk]

Amazing👍

[@UnclePete]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@thefalcon666]

You must be onto something here ....Steve The Bartender even shared your channel in his newsletter! Congrats

[@UnclePete]

Oh cool! I wondered where all these views were coming from LOL

[@platinumskies30]

Love this

[@UnclePete]

Thanks for watching!

[@jondotdrinks6952]

I love this budget option, just gotta kind some coozies now!

[@UnclePete]

Most of mine were free lol

[@ReadySetRum]

I love this, I have only seen other youtubers make the big cooler clear ice. Your method is so much better. I have to try this!

[@UnclePete]

Yeah man! its is CHEAP! and easy!

[@Barprints]

Cheap, easy and effective wins every time!

[@BigTrainBuff]

Gotta try this one. Thanks a million.

[@UnclePete]

You bet!

[@alsjka]

Perfect my freezer is alway full ... this is a good small version....

[@UnclePete]

Great 👍 I'm glad I could help!

[@Barprints]

This video just saved many people from buying expensive, ineffective crap!

[@libbyd1001]

Brilliant!

[@UnclePete]

Thanks!

[@jcloiseau]

It's nice but I prefer using those promotional thermos cups / mugs I get everywhere as I get the same result and I don't have to fiddle with plastic bottles and so. Besides the resulting block is slightly larger which fits my lowball glass better

[@UnclePete]

You do you!

[@jcloiseau]

@@UnclePete you know what, I gave it a shot. It's in the freezer now. I'm curious how it will turn out :)

[@pde442]

Good video

[@UnclePete]

Glad you enjoyed

[@RUCROCK1]

Love simplicity of it thanks for sharing. 🙏🏾😌Be Safe;-).

[@UnclePete]

Same to you!

[@KrazyKajun602]

what about a double freeze and would it work.? do the chest freeze, remove the bottom section with the water and impurities. melt the clear portion and then refreeze this into molds.

[@UnclePete]

That doesn't work. Air re-infuses into the water as soon as it melts.

[@ian_at_iansvo]

Nice! And I can still make a cube if I want with a little extra work

[@UnclePete]

Hey that's true! never do that, but you could! LOL

[@chileshebowa4212]

I'm going to try this with my travel mug since it's insulated, hope it doesn't break! 🤞

[@UnclePete]

It won't break. You might have trouble if there is a lip on the mug. try to find one with straight sides. good luck!

[@chileshebowa4212]

@@UnclePete thanks!

[@matthewlockhart6243]

We call them “stubbie holders” here in Australia. But friggin genius

[@UnclePete]

I've heard that! both names seem a little weird, but thanks!

[@Dmaster2k]

The reason the ice is fracturing when you score it is because you're putting a lot of pressure onto the knife while you're sawing. Let the knife do the work, don't press down hard, just keep it in contact with the ice.

[@UnclePete]

Luckily I have a better way

[@exclamator]

Love it!

[@UnclePete]

Thanks!

[@BillSimmon]

Burlington cameo at the end!

[@UnclePete]

Yeah! Those birds were standing on the ice, so I thought it was appropriate

[@madamerosario]

its difficult to get even, square cuts. start with the knife at a gentle angle, and cut into the corner of the ice facing you. This this initial corner groove will help keep the knife straight. Gently saw and slowly lower the knife so it's flat against the ice and continuing sawing along the face of the ice to make our score line. We want to avoid introducing too many microfractures at the beginning--cutting ice is like cutting glass--so it's better to let the knife do the work than pressing too hard. Once a score line is established, dig the knife into the corners/edges of the ice to cut them deeper. Rotate the ice and use the deeper grooves on the corner to transfer the score line to another side of the ice. Repeat around the whole perimeter of the ice block, creating one continuous score line. This is how you cut large (2.5"+) blocks of ice. For smaller pieces, one score line on one face is sufficient. The larger the piece of ice, the deeper your score line should be. Once the score line is even and square around the piece of ice, place the knife in the groove and gently hammer it into place, feeling until the knife is securely seated in the groove with full contact in the ice, almost like it's stuck. With the knife anchored in the groove, hammer slightly harder at even intervals along the knife until the score line cracks the ice all the way through. The technique of transferring scorelines from face to face is used in wood working. Starting cuts using the corner of the wood is also a common technique. The dado or recess left in the ice at the corner is easy to make, and establishes a flat "fence" for the knife to ride along, making it easier to cut a straight score line across the face.

[@UnclePete]

You know cylinders don't have corners or edges right?

[@madamerosario]

Uncle Pete's Cocktail Shop sorry talking about a block of ice :)

[@agecali7893]

@@madamerosario lmaaooooo

[@AxUnderground]

almost 1K🎉🎉🎉

[@UnclePete]

Wheee!!

[@patknight-zb4nt]

Try putting the knife in hot water and melt through the ice, you won't break it.

[@UnclePete]

Thats a good idea!

[@cs512tr]

i do the cooler method but leave it in for 22hrs at -16 in the freezer, this generates a block approx 3-4cm thick and it slices or splits quite nicely i tried making thicker but it usually fractures and it can be inconsistent for me

[@UnclePete]

Sounds great!

[@carltaylor1497]

I wonder if this would work with my already insulated Contigo cups? Will give it a try.

[@UnclePete]

I Don't know what those are, but if they are straight sided it might work.

[@deswheeler]

Steve the Bartender sent me.

[@UnclePete]

Tell him I said hi!

[@harold7239]

You save me $40 buck! Thanks.

[@UnclePete]

yeah man! ice is cheap!

[@johnbailey520]

Buhhrilliant!

[@UnclePete]

Thanks!

[@johnbailey520]

@@UnclePete Ha, first attempt at this a total fail. Only 1/2 inch clear ice. Not giving up on the method but need to improve. 👍

[@UnclePete]

@@johnbailey520 Oh shit! It works I swear! lol find a better coozie maybe?

[@johnbailey520]

Then my son informed me he had added salt to the distilled water I was trying in some silicon ice molds. Ice ain't my game I reckon... Ha! At least no cocktails were harmed.

[@ranfuso]

I suggest incorporating super dope Elegant Bachelor tunes into your next video.

[@UnclePete]

Well, thats not a bad idea.

[@damightyshabba439]

OK, so I'm an idiot asking an idiot question - sorry... but assuming you are successful in making said clear ice, does it stay clear in storage? Or does it need to be used straight away? I don't run a bar or anything, but my parents are getting on and not well - This might be their last summer... I'm going to try and make it a bit special... little touches like over sized clear ice in their drinks.. yeah, they'll like that... So do I batch-prepare or do a small batch per day?

[@UnclePete]

Good question, It stays clear, you can make ahead, no problem!

[@loladancer]

My cozy/bottle ice always comes out 2/3 cloudy?? Do I need to place it anywhere specific in the freezer to get 2/3 clear likes your come out??

[@UnclePete]

the bottom will be cloudy, cut that bit off, but try to keep it in the middle of the freezer, that might help

[@wild-radio7373]

🥰👍

[@UnclePete]

🙏🏻🧊

[@justinmcvay5560]

Styrofoam cup?

[@UnclePete]

Not sure that would provide enough insulation, but give it a try!

[@eswnl1]

If you use a square bottle you can get cubes instead.

[@UnclePete]

That’s true, square bottles are harder to come by and they are usually have rounded corners which is less appealing

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

you have to let the ice sit a bit before you start carving.

[@UnclePete]

I did

[@5part4]

What if you put the bottle cut open in the actual cooler so it's cylinder shape

[@UnclePete]

Isn’t that what I did?

[@5part4]

Nope at 2:10 you added some other coozie insulation circle padding. I mean like get the cut out bottle filling it with water and let it cool and freeze inside the cooler without them padding circle things lol

[@UnclePete]

you could do that, if you had room in your freezer for a cooler. This method takes up a lot less space than a cooler. Cheers!

[@nolandda]

Geometry pedant alert: A cylinder is a perfectly great shape. It just isn't a platonic solid. 🤓

[@UnclePete]

Oh yeah I realized that later. I'm dumb. Thanks for watching to the end though!

[@clear_ice_user-ds6ck8rr6n]

ペットボトルの径の氷が入る、相当大きなグラスなんですね。

[@UnclePete]

Hmm

[@5part4]

Or 4:30 did you not use that special insultation padding ?

[@UnclePete]

I don't understand the question.

[@5part4]

@@UnclePete nevermind lol. I will just try it myself and see if it works. Basically the smart bottle did you put it directly in the cooler without any added insultation

[@UnclePete]

I put the water bottle into a coozie, fill with water and put that whole thing into the freezer. The coozie provides the insulation, to create the directional freezing, which goves you the clear ice. I'm not using a cooler, but you could use a cooler and put froms in there to make clear shapes. I do that with candle molds here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2nampydaLagbq8 would also work with water bottles. Have fun!

[@hkschubert9938]

I thought you need to use boiling distilled water ?!

[@UnclePete]

No! You absolutely do not need that.

[@jamesstark1750]

score all the way around to get a better cube shape.

[@UnclePete]

Yeah that only works about half the time for me. Mostly they cleave pretty easily.

[@christoslefkimiotis9889]

All the other videos of "making clear ice at home" ended up with a big wastage of water....that sadly no one seems to care or highlight, at least your method looks like a zero water wastage method (an a rather clever I might say).

[@UnclePete]

I do let mine freeze solid, which means I can use the cloudy bits for crushed ice, or shaking. Thanks for your comment! Welcome aboard!

[@davidgibson6909]

Why coozie?

[@UnclePete]

what do you mean?

[@davidgibson6909]

Why put in a coozie to freeze?

[@UnclePete]

For directional freezing. So that it will freeze from the top down and come out clear. Was that not clear from the video?

[@davidgibson6909]

Well it wasn't stated, so no I guess not. I wouldn't have asked if it were clearly stated. Thanks for the tips.

[@UnclePete]

If you subscribe, I will poorly explain lots of other stuff! LOL