We routinely receive inquiries from the community on freezing different objects into Klaris cubes. This is a complex topic addressed in 3 different blog posts.  

• Part #1 How do the professionals do it?  
• Part #2 What have people tried at home? 
• Part #3 How can the Klaris Ice Maker be used? 

In this post we focus on what people have tried at home. The most notable methods use silicone molds or a modification of the cooler method for making clear cubes, which was discussed in a previous blog post. 

Silicone molds 

Silicone molds make it easy and accessible to embed objects like strawberries, kiwi, lemons, and orange slices into cubes. These ice cubes are typically smaller in size and do not freeze crystal clear. To make a tray of these cubes, slice fruit into small pieces that fit into the silicone mold. Fill remaining void space with water then place in freezer for 12-24 hours. 

The photo shows a variety of herbs and fruits frozen into cubes. Even without the clarity of Klaris craft ice cubes these are tasty demonstrations of how to further enhance a craft cocktail experience.  

 Photo credit to The Produce Moms

Infused cubes with this method became extremely popular on Tik Tok in 2022. The movement dubbed “Ice Tok” involved people showing off their collection of cubes stocked in the freezer. One of the most popular videos during this time was posted by @kaelimaee and had over 14 million views! 

Cooler Method 

To achieve better ice clarity and/or freeze larger objects, people have turned to a modified version of the cooler method. 

This method uses an insulated cooler, fishing line and 12” rigid ruler. To make cubes, loop an end of the line around the object to be frozen into the cube. Fix the other end of the line around the rigid ruler. Depending on the size of the object a second line and loop fixed to the ruler may be required. The length of the line should allow the object to be suspended about halfway in the cooler. See the corresponding figures below for additional guidance. 

Next, fill the insulated cooler with water but leave some space at the top to account for ice expansion and to prevent spilling water. Place the insulated cooler into the freezer for 2-3 days. Once the ice has formed, remove the cooler from the freezer, turn it upside down and let it thaw slightly to remove the large block of ice. Once removed from the insulated cooler, turn the block over to expose the line and ruler. Next, cut one end of the line and pull on the other to remove it from the ice block. Using a serrated knife, the block can be shaved to the desired shape and to remove cloudy areas. 

One influencer we have enjoyed following is Vlad the Slick Bartender. He has made an informative video on how he freezes a large bottle into a block of ice using the modified cooler method. Take a look! 

Photo credit to Vlad the Slick Bartender

Stay tuned next week for our final segment of the 3 part blog series as we show you how to freeze objects into ice using your Klaris ice maker.