Buzz
Making shaved ice is simple when you have the right equipment. There's no need to buy pre-shaved ice when you're ready to mix up a chilled mint julep or mojito. Just grab some ice from the freezer and place it in a blender, a multi-purpose grinder, or even a crushed ice bag or stainless steel shaker, and blend it until it's finely crushed!
Steps
Use a multi-functional blender or regular blender
Place a handful of ice cubes from the freezer into your blender or multi-purpose grinder. Take ice cubes or small pieces of ice from the freezer and put them in the multi-purpose grinder or food blender. Simply take the amount you need, or a bit more if you plan to store it in the freezer for later use.
- It's best to use ice pieces that are similar in size for better results.
Blend the ice until you achieve the desired consistency. Secure the lid tightly on your blender or multi-purpose grinder. Press the “pulse” button to crush the ice in short bursts until there are no large ice chunks left.
- If your blender or grinder doesn’t have a “pulse” function, simply run the machine on its highest speed for short intervals.
Tip: Stop blending once there are no pieces of ice larger than 0.6–1.3 cm in diameter.
Pour the crushed ice into a strainer to remove excess water. The heat from the blender or multi-purpose grinder's motor will cause some of the ice to melt. Straining the ice helps keep your drink from becoming too watery.
- If you don’t have a strainer, you can place an object over the blender’s opening to block the ice, then carefully pour out the water.
Use the crushed ice immediately or store it in a bag in the freezer. Place any leftover crushed ice into a resealable plastic bag and store it in the freezer until needed. Try to prepare your drink as soon as possible, since crushed ice melts faster than regular ice cubes.
- When freezing crushed ice, some pieces may stick together, but you can easily break them apart by gently tapping the bag.
Use a crushed ice bag
Only take the ice out of the freezer when you're ready to crush it. The ice needs to be cold and dry for effective crushing. You can use any shape or size of ice cubes.
- However, ice will crush more easily when the pieces are of similar size.
- You will likely need more ice than you think, as crushed ice takes up more space than whole ice cubes. It’s better to grab twice the amount of ice you typically use for filling half a glass.
Place the ice into a crushed ice bag immediately and tightly seal the bag. A crushed ice bag is typically made from fabric and is used to break the ice into smaller pieces. Put the ice into the bag right after removing it from the freezer to prevent it from melting.
- You can buy crushed ice bags online or at local markets/supermarkets. Some stores even sell wooden mallets for crushing ice.
- The benefit of using a crushed ice bag is that the fabric absorbs the moisture, ensuring the ice remains dry and finely crushed.
Tip: If you don't have a crushed ice bag, you can use a clean, lint-free towel or a canvas cloth. Wrap the ice tightly in the towel or cloth to prevent it from spilling out while you crush it.
Place the crushed ice bag on a hard surface and secure the opening tightly. Choose a surface that won’t be damaged while you crush the ice. Hold the opening of the bag with your non-dominant hand so your dominant hand can crush the ice comfortably.
- You need to work quickly because the ice will begin to melt as soon as it's taken out of the freezer.
Crush the ice in the bag using a wooden mallet or any heavy object. Crushed ice bags are often sold with a wooden mallet to break the ice. You can also use other heavy kitchen tools, such as a rolling pin or a meat tenderizer, if you don't have a mallet.
- If you don't have any heavy kitchen tools, you can even use a regular hammer or a rubber mallet.
- If you don't have a fabric bag or towel, you can use a plastic bag. Just keep in mind that plastic bags don’t absorb moisture, are prone to tearing, and can make the process messier.
Stop once there are no more large ice chunks. Open the bag to check if there are any pieces larger than 0.6–1.3 cm in diameter. If you find any, tighten the bag’s opening and continue crushing until all large pieces are gone.
- The finer the ice is crushed, the faster it will melt into your drink. With practice, you'll know the perfect level of crush for your needs.
Crush the ice in a stainless steel shaker
Place enough ice to make one drink into the stainless steel shaker. Fill the shaker halfway with ice cubes. Only take ice out of the freezer and into the shaker when you're ready to prepare the drink.
- This method is ideal when you want to prepare a single drink. For cocktails, just pour the ingredients over the crushed ice.
Keep the shaker upright on a solid surface. Use your non-dominant hand to hold the shaker firmly on a stable surface, such as a table or countertop. Make sure the shaker is at a comfortable height for your crushing action.
- If you don't have a stainless steel shaker, you can also use a thick glass. Just make sure the glass is sturdy enough to withstand the crushing tool.
Use a sturdy crushing tool to break the ice until it reaches your desired texture. Hold the crushing tool with your dominant hand. Continue crushing the ice in the shaker until the ice is crushed to the ideal consistency for your drink.
- Both wooden and stainless steel crushing tools work well for mixing cocktails.
Tip: When preparing cocktails or other drinks, pour the mixture over the ice, seal the shaker, and shake vigorously to achieve a well-chilled and flavorful beverage.
