Alright, so let’s talk about these “ice cube hats.” Sounds a bit daft, doesn’t it? But stick with me. I got pretty deep into this whole ice thing a while back, mostly ’cause I was sick and tired of my drinks turning into sad, watery messes in like, ten minutes.
My Quest for Better Ice
It all started pretty simply. I just wanted ice that lasted longer. You know how it is, you make a nice drink, and poof, it’s diluted before you even get comfy. I began looking around, and man, there’s a whole world of ice out there. Who knew? Most of what I found online talked about “gourmet” ice and all that jazz. Fancy shapes, clear ice, the works.
Then I kept seeing mentions of these “top hat” ice cubes. Apparently, some company called Hoshizaki makes these professional machines that churn out these perfect, clear, top-hat-shaped bits of ice. They said these things were like, 7/8 of an inch across and an inch tall. The big deal was they were supposed to melt super slow and look good. Okay, “elegant appearance” they called it. For my everyday drink? Maybe a bit much, I thought.
Trying to Make My Own “Hats” (Sort Of)
Now, I wasn’t about to go out and buy some industrial ice machine. That’s just crazy money. So, I thought, how can I get something similar at home? I started looking at ice cube trays. It’s a jungle out there, let me tell you. I saw some folks raving about the PHINOX Ice Cube Tray With Lid and Bin, which sounded practical. Then there were silicone ones, like the W&P Peak Silicone Everyday Ice Tray, also with a lid. Lids are good, stops the ice from tasting like last week’s leftovers, which, let’s be honest, happens way too often. That stale freezer taste? Horrible.
My main goal became finding something that made larger, denser cubes. Forget the tiny, quick-melting ones. I read that full cube ice is better because it’s bigger and melts slower. Makes sense, right? More ice, less surface area exposed compared to a bunch of small bits. So, that was my new focus.
- First, I tried just using bigger square trays. Definitely an improvement over the crescent moons my freezer used to spit out.
- Then I got curious about that “top hat” shape. Could I find a tray for that? Not easily, not for home use anyway, that didn’t cost an arm and a leg or look like a cheap gimmick.
- I learned that the “top hat” ice is usually crystal clear too. And getting clear ice at home is a whole other ball game. It involves directional freezing, boiling water, all sorts of tricks. Seemed like a lot of faff.
What I Settled On and What I Reckon
So, did I end up with perfect little ice cube hats? Nah, not really. But the whole process got me to really think about ice. I realized that too often, ice is an afterthought, just something you grab without thinking. But good ice can make a real difference.
I ended up getting a couple of those silicone trays that make fairly large, chunky cubes. They’re not exactly “top hats,” but they melt way slower. And I started paying more attention to the water I use. Makes a difference, believe it or not.
My takeaway? The “top hat” specific shape is probably more for fancy bars and restaurants trying to impress. For home, just focus on getting a tray that makes decent-sized, solid cubes. And use a lid! That simple step alone improved things massively. It’s about getting that maximum cooling without your drink turning into a puddle too quickly. So, yeah, my ice game is stronger now, even without the fancy hats.
