Ice cubes are one of the best ways of cooling food instantly. It’s common for people to use reusable ice cubes because they eliminate exposure to bacteria.
This is because the reusable ice cubes can be rewashed, promising a healthy experience while making your drinks colder.
These ice cubes are similar to regular ice cubes, but they can be cleaned for later use and re-frozen. The best thing about reusable ice cubes is that they don’t dilute the drinks and are cost-efficient.
However, it can be challenging to find these ice cubes, which is why we are sharing some ice cube substitutes with you!
Ice Cube Substitutes
- Stone Ice Cubes
Stone ice cubes are one of the most innovative ways of cooling beverages and drinks without diluting the drinks.
The stone ice cubes have to be kept in the freezer for a few hours to freeze, and they will be ready to use. Also, they don’t melt at all.
The stone ice cubes take around two to four hours to freeze. In addition, they are usually made from solid granite material, which makes a smooth addition to drinks.
- Stainless Steel Ice Cubes
The stainless steel ice cubes are the premium option, but they have to be rinsed properly before freezing to make sure no bacteria isn’t added to the drinks.
It’s recommended that you dry the steel ice cubes and keep them in the freezer for two to three hours. You can place these cold cubes in a glass and pour a beverage from the top.
Once you are done using them, rinse and dry them again before freezing. To be honest, the stainless steel ice cubes only offer a slight chill – it lowers the temperature by eight to fifteen degrees.
However, make sure that stainless steel ice cubes are kept out of reach of kids because they can be a choking hazard.
- Granite Sipping Stones
The granite sipping stones are another choice and have a beneficial design. These are the freezable sipping stones that allow the users to cool down the beverages without diluting the flavor or losing the fizz.
The granite sipping stones have a smooth edge and need to be stored for only twenty minutes in a freezer – yes, they chill up pretty quickly.
In most cases, the granite stones are sold in a set of ten and are perfect for people who like Nordic aesthetics.
They are safer as compared to regular ice cubes because there is no local tap water in them. In addition, the granite cubes are heavy, so they sit on the bottom of the drink, and you won’t have to navigate them.
- Whiskey Stone
The whiskey stones are commonly called whiskey rocks and are perfect for people who need something reusable. It’s also a hassle-free option as they are chilled quickly and won’t change the flavor.
The whiskey stones are made from small cubes or stones of non-porous material. They are available in various sizes, so you can find them according to the glass’s size.
- Soapstone Cubes
There are reusable ice cubes made from soapstone material – it is a soft stone that’s shaped into squares but doesn’t have sharp edges.
The soapstone cubes have to be frozen for a few hours, so just put them in the freezer and drop them into the glass. However, they don’t keep the drinks cool/chill for too long.
The cubes can retain the heat, which means the drink will be back to room temperature, so drink fast. Also, they must be kept in the freezer for at least four hours.
- Vacuum-Insulated Bottle
The vacuum-insulated bottles are an apt way of keeping the drinks cool and can be used to protect the liquids from external temperature – it makes sure the drinks are always cold to drink.
However, it’s recommended that you pour chilled drinks or beverages. The best thing about these bottles is that they are durable and can be used to keep the drinks warm as well.
That’s because the multiple insulation layers on the bottle help maintain the temperature.
- Plastic Cubes
If you want to stick to using reusable ice cubes, you can also opt for plastic cubes. The plastic cubes are available at an affordable price and can be purchased from grocery stores.
The plastic cubes are filled with gel, which can be re-frozen multiple times but make sure you wash the plastic cubes before adding them to the drink.
The plastic cubes are available in various shapes and colors. Also, it’s recommended that you purchase plastic ice cubes made from BPA-free plastic to protect yourself from chemicals.
Additional Tips To Keep Your Drinks Cool Without Ice Cubes
We have already mentioned various substitutes for ice cubes. However, there are various other tips that you can try to keep the drinks cool, even if you don’t have ice cubes, such as;
- Wrap the drinks in a damp paper towel, and you’ve to cover the entire glass or bottle. Now, put this wrapped bottle in a freeze for at least five minutes or until the paper towel becomes hard
- The second option is to use cold cups. For this purpose, you have to put the cup or glass in the freezer until it becomes cold (freeze it until dew starts to come off on the fingers) and then use this cup to pour the drink
- Use ice cream in the cocktails instead of ice cubes
- Use frozen or cold fruit to make sure the drink is chilled and has an enhanced flavor as well. For this purpose, you can cut the fruit into cubes and freeze them or purchase the frozen fruit
- If possible, the best option is to pre-chill your drinks rather than using ice. It’s not only easy but eliminates the need to use ice cubes as well
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that it’s not that hard to find substitutes for ice cubes. We have shared some reusable ice cube options as well as additional tips to keep the drinks chill without ice.