I'll admit that I've purchased my fair share of ice molds that are supposed to create clear ice cubes or spheres like the best bars and restaurants use. They all work on the science of freezing water - water starts freezing from the top down - that's why frozen lakes have clear ice on the top with trapped air in the lower layers of the ice. And the slower it freezes, the more likely the top ice is very clear without any trapped air or gases. That's why these contraptions you can purchase to make these clear ice cubes/spheres all have two things in common. They are semi-insulated which facilitates a slower freeze and the upper mold has also has a hole that allows dissolved gases in the water to be pushed out of the mold itself then freeze in the lower chamber so you end up with a clear cube/sphere in the mold and another ice that the lower half that looks like any other ice particle with the frozen air within...
Why do you need clear ice cubes/spheres anyway? Other than looking cool and professional, they melt at a slower rate so that your cocktail doesn't overly dilute by your second sip...
The issue is that these molds because of the insulation and secondary lower chamber are very large. The smallest molds are usually the size of a volleyball. Some are also very long over a foot and as thick as a softball so you have to create a lot of space in your freezer. To make matters worse, some of the upper ice molds fit too snuggly into the insulated chamber so that once the ice is frozen, takes a lot of cussing to release the newly created cube...
Until I found the Longzon ice sphere maker on Amazon... They are four individual ice molds so each mold is only the size of a large cup making it easier to fit in an already packed freezer. The deep cup also helps to make sure that all dissolved gases are pushed to the secondary lower chamber - I've purchased ice molds that aren't as deep so that the bottom of the cube/sphere still has frozen gasses within. And as the water freezes, it helps to push the ice mold out of the insulated container so that the only part stuck in the chamber is the bottom which I simply allow to melt a little until it plops out and use it for my ice water...
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