Ice Storage

[Captain Goddammit]

Once again I've still got a few bags of ice leftover from this year's burn. I'm worried that my "frost free" fridge's freezer will slowly disintegrate them before next August.
How can I save them? I don't wanna fork out another $3 or $4 to replace them next year.

[AntiM]

Make tasty iced beverages and consume them. Urinate. Collect the urine and process it back into clean water, then refreeze into ice. Repeat the process until August.

[Meat Hunter]

I use my FoodSaver to vacuum pack my ice. The vacuum seal prevents the ice from evaporating while the ice is stored in the freezer.

When I use the vacuum packaged ice in my cooler; after it melts, I have a sealed bag of potable water.

[TT120]

Dry ice will keep those bags perfect till next year.....

[Meat Hunter]

Sometimes, I make my own ice by vacuum packaging tap water and freezing the plastic bag(s). This way, I do not have to worry about the water soaking meats, breads, vegetables, etc.

The bag can be refrozen or the contents can be used as potable water.

[Ratty]

That's what zip-locks are for. (Pardon the bad grammer.)

[ygmir]

I freeze square plastic bottles. Ice, then drinking water. stack and pack nicely,they don't "dessicate" in the freezer.........of course, they're not cubes for drinks......

[Captain Goddammit]

You mean you make your own ice?

[ygmir]

You mean you make your own ice?

nope, I freeze empty bottles, so when I pour drinking water in them it cools off for 30 seconds. they are much lighter empty.

[BBadger]

According to this, take water, and freeze it slowly at just below freezing (~30F/-1C). That way the crystals will form slowly and produce very clear, dense ice. This should save you room and give you better ice.

Totally pro ice skillz.

[GreyCoyote]

Hint: For ultra clear ice, boil the water for a few minutes before returning it to the container for freezing. Creates very low-oxygen/nitrogen ice that freezes perfectly clear. Or you can vacuum degas it. Either way, its what the ice sculpture guys do to get those amazingly clear ice blocks.

[BBadger]

I've read about the boiling water too, though the article does address that as well: boiling does removed dissolved gas in the water, but as the ice is forming it also absorbs oxygen in the process. I've also read that you double boil the water for exceptionally clear ice, but I'm not sure if that's been proven to be better than boiling once. From what I've read about making tea is that you want to have it boiled only once from cool water sources instead of room-temp water. This is supposedly to keep more dissolved oxygen in the water. However, the boiled water ought to have no dissolved gasses in it anyway; so I'm kind of skeptical.

[EspressoDude]

the boiled water has dissolved steam in it. If you boil it twice it will have two times as much dissolved steam.

You might want to try triple distilled water that has been de-ionized in a sustainable, enviro friendly, green, recycling, eco-pure, radon free system that has not been used to process peanuts. And used polished ice trays.

[trilobyte]

I'm giving this a nudge to Keeping Cool, since I guess that'd be a better fit for long term ice storage?

I say use them for your next holiday or new year's party (or bring them to the next burner party you attend). Aside from whether or not they'll survive that long in the freezer at home, you'll spend more on energy than you saved by bringing the bags back. Just think about the added smile factor you'd get from friends when you tell them they've got ice cubes from Burning Man in their drink.

[GreyCoyote]

the boiled water has dissolved steam in it. If you boil it twice it will have two times as much dissolved steam.

You might want to try triple distilled water that has been de-ionized in a sustainable, enviro friendly, green, recycling, eco-pure, radon free system that has not been used to process peanuts. And used polished ice trays.

[FossaFerox]

But is it gluten free?

[chuckularone]

But is it gluten free?

Yes, please! I NEED gluten free ice!

[TT120]

And no animal testing.