We often have unexpected company and always like to serve drinks (non-alcoholic and also beer). What’s the best way to chill beverages quickly?
Answer
155
7-12-11
Mrs FF says:
While you can always use ice in sodas and juices, not everyone likes their drinks to get watery — not to mention the fact that most people don’t have a freezer full of ice on hand.
Things are getting chilly
To get a quick chill without the watery extras, think back to those hand-cranked ice cream makers. They use a combination of ice, cold water and a bit of salt. (Plain old cheap table salt will work fine — you don’t need rock salt.) Saltwater has a lower freezing point than regular water, so helps keep the water frigid without actually freezing. You need only about a tablespoon of salt for every quart of icy water.
Put the still-sealed beverages in the ice bath and rotate them gently to allow the warm fluid within contact with the cool walls of the bottle, can juice box or juice bag. You will only need a few minutes to chill each can or bottle.
There are, however, a few problems with this process. One, you end up with salt water on the cans or bottles. You can avoid this by bagging the beverage (but this adds another layer of insulation to the beverage) or simply rinse off the drink container and pour the beverage into a glass. Secondly, an extra chill (below normal freezing point) may cause carbonated beverages — including beer — to fizz a lot, so be aware of that when opening those cans and bottles.
A party plan
If you have some room, your best bet would be to keep several bottles chilling in the refrigerator, and some juice boxes in the freezer. That way, as soon as your guests arrive, you can pass those out while you chill some more in icy water. Just don’t forget to restock your fridge and freezer right away and refill those ice trays. That way, if a short visit turns into an all-day event, you will be able to serve up cool drinks for hours and hours.
This answer was adapted from an article Mrs FF wrote for ChefMom.com in November 2001, which is no longer online.
While you can always use ice in sodas and juices, not everyone likes their drinks to get watery — not to mention the fact that most people don’t have a freezer full of ice on hand.
Things are getting chilly
To get a quick chill without the watery extras, think back to those hand-cranked ice cream makers. They use a combination of ice, cold water and a bit of salt. (Plain old cheap table salt will work fine — you don’t need rock salt.) Saltwater has a lower freezing point than regular water, so helps keep the water frigid without actually freezing. You need only about a tablespoon of salt for every quart of icy water.
There are, however, a few problems with this process. One, you end up with salt water on the cans or bottles. You can avoid this by bagging the beverage (but this adds another layer of insulation to the beverage) or simply rinse off the drink container and pour the beverage into a glass. Secondly, an extra chill (below normal freezing point) may cause carbonated beverages — including beer — to fizz a lot, so be aware of that when opening those cans and bottles.
A party plan
If you have some room, your best bet would be to keep several bottles chilling in the refrigerator, and some juice boxes in the freezer. That way, as soon as your guests arrive, you can pass those out while you chill some more in icy water. Just don’t forget to restock your fridge and freezer right away and refill those ice trays. That way, if a short visit turns into an all-day event, you will be able to serve up cool drinks for hours and hours.
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