Why do our ice balls keep breaking in half
1135038
I have not experience any issues. I recently purchase mine and they have been fine
1135039
I use only purified water and don't overfill the molds. It puts too much pressure on the ice balls. Hope this helps.
1135040
I have had problems with this brand. The ice balls break, have a ridge around the entire ball or a little nipple at the top where the hole is. I have tried everything and they just don't come out right, I am not satisfied with this product. I love the Tovolo brand, they always come out great, easier to fill and get out of the mold and they are a tad bit larger which I really like.
1135041
if you use very hot water they are more clear than foggy,wich makes them stronger
1135042
Not sure what to tell you. Maybe you are not getting the two halves pushed together firmly before you fill them. I have had a tiny ridge in the middle of the ball. I tend to underfill rather than over fill. I also boil and then cool the water before I fill them so they are more clear.
1135043
It is most likely the fact that you don't let the ice balls "thaw" and stabilize for a few minutes at room temperature. This is critical. Otherwise the quick change in temperature will fracture the ice ball. Think of it as putting a cold non pyrex dish into a 500 degree oven. Should do the trick.
63717
Most of the time, mine seem to crack when they freeze too fast. I use hot water to fill molds, then place the molds into a small soft cooler which is then closed and placed into the freezer. The combination of the hot water and extra insulation slows down the freezing process. The results wont be perfect, but it vastly improved the quality of my ice spheres.
2092451
They are so easy! There's a hole in the top where you fill with water. When it's frozen, you let set on the counter for 3-5 minutes and pull the 2 spheres apart and voila, a new ice ball. I have heard using very hot or boiling water with produce clear ice. I have never tried it though, a friend told me it works.
1551294
My personal experience is that if you refrigerate them overnight and THEN freeze, they do not break. If you put room temp foods (leftovers or something) in them and put them straight into the freezer, then they DO break. Even if you give them space to expand.
219083
No. This is dangerous and will break apart as you use it if you attempt to crush ice.
1349313
The ice is larger chunks not shaved, you can get pieces as large as a quarter (most pieces range from 1/8" to 1/2" in diameter with the tiny pieces from the crushing process mixed in.) But before buying be sure to read all of the problems with the thing breaking, it is not a reliable product.
2015315
We had the same problem. The bowl was frozen solid when we started but ice cream never firmed up to a scoopable consistency... and we used the heavy cream, not half and half.
939878
Yes, I always do this. But half ice and half liquid and no problems after using it for one year or so.
1147639
I have NO idea because once I filled them up and froze them, none of us can open or take it apart, so it sits in my freezer and and i use it for an icepack!!! Cute idea but it does not work, never could use it as ice cubs.
1667807
Sounds as you have the crushed ice setting in therrefrigertor. The unit makes then solid if it does not something is sticking.
861860
My ice maker produces the half moon shaped cubes. I drop them in flat side facing me and vertically and it works great! Every now and then I have to jiggle it if they get stuck (no big deal) I love this machine!!
467307
My daughter said the kids push down the top until ice is desired consistency. Apparently pushing down the top is the way to get it to operate. This is still working after at least 2 1/5 years of teenage boys.
2205030
yes, they can be broken in-two. they are very big and hard to swallow if not broken....may even want to crush them.
876996
1 rinse 2 fill bottom half almost full. 3 press top half into bottom half gently. 4 slowly fill spheres through the small holes if needed. 5 pick it up keeping it level and cover small holes with fingers and spill excess water. 6 place on level surface in freezer. 7 when removing frozen ice balls, rinse first to make removal easier.
1996461
I've tried freezing 7 ounces. Not a problem freezing without bursting. You can try freezing them upright though it will take more space than laying them flat.
893828
That happens to me too sometimes. I think if its not sealed properly or if there's any residual ice left in the seal, it'll crack.
1321142
I make sure that the 2 halves are together and fill through the hole at the top. I leave about a 1/2 inch free at the top for expansion. I let them freeze for approx. 4-6 hours.