High confidence
Ice pick
A sharp steel spike, single or with several tines, for splitting a block of ice into cubes or chipping it to shape.
What it's for: Breaking down large blocks of clear ice.
What it changes in the drink
Nothing directly. It turns a block of ice into cubes or chunks; what the ice does in the drink depends on their size.
Do you need one? Specialist
Only if you freeze clear-ice blocks. Otherwise it is a sharp object with no job.
- Good substitute
- A serrated bread knife: score a line, set the blade in it, and tap the spine with a wooden spoon.
- Poor substitute: a screwdriver or a skewer
- No guard and no grip; they slip off wet ice towards your hand.
Safety
- Keep the hand holding the ice away from the line of the pick, and work on a towel so the block cannot skid.
- Never use it towards yourself or with children around.
- Work on a folded towel on a stable surface, keep the hand holding the ice behind the line of the pick, and let ice temper for a few minutes first: freezer-cold ice shatters unpredictably.
Splitting a block
- Let the block sit out for five to ten minutes until it stops crackling and the surface looks wet.
- Score a line across it with a knife, on a folded towel on a stable board.
- Set the tip in the line and tap; the block splits along the scored line.
Common mistakes
- Working on freezer-cold ice. It shatters in unpredictable directions; let it temper first.
Cleaning and care
Dry it, guard the point, and store it out of reach.
What to look for
A guarded tip for storage and a handle that does not slip when wet.