Lód w kostkach
Description
Ice cubes are transparent or slightly cloudy pieces of frozen water with a cool, neutral taste and smooth texture. The appearance can vary depending on the quality of the water and the freezing method: crystal-clear cubes are made from boiled or filtered water that is frozen slowly, while cloudiness results from air bubbles and dissolved minerals. Nutritionally, ice cubes provide virtually no calories, proteins, fats, or carbohydrates; their main value lies in hydration and lowering the temperature of drinks and dishes. The use of ice cubes also offers therapeutic benefits, such as reducing swelling and locally cooling wounds or injuries, and cubes made from mineral water may contribute trace amounts of minerals. In the kitchen, ice cubes are used to chill drinks, cocktails, smoothies, and to create ice baths for instantly halting the cooking process of vegetables, cooling soups, or preparing cold desserts and plating dishes. To maintain cleanliness and flavor, store ice in an airtight container or bag in the freezer, use filtered water for better clarity, and avoid refreezing thawed cubes.