When choosing ice for a drink, which form is typically best for maintaining temperature while reducing dilution?

• A. Large clear cubes or sphere ice
• B. Crushed ice
• C. No ice
• D. Ice pellets

Answer: (A)

Melting rate controls how much a drink gets diluted as it sits in ice. Large blocks or spheres have less surface area relative to their volume, so they absorb heat and melt more slowly, keeping the drink cold longer with less dilution. Clear ice tends to melt slower than cloudy ice because it has fewer air pockets and impurities that create pathways for melting, further reducing dilution. In contrast, crushed ice, ice pellets, or any small fragmented ice have a large surface area and melt quickly, dumping more water into the drink and cooling it faster but diluting it more. So the best choice for keeping the drink cold while minimizing dilution is large clear ice.