Ice Cubes That Don't Melt — Researchers Develop 'Jelly Ice Cubes' That Are Sustainable And Don't Grow Mold Either

The cooling cubes, dubbed "jelly ice cubes" by the researchers, are free from plastic, do not melt, have anti-microbial properties, and prevent cross-contamination.

Representational image (Source: Getty)

New Delhi: Can you imagine an ice cube that neither melts nor grows mold? Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have developed a new type of cooling cube that can revolutionise cooling and shipping of food, while keeping it fresh, without being dependent on conventional cooling methods, such as traditional cooling packs. 

The research was recently published in the American Chemical Society's journal, Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. The researchers filed a patent for the design and concept in July.

The cooling cubes, dubbed "jelly ice cubes" by the researchers, are free from plastic, do not melt, have anti-microbial properties, and prevent cross-contamination, the study stated.

Gang Sun, one of the authors of the study, said the researchers wondered if they could synthesise a so-called solid ice that serves as a cooling medium and is reusable, according to a statement by the University of California, Davis. This idea is indeed path-breaking because when ice is made from just water, it melts, and is not reusable. Moreover, the jelly ice cubes do not grow mold, the study said.

The cooling cubes developed by the researchers contain more than 90 per cent water, and other components to retain and stabilise the structure, the study stated. Another interesting characteristic of the cooling cubes is that they change colours depending on temperature. The cubes are soft to touch like a gelatin dessert, the study said.

Reusable And Flexible Cooling Cubes

The cubes are reusable, and can be designed or cut to any shape and size required, said Jihan Zou, one of the researchers, according to the statement. 

He added that one can use the jelly ice cube for 13 hours for cooling, and also collect it, rinse it with water, and put it in the freezer to re-freeze it for the next use. 

Luxin Wang, a researcher from the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, said they wanted to make sure the cube is sustainable. 

Wang saw that a large amount of ice used at fish-processing plants, and that meltwater can spread a lot of cross-contamination among products or down the drain, according to the statement. This is what encouraged the researchers to work on the coolant cubes, the statement said. 

Wang said the amount of ice used by fish-processing sites is massive, and that it is important to control the pathogens. Also, plastic ice packs used with school lunches for kids, and those with shipping packages often acquire mold. 

The newly developed ice cubes can withstand up to 22 pounds of weight, which is almost 10 kilograms, without being deformed, the study said. The cubes can be reused a dozen times, and can be disposed of in the trash or with yard waste. A quick wash with water or diluted bleach is sufficient to clean the cubes, the study stated.

Alternative To Ice?

The jelly ice cubes serve as a good alternative to traditional ice, and have the potential to reduce water consumption and environmental impact, the study said. The cubes offer stable temperatures to reduce food spoilage, and can be ideal for companies which prepare meals, and for shipping businesses and food producers who are required to keep food items cold.

Water consumption in the food supply chain, and food waste can be greatly reduced by using these jelly ice cubes. Microbial contaminations can also be controlled, the study said.