How to Cool a Hot Drink Quickly

Co-authored by Nathan Taylor

Last Updated: October 11, 2024

Have you ever wanted to drink something but it was too hot? These methods will help bring down the temperature. It is especially good for cooling down tea for people who don't like it too hot.

Method 1

Method 1 of 6:

Transferring Between Cups

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1
Take your drink and pour it from one cup to the other cup.
- If your cup goes higher, then more air will go through it, making it colder.
- Don't make your cup go too high, after pouring, it might bounce a few drops and land on your arms. It will burn!
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Method 2

Method 2 of 6:

Ice Cubes

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The ice should have cooled down your drink.

Method 3

Method 3 of 6:

Milk

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Method 4

Method 4 of 6:

Fanning the Drink

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The cool wind from the fan will cool down your drink.

Method 5

Method 5 of 6:

Blowing and Stirring

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Form your lips into an "O" shape and gently blow a steady stream of air across the surface of your hot drink. The cool air will reduce the temperature at the surface of the water.
As you blow, continually stir the drink with a teaspoon. This allows a greater volume of the hot drink to be cooled by the air.
Although you may feel a little silly doing it, the blowing and stirring method is actually one of the most effective ways to cool a hot drink. In fact, studies have shown that using this method can cool a hot drink by up to 11 degrees per minute!

Method 6

Method 6 of 6:

Ice and Salt

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Your drink will be cold in a matter of minutes.

Community Q&A

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Question

Are there other ways? Also, is it true that I can't have salt and ice in hot chocolate?

Community Answer

Pour into a metal tin and use step 6 before pouring into your cup. You could certainly add a little salt, if you wanted. Adding ice would make your hot cocoa watery, so that's not a good idea.

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Will hot water in a metal cup cool down faster or slower than hot water in a plastic cup?

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It will cool slower, as the metal in the cup will conduct the heat and keep it warmer longer.

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Could I put a hot milk cup in a cold water bowl to let it cool down?

Community Answer

Yes, but make sure the milk does not tip or spill out and no water gets in.

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How to Cool a Hot Drink Quickly

Steps

Transferring Between Cups

Ice Cubes

Milk

Fanning the Drink

Blowing and Stirring

Ice and Salt

Community Q&A

Tips

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