* Ice quality: The quality of the ice matters. Perfectly clear, solid ice will melt into a more consistent volume of water compared to ice with air bubbles or impurities.
* Starting temperature: If the ice is already at a temperature close to melting, it will melt faster and produce a more consistent volume of water than if it's very cold.
However, a good general rule of thumb is:
* 1 cup of ice will melt into roughly 3/4 cup of water.
This is because ice is less dense than water, so it takes up more space. When it melts, the water molecules pack more tightly together, resulting in a smaller volume.
