Overview of the variations in the relative strength of the three strongest ice features, H₂O, CO₂, and CO. Top left panel: continuum flux of HH 48 NE at 4 µm on a logarithmic scale. The white line denotes the 5σ detection limit on the continuum, determined in a featureless part of the spectrum, namely the 3.85–4 µm region. This field of view is the same as the dashed rectangle in Fig. 1. Other panels in the top row: peak optical depth per spaxel of H₂O, CO₂, and CO ice, respectively, determined using a Gaussian fit to the optical depth spectrum of each spaxel. Bottom left panel: median combined radial profile of the peak optical depth with the 1σ spread around this line at different disk heights as a shaded region. The black line underneath shows the radial profile of the continuum at 4 µm at z = 50 au. Bottom right panel: median combined vertical profile of the peak optical depth with 1σ spread around this line at different disk radii as a shaded region. The black line underneath shows the vertical profile of the continuum at 4 µm at r = 0 au. We note that z = 0 is chosen as the dark lane between the upper and lower surface: in this frame, the star is located at z ~10 au due to projection effects.