Excitement filled the kitchens of the late 1940s and 1950s when electric freezers arrived in homes across the country. You didn’t need an ice pick to get that chip off the old block anymore. Ice cube trays made adding ‘rocks’ to iced teas and cocktails a simple pleasure.
The first metal ice cube trays were difficult to use and quickly chilled your fingers. But today’s ice cube trays offer an array of creative uses. Remember putting juice, punch, or pudding into each square with little toothpicks to create homemade popsicles? You can also use them to freeze and store various purees. Not only do they cool your beverages, but they also give you a vessel to make decorative cubes that add a fun twist to your guest’s drinks.
Here’s a selection of our favorite ice cube trays for your freezer.
Easy release
These soft silicone ice cube trays twist easily and can turn inside out to get those ice cubes released without a fuss. Who wants a glass of room-temperature lemonade? Or a nice fizzy warm soda pop? Everybody wants a frosty drink loaded with ice cubes. Each of these four ice cube trays makes 14 good-size ice cubes, for a total of 56 in all. Each of the ice cube compartments has raised edges to keep the water separate from the others, for no more attached multi-cubes.
Durable models
These freezer ice cube trays last so long they may outlast your freezer. Chefs rely on ice cube trays for keeping leftovers in pre-portioned amounts. Also great for sauces like that veal demi-glace, or even chicken or veggie stocks. Channeling the water down the center, filling these ice cube trays is easy as the fluid falls into the 16 cubed compartments. Keep the set of four stackable trays ready to go in the garage or basement freezer.
Buy: Kitch Easy Release White Ice Cube Tray
It’s party time
Whether you’re making rocks for a whiskey or a single-malt scotch or looking for a tray for little concentrated Jello bites, these four silicone ice cube trays have got you covered. We love that these durable trays have thick plastic lids to keep spills and odors out of your cubes. Each of the trays makes 14 ice cubes to chill lots of beverages. And they’re easy to release by just pushing the soft ice cube without the need to run it under hot water or bang it on the kitchen counter. The food-grade plastic trays are dishwasher safe.
Buy: Ice Cube Trays – Silicone Ice Cube Tray with Lid Super Easy Release Ice Cube Molds
Just chill out
From the freezer in your camper to the dorm room or guest room fridge, these two ice cube trays are of great value. Did you know that you can freeze leftover wine in ice cube trays? Using those cubes makes you feel a little less gauche about putting them in your wine glass. It’s easy to make elegant fresh fruit and herb ice cubes by just adding a sprig of fresh thyme or oregano, or a slice of strawberry or kiwi, to the freezing water. Each tray measures five inches wide by 12.5-inches long.
Buy: Rubbermaid White Easy Release Ice Cube Tray Set
Great for baby food
These little cubes add an elegant touch to your beverages. Always have ice cubes at the ready when you are serving beverages with this handy ice cube set. We like the extras. Not just the four mini ice cube trays that freeze 36 cubes at a time, but also the ice bin, lid, and scoop. The small size cubes release with just a twist or a nudge from the silicone freezer trays. Also great for storing homemade baby food.
Buy: Ice Cube Tray With Lid and Bin
Cyndi Mathews is a contributing writer to Florida Travel & Life, an online brand that inspires active, affluent travelers, providing them with insider information on discovering the best of Florida. Informative and engaging, the website showcases travel destinations, arts and cultural venues, vibrant dining scenes, recreational activities, the great outdoors and the revitalized real-estate market. Cyndi recently published her first book and enjoys traveling to Florida in her sailboat.
