Nothing goes down the throat so well as an iced drink on a hot day. Whether you are at the beach enjoying the warm summer season or want some ice cubes to garnish your gin and tonic, you need the right ice cube tray.
In this article, we review some of the best ice cube trays on the market and discuss the factors to consider when choosing the right ice cube tray for you.
Best Ice Cube Trays Reviews
Below is a review of our pick for the 8 best ice cube trays on Amazon. We describe each then provide its pros and cons.
1. Best Overall: DOQUAS 4-Pack Ice Cube Trays
The 4-pack DOQUAS ice cubes trays are made of BPA-Free, food-grade silicone material. The silicone material is flexible to enable easy removal of the ice cubes from the tray. The trays have a sleek design with a green bottom and white top and interiors.
The Ice mold sets are rectangular shaped. The inside of the ice mold sets is made of TPE material that shapes the ice cubes into a perfect rectangular shape. Each tray produces 14 ice cube pieces. It can be used with a wide range of ingredients, including wine and fruit juices.
These trays come with a lid that prevents water spillage or contamination of the ice cubes. Each lid has two lid lifters for easy opening. The manufacturer offers a 45-day money-back guarantee and an 18-month worry-free guarantee on the trays.
Pros
- Sleek-looking design
- Ice cubes are easy to remove
- Made of BPA free silicone
- Each tray has a lid with lid lifters
- 45-day money-back guarantee and an 18-month worry-free guarantee.
Cons
- The ice cubes are small
2. Best Budget Choice: Kitch Easy Release 2-pack Ice Cube Tray
The Kitch Easy Release Ice Cube Tray is made of BPA-free plastic. Each tray makes 16 rectangular-shaped ice cubes for a total of 32 cubes in the two trays. This Made-in-US product is made with FDA regulated materials.
The ice cube tray is flexible and can be twisted to release the ice cubes. The trays are stackable when empty for easy storage. They are dishwasher friendly and can also be easily washed with soap and water.
Pros
- Affordable
- Made of FDA approved, BPA-free plastic
- Easy to clean
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Do not release ice cubes easily, even with a twist
3. Ticent Ice Cube Trays
The Ticent 2-set ice cube trays are specially designed to make sphere-shaped and square shaped-whiskey ice. The trays are made of BPA-free silicone. While one tray has square-shaped molds, the other one is circular.
The trays are designed for easy release of the ice cubes – the flexible silicone material is easy to release with a twist. The sphere ice-mold tray creates six big 1.75-inch ice spheres while the square molds create six 2” ice cubes.
Since the ice cubes and spheres are large, they melt slowly and do not water down your drink. As such, they can be used with scotch or whiskey without watering down the drink. These ice cube trays can also be used to make popsicles.
Pros
- Make large ice cubes and spheres
- Melt slowly
- Easy to release the ice cubes
- Made with BPA-free silicone
- Dishwasher safe
- Can be used to make popsicles
Cons
- The sphere cubes do not mold into a perfect sphere shape
4. OMorc 4-pack Ice cube Trays
The OMorc Ice Cube trays are a great option if you want to make many ice cubes at a go. Each pack makes 14 rectangular cubes, and the 4-pack makes 56 pieces.
These ice cube trays resemble the 4-pack DOQUAS ice cubes trays in design and capacity. Both have white tops and green bottoms. Like the DOQUAS ice cubes trays, the trays are made of BPA-free silicone, and each tray makes 14 ice cubes.
Each tray comes with a lid to prevent spillage and contamination of the ingredients. They are dishwasher-safe and stackable. The same trays are available in color blue as a set of 6. They can be used to make frozen fruit, milk, or juice cubes.
Pros
- Easy to release
- Made with BPA-free silicone
- Can be used with water, milk, or juices
- Can be used to freeze diced fruits
- Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
- Stackable for space-saving storage
Cons
- Easy to break if they fall or are twisted too hard
- Small cube size
5. Rechichhre 2-Pack Ice Cube trays with lids
The Rechichhre 2-Pack Ice Cube trays with lids are hexagonal molds that make 37 cubes per tray. The trays are made with BPA free silicone.
The flexible silicone material allows for easy release of the hexagonal cubes with a simple twist. They can be used in the oven or microwave. The trays are stackable, and each has a lid.
For easy removal of the cubes, remove the ice trays from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 3-5 minutes, then twist to release the ice. The molds can be filled with a wide range of ingredients, including fruits, yogurt, chocolate, and jelly.
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Can be used in the oven or microwave
- Unique hexagonal-shaped molds
- Made of BPA-Free, food-grade silicone
- Stackable and space-saving
- Bigger-sized molds are available
Cons
- Ice cubes do not release easily
6. 3D Skull Flexible Silicone Ice Cube Mold
This ice cube mold is unique. It makes four large, 3D skull-shaped ice cubes. It is manufactured by a company known as Shaped, and its design is patented. The ice cubes melt slowly, keeping your drink cool for longer.
The mold is ideal for making ice cubes for house parties, home bars, holiday events, or Halloween events. You can buy one for your personal use or as a gift for a fun, creative friend They are made from food-grade, BPA-free silicone.
They are durable and designed for an easy release of the molded ice. The mold is dishwasher-safe and can be used in the oven or microwave.
Pros
- Unique 3D-shaped skulls molds
- Makes 4 large ice molds
- The cups are slow-melting
- A unique gift for loved ones
Cons
- If you don’t follow the instructions carefully, the skull will not mold perfectly.
7. Rubber Maid White Ice Tray
The Rubbermaid White Ice Trays come as a set of two trays. The trays are made of plastic. Each tray makes 16 molds. The manufacturer positions these trays as easy release.
Pros
- Easy release of cubes with a slight bend or twist of the tray
- Ideal for people with arthritis.
- Stackable
- Easy to clean
- Simple design
Cons
- Not durable
8. Adoric 2-set Ice Cube Trays
Each Adoric Ice cube tray makes six large molds. One tray has circular molds, while the other is square. These trays are made of super-flexible food-grade, BPA-free silicone for easy release of the ice molds.
They can be used to make iced tea, popsicles, or frozen lemonade. Additionally, they can be used to store baby food. Since the ice cubes and spheres are large, they melt slowly. The trays are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
Pros
- High quality and durable
- Make big ice cubes and spheres
- Can be used for a wide range of purposes
- Easy release
Cons
- The circular molds are difficult to fill
Things to Consider When Buying Ice Cube Trays
Since all ice cube trays are not created equally, it is important to determine the features you want in them before making an order. Below are factors to consider when choosing the right ice cube trays for you.
Size
There is a wide range of ice cubes sizes on the market. While some can make up to six dozen ice cubes, others can only make six pieces. Likewise, the size of ice cube slots varies from one tray to another.
Determine the ideal size of ice cube pieces you want. Bigger ice cubes take longer to melt; therefore, they may be the best for adding to your beverage at the peak of the summer heat. However, they take up a lot of space in your cup, glass, or bottle.
Conversely, smaller ice cube pieces melt fast and do not take up too much space in your drink or cup.
Material
Traditionally, ice cube trays were made from plastics. This is gradually changing as many manufacturers are now making them with steel or silicone. The most important aspect of choosing your ice cube trays is ensuring whichever material you choose is food-grade quality and BPA-free.
While plastic ice cube trays are typically durable, they are prone to crack. It is easier to remove ice cubes from a plastic tray than a steel one. Silicone is the perfect compromise between plastic and steel as it is durable and flexible. However, silicone tends to absorb order from the freezer.
Lid or No-Lid
Covering your ice cubes can prevent contamination. In the case of silicone ice cube trays, the lid helps to minimize the absorption of the freezer odor. The lid should fit well and should be easy to remove.
Ease of Storage
You want to be able to easily store your ice trays when they are not in use. This is why you should opt for stackable ice cube trays because they can be put away in the kitchen cupboards or drawers. Besides, stackable ones do not take up too much space in your freezer.
Ease of Cleaning
Go for trays that are dishwasher-safe or can be cleaned quickly by hand with warm water and soap.
Shape of the Ice Cubes
The shape of ice cubes is especially crucial in themed events. For instance, the shaped skull ice cubes may be ideal for a Halloween party.
Similarly, star shapes and circular-shaped cubes may be ideal for Christmas parties, while heart-shaped cubes would be suitable for use in cocktails at a wedding or Valentine's event.
Range of Use
While you will mostly use the ice cube trays with water as the main ingredient, it would be nice to have one that can be used to freeze fruits and baby food or make iced-tea, popsicles, frozen yogurt, flavored ice cubes, etc.
Tips for Molding and Releasing Perfectly Shaped Ice Cubes
- When adding water, pour up to the brim while avoiding the water from spilling to the barrier between the molds. It is best to use filtered drinking water
- If the ice cube tray has a lid, cover it to avoid spillage and contamination
- Give the ice cubes ample time in the freezer to fully form
- Remove the tray with fully formed ice cubes from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 3-5 minutes
- To release the ice cubes, gently twist the ice cube tray
Conclusion
Ice-cubes trays are an affordable and functional utensil to have. With the right one, you can make ice-cubes to go with your favorite drinks.
When deciding on the right choice of ice cube trays, consider your needs regarding size, shape, and materials. The most important features of ice-cube trays are that they are made of food-grade materials and have an easy release.
Our top pick for the best ice cube trays is the 4-pack DOQUAS ice cubes trays. They have a sleek yet practical design. They are stackable, easy to clean, and come with easy to close and remove lids.
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