5 Ice Cube Tray Hacks You’ve Been Missing Out On

Just last week I found myself fighting with a plastic ice cube tray. I filled it with coconut milk for smoothies and found that the cubes just wouldn’t budge. I even took a butter knife to the tray in a sad attempt to pry out even just one of the cubes. No such luck. I decided to give it one more strong twist when I heard a sickening crack. Suffice it to say, my plastic ice cube tray is no more. This unfortunate event got me thinking about the possible perks of a silicone ice cube tray. 

Why Silicone?

Believe it or not, I had actually purchased a silicone king cube ice tray a couple of years ago for my husband. I thought he might like to create those large square ice cubes to use in a glass of whiskey, much like upscale bartenders do. I had always known that silicone trays rendered perfectly shaped ice cubes, but until I removed one of the king cubes for a drink of my own, I had no idea how easy the removal process was. Instead of twisting and turning (and cracking), you simply pop out the cubes. Easy, right? On top of that, you don’t risk ruining your perfectly shaped ice cubes (or ice cube tray) in the process. 

Silicone trays with lids also make for a great storage hack in your freezer. If you’re like me and have limited freezer space, you’ll be relieved to know that the lids allow you to stack the trays on top of each other. The lids also protect the cubes from odor in your freezer and freezer burn. If you’re looking for even more perks, check out the Airtight Ice Cube Tray with Lid. This tray has a 360-degree complete seal which means you can store it vertically without the risk of spillage, giving you even more room to utilize in your freezer. And when you’re done with your nifty cubes, you can just pop it right into the dishwasher.

The Silicone Ice Cube Tray: A Multi-Purpose Tool

Once I tried out coconut milk cubes, I got to thinking about what else I could freeze in a silicone ice cube tray. So I took to the internet to do some research and was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Suffice it to say, your ice cube tray will be earning its keep in your kitchen!

Waste Not, Want Not

Here at HuBee, we pride ourselves on being environmentally responsible. Because of this, avoiding food waste is a no-brainer. So let’s get creative with the items we have on hand at home!

• Coffee 

Have leftover coffee? Make frozen coffee cubes. Use them as an alternative to ice in your daily iced coffee or to fortify drinks like the White Russian. Coffee cubes will ensure your drinks don’t get watered down. You can also use coffee cubes as the base for a homemade frappuccino.         

• Herbs/Pesto

I always find myself with an abundance of fresh herbs. They don’t last terribly long in the refrigerator and I hate to let them go bad. Instead of drying your herbs, try chopping them, adding them to the ice cube tray, and topping them off with extra virgin olive oil. Since pesto consists of herbs and olive oil, feel free to freeze it too. Next time you need some fresh herbs or pesto for cooking, simply pop out one of the cubes and cook away!

• Lime/Lemon Juice

I used to throw away the little wedges of lime and lemon that were on their last legs in my refrigerator. Inevitably, I’d end up making a trip to the grocery store later in the week to buy more limes and lemons. Now, I simply freeze any leftover citrus juice and pop out a citrus cube whenever I need it. 

• Wine 

Do you have a bottle of wine that you opened and just weren’t a huge fan of? Instead of throwing it out or letting it go rancid, try freezing it. A little wine can really elevate your dishes and with wine cubes, you not only extend the shelf life of the wine but can have preportioned wine on hand for your future cooking endeavors. 

• Kefir/Greek Yogurt

I’ve been making quite a few smoothies lately as I’ve been inundated with fresh produce. I found myself out of milk the other day and decided to substitute kefir. Not only did it lend some creaminess and sweetness to the smoothie but it actually added some protein and probiotics, which I’m always lacking. Kefir can be a little too tart for some people though, so feel free to swap it out with Greek yogurt.

What other creative uses can you think of for a silicone ice cube tray? Drop us a comment below!

For more recipes and tips by Jordan, check out her blog at brulee.blog.