Ice Cube Trays: Silicone or Plastic, Cube Sizes, and Lids That Keep Ice Fresh

An ice cube tray seems like the simplest thing in the kitchen, until you own a bad one. Cubes that crack in half when you twist the tray, a tray that spills halfway to the freezer, ice that tastes faintly of last week's leftovers. Even if your freezer has an ice maker, a good tray is handy for big cocktail cubes, coffee ice, or frozen portions of soup and broth.

Today's trays come in plastic, silicone, and mixes of both, with lids, bins, and cube sizes from tiny pebbles to two-inch blocks. This guide covers how the materials compare, what size cube suits which drink, why a lid matters more than you might think, and how to use trays for more than just ice.

Top Ice Cube Trays

Plastic, silicone, or both

Rigid plastic trays are the classic. You twist the tray and the cubes pop loose. They stack well and hold their shape when full, so they are easy to carry to the freezer without spilling. On the downside, cheap plastic can crack over time, and cubes sometimes break as they release.

Silicone trays are soft and flexible. You push a cube out from the bottom, and it comes loose whole. That makes silicone the go-to for big cubes, spheres, and shaped molds. But a floppy silicone tray full of water can bend and spill on the way to the freezer, so it helps to set it on a small plate or sheet pan first.

Hybrid trays pair a rigid plastic frame with a soft silicone or rubber base. You get the easy carrying of plastic and the gentle release of silicone. Many of the most popular trays now use this design.

Pick a cube size for the drink

Cube size changes how fast your drink chills and how quickly it waters down. Smaller cubes have more surface area for their size, so they cool a drink fast but melt fast, too. Bigger cubes chill more slowly and melt more slowly.

• Standard cubes, around one inch, are the all-purpose choice for water, soda, and iced tea.
• Mini or pebble ice packs tightly into a glass and chills quickly. It is great for iced coffee, smoothies, and anyone who likes to chew ice.
• Large cubes, often two inches, melt slowly and suit cocktails, whiskey, and cold brew, where you want the drink to stay strong.
• Spheres have the least surface area of any shape, so they melt the slowest. They are mostly for spirits and look good in a short glass.

If you drink a mix of things, a set of standard trays plus one large-cube tray covers almost everything.

Why a lid is worth it

Ice picks up smells from the freezer. An open tray sitting next to frozen fish or onions can make every cube taste off. A lid blocks those odors and keeps frost and bits of food out of your ice.

Lids also let you stack trays, which saves a lot of room in a small freezer. And they cut down on spills, since a lidded tray can tilt a little on the way to the freezer without sloshing over. Some sets add a storage bin and scoop, so you can empty the trays into the bin and refill right away, keeping a steady supply.

Getting clear, clean ice

Home ice is often cloudy in the middle. That cloudiness comes from air and minerals that get trapped as the water freezes from the outside in. It does not hurt anything, but clearer ice looks better in a glass and tends to melt a little more slowly.

A few simple steps help. Start with filtered water. Some people boil it and let it cool first, which drives off some of the dissolved air. Freezing slowly helps, too, which is why special clear-ice makers insulate the sides so water freezes from the top down. For everyday use, filtered water and a lid get you most of the way there.

Keep trays clean by washing them in warm soapy water every few batches, or in the dishwasher if the maker says it is safe. Silicone can hold on to smells over time, so give silicone trays a good wash if your ice starts to taste odd. Empty ice you have not used in a few weeks and start fresh, since old cubes pick up freezer flavors even with a lid.

How many trays do you need

A standard tray makes somewhere between 14 and 16 cubes, and a full glass of iced tea can use six or eight of them. If you live alone and only use ice now and then, two trays are plenty. A family that drinks iced drinks every day, or anyone who hosts often, will want four or more.

Think about freezing time, too. A tray of standard cubes takes a few hours to freeze solid, and large cubes and spheres take longer. If you need a lot of ice for a party, start filling trays a day or two ahead and empty them into a bin or a freezer bag as each batch sets. That way you build up a supply without buying a bag of ice.

Trays are not just for ice

Ice cube trays are one of the handiest tools for freezing small portions. Fill them with leftover coffee to make coffee cubes that will not water down iced coffee. Freeze herbs in olive oil, lemon juice, tomato paste, or pesto in small amounts you can drop right into a pan.

Larger silicone freezer trays, with cups sized at half a cup, one cup, or two cups, are made for soup, broth, and sauce. You freeze the liquid in the tray, pop out the blocks, and store them in a labeled freezer bag. Then you can thaw just what you need.

According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, food kept constantly at 0 degrees Fahrenheit will always be safe, and only its quality suffers with long storage. The agency lists three safe ways to thaw food: in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. For broth and soup blocks, overnight in the refrigerator is the easiest way to plan ahead.

Popular ice cube trays worth a look

These picks cover everyday trays, big cocktail cubes, spheres, and a freezer tray for soup portions.

Four trays with lids. Each tray makes 14 cubes, for 56 in total. They are made from silicone and food-grade PP, come with removable lids that block freezer odors, and stack neatly.

Classic white trays made in the USA. A four-pack of 16-cube trays, 64 cubes in total, with a simple twist release. They stack without sticking to each other.

Trays with a bin and scoop. This set has two trays that make 56 cubes, plus a storage container, lid, and scoop. You flip the tray onto the bin and press the lid to push out the cubes.

Big two-inch cubes. A pair of silicone trays for large, slow-melting cubes, with lids that stack. Each cube pushes out from the flexible bottom, and the trays are listed as dishwasher safe.

Sphere molds. A set of four molds that make 2.5-inch ice balls. The mold splits in the middle for easy filling, and a soft silicone bottom releases the sphere with a squeeze.

Freezer tray for soup and broth. A two-pack of silicone trays that each make four one-cup portions, with marks for 4 and 8 ounces in every cup. Clear lids seal each cavity, and the maker says the trays are oven and dishwasher safe.

Cheap plastic tray with a lid. Target's Room Essentials soft release tray makes 16 cubes, has a rim with built-in handles so it is easier to carry to the freezer without spilling, and is dishwasher safe.

Small ice for water bottles. Also from Room Essentials at Target, this silicone crushed ice tray has 165 tiny cavities and a clear lid. The small pieces chill a drink fast and fit through the narrow opening of most water bottles.

Plastic tray that fills in one pour. The Rubbermaid Quick Release tray makes 16 cubes and has channels between the wells, so water spreads across the tray as you fill it. A twist with the side handles pops the cubes loose.

Which trays to get

For most kitchens, a set of lidded, stackable standard trays is the right base. Add a large-cube tray if you make cocktails or cold brew, and a pebble or round tray if you drink a lot of iced coffee. If you cook in batches, a one-cup freezer tray is one of the most useful things you can own.

Whatever you buy, keep a lid on it, wash it now and then, and keep your freezer at 0 degrees. Good ice is a small thing, but you notice it every time you pour a drink.

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