Plastic ice cube trays are the least expensive and durable. They may absorb freezer odors and crack when you remove the ice. Silicone ice cube trays are more expensive, but they’re durable and don’t crack. They tend to absorb freezer odors the most. Stainless steel trays are the most expensive and durable, but they also don’t absorb any odors. Wooden ice cube trays can be very inexpensive if you make them yourself. They make the highest-quality ice cubes.
If your tray produces off-tasting ice cubes, that means it has absorbed odors from the freezer. Washing it with this baking soda solution will help fix that.
You can use tap water, but be aware that the minerals in the water can give you cloudy, poor-tasting ice cubes. Filtered or bottled water typically produces better-tasting ice cubes than tap water, but be aware that the ice may still look cloudy. If you want crystal clear ice, boil the water first. Let it cool, boil it a second time, then use it to fill the tray.
The back of the freezer tends to be the coldest, so try to place the tray as far back as you can.
How long it takes for the cubes to freeze depends on how deep you filled the tray and how crowded your freezer is.
Some ice cube trays come with a cover. If yours had a lid, you can store the cubes in the tray. This way, the tray will catch any potential drips or spills. You shouldn’t leave ice cubes in the freezer for more than a week even if they’re in an airtight container. Make a fresh batch if your ice is old.
Use the ice cubes in the same drink that you made them from. For example, use lemonade ice cubes in lemonade. Mix and match flavors. For example, add lemonade ice cubes to fruit punch for a zesty twist.
To avoid wasting coffee, use the leftover amount in your morning pot to make the ice cubes. Don’t add milk to the ice cubes, however. The ice cubes will spoil faster, and the milk fat may also separate, creating a grainy texture as it melts.
Fruits that work well for decorative cubes include raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries, watermelon. Herbs such as basil and mint are ideal for “fillings” for ice cubes.
