12 Clever Ice Cube Tray Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner
Updated: Mar. 25, 2019
If you're only using your ice cube tray to make ice cubes, you're tapping just a fraction of its potential! Check out these brilliant ways to put these freezer staple to work.
These Ice Cube Tray Hacks Will Change the Way You Look at This Freezer Staple!
From single-serve cookie dough to decorative soap, why stick to ice cubes when the ice cube tray that’s been hiding in your freezer can do so much more? With a little imagination, it can serve as a home organizer, food platter and more.
Use an ice cube tray to freeze coffee
Say goodbye to watered-down iced coffee by making coffee cubes! Great for those days where you need a little extra caffeine. You’ll also want to avoid these mistakes everyone makes when brewing coffee.
Use an ice cube tray to make herb cubes
Speed up dinner prep by making perfect portions of frozen herbs. Fill each cube with chopped herbs, or combinations of herbs, then fill with olive oil and freeze overnight. Store the frozen herb cubes in freezer bags. When the time comes, pop one in a pan to use as a base for your dish. Voila, fresh herbs all year round!
Here are 14 medicinal herbs you can grow in your own backyard.
Use an ice cube tray to freeze milk
You’ll always have some on hand for recipes or smoothies.
Psst—here’s what you need to know about freezing cheese.
Use an ice cube tray to freeze lemon juice
Stock up on lemons when they’re in season and freeze the juice. Lemon juice cubes are great for flavouring water or using while cooking. Check out six more foods you had no idea you could freeze.
Use an ice cube tray to save bacon fat
Makin’ bacon? Save the drippings and freeze in an ice cube tray to use later. The frozen bacon fat will add delicious flavour to a pasta dish or batch of soup.
You’ll also want to avoid these mistakes everyone makes when cooking bacon.
Use an ice cube tray to freeze homemade sauce
When cooking dinner, make extra sauce and freeze it for later. Homemade pesto or tomato sauce is always handy to have in the freezer, ready to go on those busy weeknights. Here are more brilliant cooking shortcuts you’ll wish you knew sooner.
Use an ice cube tray to speed up a smoothie
Freeze dollops of Greek yogurt in an ice cube tray. Pop one or two into the blender with your fruit and other smoothie ingredients for an extra creamy—and healthy—smoothie. Check out more ways to cook everything faster.
Use an ice cube tray to portion out cookie dough
Freeze cookie dough in portions by using an ice cube tray. Later, when the cookie craving hits, you can pop out just a few and bake. (Just make sure you avoid these oven mistakes.)
Use an ice cube tray to freshen your garbage disposal
Freeze a few small slices of lemon in vinegar to make garbage disposal cleaning cubes. When your disposal smells less than fresh, pop a couple cubes in and turn it on. The cubes will clean and deodorize!
Here are eight things you should never clean with vinegar.
Use an ice cube tray to make mini chocolate bars
Pour melted chocolate into each cube and top with mixed nuts and dried berries. Let the chocolate set at room temperature. Yum! Perfect mini snacks for travelling or, let’s be honest, watching Netflix in bed.
Don’t miss these genius cooking spray hacks, either!
Use an ice cube tray as a toddler buffet
Kids love finger foods. Serve them in a new and exciting way—in an ice cube tray! Create a colourful and nutritional buffet by stuffing each compartment with their favourites like berries, cheese cubes and crackers.
Now that you know these ice cube tray hacks, check out these clever new uses for ice cubes themselves!
Use an ice cube tray to organize the junk drawer
Chances are you have at least one junk drawer in your kitchen. Corral all the odds and ends by placing a couple of ice cube trays in the drawer as organizers. The mini compartments are perfect for storing all those tiny things that get lost in the shuffle. Here are 40 more kitchen organizing ideas that will save your sanity.
