Stackable ice cube trays make ice. That’s a known fact. But if you’re resourceful enough, this simple tool can actually unlock time-saving techniques and kitchen hacks that will surely help you during dinners and food preparation.
From cooking, baking, washing, and food preserving – the ice cube tray is the best friend you never knew would be.
Freeze Vegetable or Chicken Stock
If you want to freeze some veggie or chicken stock but don’t want to have to wait for a giant brick of it to unfreeze the next time you want to use it, you can pour it into a silicon tray and set aside the stock cubes for when you need them.
They will melt faster this way and you can use only what you need when you need it.
Cookie Dough
You can also use an ice tray to make the perfect-sized cookie. Push your dough into each ice slot. Each slot will hold enough dough to make the perfect-sized cookie.
You can freeze basil in ice cube trays, among other herbs, with some olive oil and freeze them. The oil will reduce browning and freezer burn.
Soothe Sunburn
Have a bad sunburn? Aloe gel cubes do double duty for soothing a sunburn. Just pour some aloe gel into a tray and freeze, then rub on the sunburned area.
Freeze Herbs in Oil
Often times when we buy fresh herbs we get more than we can use for one meal, which means the rest will go bad or be tossed out.
You can save those herbs by pouring them into an ice tray with some olive oil and freezing them. You can freeze basil in ice cube trays along with many other herbs. The oil will reduce browning and freezer burn.
DIY Dishwasher Tablets
Tired of shelling out all that dough just to get your dishes clean with lots of chemicals?
Good thing there’s the dish soap in ice cube tray hack. You can learn how to make your own dishwashing tablets here by using an ice tray for the mold.
Ravioli
Are you making ravioli from scratch? They will come out perfect if you’re using an ice cube container.
Just lay your pasta dough over the tray and push the dough slightly into each cube hole. Place your filling inside each indent and press another piece of dough on top.
Flip it over and cut out each rectangular ravioli shape. Press the ends of your dough around the edges of each pasta piece and you’re done!
Cocktail Ice Cubes
You can turn an ordinary glass of club soda into something super fancy by dropping fruit or herb-filled ice cubes into it. You can find a bunch of different ideas here.
Seed Starter
Put a little bit of soil into an ice tray and place your seeds inside. Water and put in a sunny spot to get your seeds to sprout before you transport them.
Leftover Wine
If you have the end of a wine bottle that you don’t want to toss out but know that you won’t drink before it goes bad, you can pour it into an ice tray and freeze it.
Next time you’re cooking a dish that requires wine you can pop a cube or two in it.
Better Iced Coffee
Freeze coffee and use those cubes in your iced coffee. This way when your cubes melt your coffee won’t be watered down. You can make cream cubes as well.
Stackable Ice Cube Trays Sushi
If you love sushi but can’t quite get that rolling technique down, you can use an ice tray as a mold for your sushi. You can find out how to make ice tray sushi blocks here.
Paint Pallet
You can also use an ice tray as a paint pallet by pouring a different color into each slot.
Mini Ice Pops
Ice trays are perfect for making mini ice pops, especially with shaped ice cube trays. Learn how to make these mint and watermelon ones here.
Takeaway
Stackable ice cube trays, as we said, are not only good at making ice. It’s a kitchen tool that will save you a whole lot of time but won’t burn a hole in your pocket. Which of these hacks are you going to try first? Tell us about your experience!