The 5 Best Ice Cube Trays

There's nothing like a cold drink with a couple of ice cubes. If your fridge doesn't have an ice maker, you need an ice cube tray to make some. Not only will ice cube trays allow you to freeze water into ice, they'll let you freeze any liquid into a solid chunk. You can create all sorts of delicious drinks with frozen coffee cubes, frozen cubes of your favorite alcoholic beverage, and more. They are a versatile addition to your kitchen. To help you select the ice cube tray that will work best for you and your family, here are reviews on five of the best.

OXO Good Grips No-Spill Ice Cube Tray

Seals with a Lid

Are you tired of spilling water whenever you set your ice cube tray into the freezer? This one seals with a lid to prevent that.

Best Overall

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With this ice cube tray, you can easily transfer it to the freezer without making a mess. The silicone lid presses on tightly and creates a seal. Once it’s on, you can tilt this tray without experiencing any leaks. You can store it at any angle, making this tray the perfect solution for trying to make ice in a crowded freezer. The lid also keeps freezer odors from invading your ice, so they’ll always taste perfect. The contoured handles are comfortable to hold. Each spot on the tray features a rounded bottom, that helps make the cubes pop out easily.

Pros

Seals tightly with silicone lid
Great for a crowded freezer
Rounded bottoms make the ice easy to remove

Cons

Getting the silicone lid to seal properly takes practice

Rubbermaid Easy Release Ice Cube Tray (4 Pack)

4 Ice Cube Trays

This four pack of basic ice cube trays features a budget friendly price per tray.

Best on a Budget

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If you’re looking for a basic set of ice cube trays, this is a great option. It’s a set of four, which means your price per tray is budget friendly. Each tray makes 16 ice cubes, so if you have all four in use, you’ll be able to make 64 ice cubes at a time. Each tray has a handle to make moving them from sink to freezer a breeze. They stack on top of each other in the freezer as long as you don’t overfill them. They also stack neatly in the cupboard when you aren’t using them, so your cupboards stay organized. The shape of the cube makes it easy to remove the ice from the tray with a simple twist, so you won’t be struggling to get them out.

Pros

Four trays, one great price
Easy to remove the cubes
Produces cubes with the classic ice cube shape

Cons

The ice cubes are a little on the small side, so you may need more per glass

Chillz Ice Ball Maker Mold

Make Jumbo Ice Balls

These slow melting ice balls will keep your drinks colder longer than traditionally shaped cubes.

Best Ice Spheres

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Do you want long lasting ice cubes? If yes, you might want to switch the cube shape with these jumbo ice balls. The round spheres melt more slowly, keeping your drinks cold for a long time. They also look elegant floating in a bowl of punch or another beverage. This silicone ice cube tray creates perfect ice balls. Each one will be 1.78-inches in diameter, and the tray makes four balls at a time. The tray has a lid, so you don’t have to worry about spills. They also stack up on top of each other. The tray is dishwasher safe.

Pros

Has a lid so you can stack them
Makes large ice balls
Made from non-toxic silicone

Cons

Each tray only makes four, so you have to make a lot of batches or buy multiple trays

Lily’s Home Silicone Narrow Ice Stick Cube Trays, Set of 3

Chill Your Bottled Water

Stop struggling to fit traditional ice cubes into the narrow mouth of most water bottles and freeze a batch that's the right size with these special ice cube trays.

Best for Water Bottles

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These ice cube trays are designed to create narrow ice sticks that fit easily inside a narrow mouth water bottle. Each stick measures about 3-3/4-inches long by 3/4-inch in diameter. It’s a set of three trays, and each makes ten cubes so you can freeze a total of 30 ice sticks at a time. The trays are made from BPA-free silicone, so the ice pops out easily when you apply pressure to the bottom of the tray. In your set, you’ll get three fun colors. There’s one orange tray, one blue one and one green. The trays don’t stack in the freezer, but they do freeze quickly.

Pros

Ice sticks fit inside most water bottles
Ice freezes quickly
Set of three brightly colored trays

Cons

These ice cube trays don’t stack, so they take up more room in your freezer

Adoric Ice Cube Trays Set of 2

Make Ice Cubes and Spheres

This set of ice cube trays has two distinct shapes. One tray makes round balls and the other produces large cubes.

Best Combo

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You can find a lot of uses for this combination ice cube tray set. It comes with two durable silicone trays. One produces six ice balls that are 1.8-inch in diameter. The other makes six large, 2-inch cubes. The jumbo chunks of ice will keep your drinks cold for a long time. When your ice is frozen and ready to remove, you can either twist the trays or push up from the bottom underneath each ice shape. Both trays are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. These trays are both heat and cold resistant, so they can withstand temperatures between -104 degrees Fahrenheit to 446 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use them in so many ways, including making shaped pudding cups, baking up little cakes, or freezing soda for a special treat. They’ll be a fun addition to your kitchen.

Pros

Make a combination of cube and spheres
Heat and cold resistant, so these trays are extremely versatile
Dishwasher safe

Cons

The two halves of the sphere tray don’t always line up perfectly, so your ice balls may not be completely smooth

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need ice cube trays if my fridge has an ice maker?

If your fridge has an ice maker, you will need to decide if you want to have ice cube trays around as well. Some people enjoy using ice cube trays to freeze other liquids, such as coffee or pop. You cannot make these frozen cubes in your fridge’s automatic ice maker.

How do you get ice to pop out of the trays?

Some ice cube trays release ice easily. Others require a bit more labor on your part. Depending on the design of your tray, you will either twist it to remove the ice or push on the bottom. If you need to twist, put one hand on each end of the tray. Then, gently twist your hands from the wrists. This will release the ice. If you need to push on them, put your finger under one ice shape. Then, gently push up. This should release the cube enough that you can pull it out the rest of the way. You can push up on each tray and then dump the tray over to remove all of them at once. Be sure not to twist ice cube trays that require you to push, as this could cause the whole tray to break.

Do I need to clean my ice cube trays between uses?

It’s recommended to clean your ice cube trays between each use. This will help eliminate odor and ensure your ice always tastes fresh. Some can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Others will need to be washed by hand. Follow the cleaning directions for your ice cube trays to ensure you safely wash them without causing damage.