Make More Than Ice, Ice, Baby!
Ice cube trays were originally designed to freeze water but sometimes you've got to think outside the tray. The simple trays can be used for so many alternative purposes it'll blow your mind. From edible delights to crafting hacks, check out what the all-mighty ice cube tray has to offer.
1. Floral Ice Cubes
A little ice goes a long way with a dose of flower power! Create the prettiest cocktails or jazz up your water with floral ice cubes. Simply toss edible flowers into an ice cube tray with water and let the frozen botanicals brighten up your beverages with their color and fragrance.
2. Fruit Cubes
Another easy way to spruce up a beverage is to make frozen fruit cubes. Freezing berries or other juicy fruits in your ice cubes adds flavor while they chill your drink. They're the perfect addition to sangria or fruit punch that look like they came from a tiki bar.
3. Coffee Cubes
This one's for the ice coffee lovers. You need to start freezing your coffee right now! You'll never drink watered down coffee again if you use frozen coffee cubes instead of regular ice. You can blend them to make any coffee creations or add them to your fresh cold brew.
4. Herb Cubes
We're all guilty of tossing out a bunch of unused herbs that have wilted. Instead of letting them wilt away, toss them in an ice cube tray. You can preserve herbs in perfectly portioned sizes for later use. You'll save waste, money, and make meals quicker with your prepared herb cubes.
5. Wine Cubes
You'll never wine again about a watered down Pinot Grigio. If you like your wine chilled to the very last sip try this clever hack. In your ice cube tray, freeze wine that's been open for a couple of days or use a cheap bottle. As the cubes melt the only thing you'll notice is how nice and cold your wine tastes.
6. Baby Food Preserver
If you tend to have a lot of leftover baby food or you make a batch from scratch, an ice cube tray is your new best friend. You can save mashed baby food using ice cube trays that freeze and store it for later use. The identical molds make it easy to measure out the proper portions for your kiddo.
7. Home Made Sauces
You'll not only make Nona proud with your home made pasta sauces, you'll blow her mind when you show her what you do with the extra. Freezing your sauces like pesto and marinara helps preserve them for longer so you can whip up one large batch. Frozen sauce is easy to thaw or to toss right into the pot.
8. Mini Popsicles
Mini popsicles are the perfect treat for kids or for grownups who want a nibble of something sweet. With your favorite popsicle recipe, use an ice cube tray as your mold to create bite-sized frozen treats. They'll be a hit at the pool party or the family BBQ.
9. Juice Cubes
Gone are the days of boring water–– make fancy water! Frozen juice cubes add a burst of flavor to sparkling water. You can get creative with your juicy water by freezing various juices like pomegranate, pineapple, or cranberry. Not only do they add taste but they add color to your drink as well.
10. Greens For Smoothies
Freezing blended greens like kale or spinach in your ice cube tray is a clever way to enhance your breakfast. Saving you time from washing and chopping, you can create healthy smoothies on the go with your prepared cubes. Freezing the greens first gives your smoothie a better texture and keeps things chilled.
11. Broth Cubes
Become a soup hero and save your leftover broth by freezing it in your ice cube trays. Freezing broth works the same as before and doesn't affect the taste. With the portioned cubes, you can quickly measure out the broth you need for all your recipes.
Schekinov Alexey Victorovich on Wikimedia
12. Ice Cube Tray Crayons
If you have young children, chances are you have an abundance of half-used crayons lying around. For a fun way to save your crayon waste, use an ice cube tray as a mold for brand new multi-colored creations. Melt the used crayons, pour the colored wax into a tray, and pop it in your freezer. The result will amaze your little artists in no time.
13. Jewelry Kit
An ice cube tray can act as an aid for all your jewelry making crafts. Use the tray molds to separate the beads and supplies to make bracelets and necklaces more efficiently. A tray keeps your workspace tidy and easy to navigate. A ice cube tray of jewelry supplies also makes a cute DIY gift.
14. Jello Shots
Get the party started! Jello shots are a classic party shooter and can be made easily ahead of time by freezing them in ice cube trays. The tray acts as a perfect holding device so you can welcome guests with your spiked jello. The molds are also the perfect size to pop into your mouth in one juicy bite.
15. Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Ice cube tray chocolate covered strawberries are a mess-free alternative to a sensual treat. Fill the ice cube tray half way with melted chocolate then place a juicy red strawberry on top. Fill the molds the rest of the way with the remaining chocolate and pop in toothpicks if you desire.
16. Soothing Aloe Cubes
Relieving sun burns never felt so good. With the healing jelly of aloe vera plants, you can sooth your burnt skin by rubbing it onto the burns. Freezing the aloe not only preserves it but adds an extra comforting element–– the ice cold jelly feels amazing on your hot skin.
Jessica Lewis 🦋 thepaintedsquare on Pexels
17. Bath Bomb Mold
If you love a DIY wellness project than ice cube trays will become your new go-to tools. An ice cube tray is the perfect mold for making bath bombs into equal shapes. Who knew ice cube trays weren't just for kitchens but for bathrooms too!
18. Hardware Organizer
Ice cube trays are fantastic organizers for tiny objects. Using trays to organize small hardware like bolts, nails, and screws will make your projects easier. Save yourself from supplies rolling off the table and find the right size nail without any hassle.
Dan Cristian Pădureț on Unsplash
19. Lemon & Lime Juice Saver
Fresh lemon juice is divine but we don't always need the whole fruit. Save the juice of lemons and limes by freezing it in ice cube trays. By using frozen juice cubes, every time you want a squirt of lemon you don't have to break out the juicer.
20. Wax Candles
Light up your home with wax candles and tea lights you make with an ice cube tray. You can find trays in fun shapes like flowers or hearts to make extra special candles. Ice cube trays act as the perfect molds for all kinds of candle creations.
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