There are many creative alternatives to standard plastic ice cube trays that can be used to make ice at home. While ice cube trays are inexpensive and readily available, other items can also be repurposed to make ice if you find yourself without trays.
Why Would You Need Alternatives to Ice Cube Trays?
There are a few common reasons why you may need to get creative when making ice:
- You don’t have any ice cube trays – If you’ve just moved or are staying somewhere temporarily without trays, you’ll need to improvise to make ice.
- Your existing trays have broken – Plastic trays can crack over time after repeated use and washing. If this happens, you’ll need a replacement.
- You need large cubes – Standard trays make small 1″ cubes. For chilling drinks without dilution, larger cubes are better.
- You want fun shaped ice – Ice cube trays come in all shapes for creative drinks. Without specialized trays, you can still make interesting ice.
- You need a lot of ice – Large gatherings may require more ice than a couple trays can provide.
In these situations, thinking outside the box can provide the ice you need using items you already have at home.
Silicone Molds
Silicone molds, including cake pans, candy molds, and cupcake liners can be used in place of ice cube trays:
- Cake pans – Silicone pans for cakes, muffins, or cupcakes make large cubed ice.
- Candy molds – Use chocolate, jello, or ice pop molds to make fun shaped ice.
- Cupcake liners – Paper or foil baking cups can hold 2 tablespoons water to make round ice.
Silicone molds make easy release ice cubes. Be sure molds are freezer safe and avoid fillings like fruit purees that may expand when frozen.
Metal Containers
Small metal tins, pans, and trays provide an inflexible alternative for making ice cubes:
- Metal ice cube trays – Vintage metal trays offer a durable option.
- Aluminum muffin tins – Make round ice disks for drinks instead of small cubes.
- Metal baking pans – Use mini-loaf pans or cake pans for large cubes.
- Aluminum pie pans – Disposable aluminum pie pans can be bent into cubes or cut into sections.
Metal conducts temperature well resulting in fast freezing. Avoid items prone to rusting and lubricate molds first for easy ice removal.
Glassware
Glass baking dishes, ovenware, and food storage containers make clear ice cubes:
- Glass baking dishes – Use square and rectangular dishes for uniformly shaped cubes.
- Glass jars – Square mason jars or round jam jars work well.
- Ovenware – Old glass oven dishes, cake pans, or pie plates can be used.
- Food containers – Square and rectangular glass food prep and storage containers make clear cubes.
Avoid thin glassware prone to cracking when frozen. Insulate glass to prevent sticking and cracking. Let ice warm slightly before removing from molds.
Ice Pop Molds
Ice pop molds and tubes allow you to make long blocks of ice:
- Plastic molds – Make long cuboid blocks or fun shapes.
- Silicone molds – Flexible for easy removal of ice.
- Metal molds – Quickly conducts cold.
- Ice pop tubes – Fill reusable plastic tubes with water and freeze.
Ice pop molds make easy cubes to fill water bottles. Avoid fillings that may expand and crack plastic molds.
Plastic Containers
Many plastic containers found around the home can be upcycled into ice cube trays:
- Food containers – Durable plastic food storage containers come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
- Yogurt cups – Reuse clean single serve yogurt cups to make round cubes.
- Cottage cheese containers – Rectangular containers work well.
- Ice cube bags – Reusable plastic bags can be filled with water and frozen.
Avoid thin plastic prone to cracking and allow ice cubes to warm up before removing to prevent cracking.
Everyday Household Items
Many household objects can be repurposed to make ice:
- Ice stick trays – Refill stick handles with water and freeze to make long cubes.
- Soap molds – Make fun shaped cubes using plastic molds for soaps, candles, or chocolates.
- Muffin pans – Paper liners in muffin pans hold 2-3 tablespoons water for round cubes.
- Aluminum bread pans – Disposable foil bread loaf pans can be molded into shape.
Everyday flexible silicone and sturdy metal items tend to work best for improvised ice.
Unusual Ice Cube Tray Substitutes
In a real pinch, some very unconventional items can be used to make ice:
- Ice stick molds
- Soap molds
- Muffin pans
- Aluminum bread pans
- Lego blocks
- Ice pop tubes
- Balloon ice molds
- Condom ice molds
- Breast milk storage trays
- Whiskey stones
- Silicone ice ball makers
- Coffeemaker water reservoirs
- Ice bags
The above items can be used in a pinch, but work best for small batches and specialty shaped ice. Most standard ice cube tray alternatives make 1-3 trays worth of ice.
Filling and Freezing Ice Cube Substitutes
Follow these tips when freezing ice in makeshift molds:
- Use cool or room temperature water – Hot water may crack trays.
- Fill molds 3/4 full to allow for expansion as water freezes.
- Tap trays gently to remove air bubbles.
- Freeze ice overnight or for at least 6 hours for solid cubes.
- For clear ice, insulate trays with towels to freeze slowly.
- Let ice warm up slightly before removing from trays.
- Avoid fillings that may expand and crack trays like fruit or carbonated liquids.
Conclusion
With some creativity and improvisation, many common household items can be used to make ice cubes. Silicone molds, metal tins, glassware, ice pop molds, plastic containers, and everyday items around the kitchen can be repurposed when you find yourself without ice cube trays. In a pinch, even unconventional items like Lego blocks or condoms can be filled with water and frozen to make custom shaped ice. Follow some simple guidelines for filling and freezing, and your makeshift molds will produce quality ice cubes.
| Ice Cube Tray Substitute | Ice Cube Shape | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Silicone cake pans | Large cubes | 2-3 trays |
| Candy molds | Novelty shapes | 1-2 trays |
| Cupcake liners | Rounded cubes | 2 trays |
| Metal ice cube trays | Cubed | 2-3 trays |
| Aluminum muffin tins | Round disks | 1 tray |
| Glass food containers | Clear cubes | 1 tray |
| Ice pop molds | Long blocks | 2 trays |
| Yogurt cups | Rounded cubes | 1 tray |
| Soap molds | Novelty shapes | 1 tray |
Key Takeaways
- Silicone molds, metal tins, glassware, ice pop molds, and plastic containers can be used in place of ice cube trays.
- Unconventional items like Lego blocks, ice pop tubes, soap molds, and condoms can also be used to make custom shaped ice.
- Make sure alternatives are freezer safe and avoid fillings that may expand when frozen.
- Letting ice warm up slightly aids removal from molds.
- Most makeshift molds yield 1-3 ice cube trays worth of ice.