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20 Creative Uses for Silicone Ice Cube Trays – How to Use Ice Cube Trays

These 20 creative uses for extra large silicone ice cube trays show that they are not just for making ice!

If you eat and drink out much, you may have noticed a new trend that has taken over the food and drink industry.

The ice cubes are getting larger and larger.

Large ice cubes are perfect for any drinks because the ice melts more slowly, which prevents your drink from getting watered down. So it makes perfect sense for bars to use them.

Large silicone ice cube trays with food and drinks in a collage and words reading 20 creative uses for big silicone ice cube trays

Questions about silicone ice cube trays

I get questions about these ice cube trays from readers all the time. Here are a few of them answered:

Can silicone ice cube trays be used for baking?

Yes, they can. Since these ice cube trays are made of silicone, they can take up up to 450 degrees F.

You can use them in a conventional oven, a convection oven or a microwave oven.

How often should silicone ice cube trays be washed?

If you are using the trays to make ice cubes, wash them once a month. For other uses, wash the trays each time you use them so that the odors don’t transfer.

It is best to have dedicated trays for non food uses for safety’s sake.

Are silicone ice cube trays safe to freeze?Silicone ice cube trays in the freezer.

Good quality, food grade silicone trays are made without petroleum based chemicals, BPA, BPS or other fillers.

It is safe to store food in them in the fridge or freezer.

Silicone trays are actually safer than normal plastic ice cube trays.

Are silicone ice cube trays dishwasher safe?

Yes, just toss these onto the top rack and wash with your dishes as usual.

Do you have some of the big silicone ice cube trays at home? They aren't just for making ice cubes. Find out else you can do with them on The Gardening Cook. Click To Tweet

How to use silicone ice cube trayshands releasing food from silicone ice cube trays.

These extra large ice cube trays are not just for ice cubes. There are lots of creative ways to use them.

I am a huge fan of silicone kitchen products. From silicone baking mats to muffin cups and ice cube trays, these products can take the heat and the cold.

I like to think outside the box a bit when it comes to using kitchen products, so I came up with 20 creative ideas for using this wonderful kitchen gadget.

Be sure to check out my article that shows how to use silicone baking mats. It has lots of creative tips to try.

You can make your own super sized ice cubes just by freezing water in small Dixie cups.

Take it a step further with these special extra large silicone ice cube trays. The make this job much easier and takes up much less space in the freezer too.large frozen ice cube in a glass with cocktail sticks and a pretty napkin.

So now that you have your handy tool, and know that will be an essential bar tool, what else can you do with it other than making sure you don’t have watered down drinks?

2. Use big ice cube trays to freeze gravy

The next thing that pops into my mind comes from a trick that I learned when my husband and I were traveling in Germany before we were married.

Some friends that we met there hosted dinner for us and I remember the guy asking “are you a one cube or a two cube gravy person?”

They had frozen left over gravy and then just popped a cube or two for each person when they had a roast.

Well, with these ice cube trays, we are one just a “one cube person!” Don’t throw out that extra gravy after you have a roast.

Freeze it in these trays and then take out what you need one or two cubes at a time. (Believe it or not, each cavity holds 1/2 cup of gravy!)

Frozen left over gravy made n silicone ice cube trays near some raw chicken.
3. Freeze tomato paste to use later in ice cube trays

There are tubes of tomato paste which you can use for just a few tablespoons at a time, but they are quite pricey.

Buy the cheaper larger cans of tomato paste and then use what you need and freeze the left overs in the silicone ice cube trays for later use.

This saves money and waste as well.

Frozen left over tomato paste made in a silicone ice cube tray.

4. Save buttermilk for later

I love recipes with buttermilk but find that even the smaller containers have more in them than I would use in just a few weeks.

Use what you need for your recipe and freeze the remainder for another day.

Just freeze then pop into zip lock bags and label the package with today’s date.

Frozen buttermilk cubes near a bottle of cultured low fat buttermilk.

5. Make coffee flavored chocolate milk in silicone ice cube trays

Most coffee drinkers also like the taste of cold chocolate milk. Mix them together for a great taste sensation.

Make yours special with a specialty “cookies and cream” coffee flavored chocolate milk. Do this by breaking up cookies such as Keebler chocolate cookies into small pieces in the ice cube cavities.

Pour coffee over the top and freeze in large silicone ice cube trays.Specialty iced coffee in silicone ice cube trays made with coffee and cookie pieces.

Once you have your cubes, pour a cold glass of chocolate milk and add a bit of cocoa powder and sugar.

Drop in your coffee flavored ice cube.

It will start out like chocolate milk, but gradually take of the taste of coffee as the cube melts and leave you with a gooey cookie surprise at the bottom of the glass.

Cookies and cream coffee flavored chocolate milk in a glass with a green napkin.6. Silicone ice cube tray juice pops

I have those special Popsicle makers somewhere in one of my drawers but can never lay my hands on them when I want to make the darn things.

You can also make healthy Popsicles by freezing your favorite fruit juice. Just add a Popsicle stick or even a small spoon into the center of large silicone ice cubes trays filled with juice and freeze.

The size is perfect for a snack and you will know it is not filled with refined sugar. My husband was just diagnosed with high cholesterol.

I made these juice pops from Minute Maid orange juice with added Sterols as a treat for him. (It is supposed to slightly lower cholesterol)

orange juice pops made in silicone ice cube trays on a white and blue plate with a red napkin.

7. Freeze coconut milk for later

I make curries all the time and one of the ingredients often called for is coconut milk. But normally, a recipe will ask for a cup, or 1/2 cup and the cans contain so much more.

Just freeze the left over coconut milk in big silicone ice cube trays, then place the cubes in zip locks and date.

The next time you make a curry, you’ll have the coconut milk and won’t have wasted a drop!

frozen coconut milk cubes on a plate with napkin and can of lite coconut milk.

8.Home made stock freezes well in these trays

Save your left over vegetable scraps, or chicken or beef bones and add water and make your own home made stock.

Use what you need now for soup or other recipes and freeze the remainder in these over sized ice cube trays.

Need a cup of stock for a recipe later? No problem. Just pop out two frozen stock cubes and add it to your recipe.

Home made stock in just a few minutes! This plate has veggie stock, chicken stock and beef stock all ready to use in a future recipe.

Veggie stock, chicken stock and beef stock cubes on a white plate.
9. Single serving sweet treats can be baked in silicone ice cube trays

If you are anything like me, having lots of brownies or cupcakes out means that I’ll just eat them.

Make your favorite mix and only keep out what you need for today or tomorrow. Freeze the rest in the silicone tray.

Or, better yet, make them to order. There are loads of coffee mug cake recipes out there on the internet.

Mix them up and drop the batter into the ice cube trays and microwave or bake them.

Since the trays are made of silicone, they can withstand heat up to 450 degrees. This one is my banana chocolate cupcake recipe.

single serve treat of chocolate cake.
10. Silicone ice cube tray egg muffins

Drop some diced ham, or line the cavity of the silicone trays with ham slices.

Add some sliced mushrooms, diced peppers or whatever you like in your eggs and then mix some eggs and milk together.

Pour over the milk mixture and bake for about 20 minutes at 350º.

You can even add the cracked egg whole and then put shredded cheese on the top for an egg muffin with a runny surprise center.

Freeze the ones you don’t use and pop them out when you want breakfast on the go.

Rgg cups made in silicone ice cube trays.

More creative uses for extra large silicone ice cube trays

We aren’t done yet. There are lots of other ideas for using these big silicone ice cube trays. You’ll be surprised to see what else you can do with them!

11. DIY Soaps made in silicone ice cube trays

Combine blocks of glycerin, with some liquid food coloring in different colors in batches. Heat it in the microwave and if you wish, grease the cavities of the silicone trays with petroleum jelly.

Pour the melted and colored glycerin into silicone ice cube trays and let it sit for a few hours.

The soaps will pop right out of the cavities. Store in a fancy jar in the bathroom. The soaps will get smaller with each wash of the hands, of course.

Makes lovely guest sized soaps in pretty colors. Don’t use much food coloring, since it is very concentrated.

Soap cubes in bath cannisters.

12. Silicone ice cube trays for baby food

When my daughter was a baby, I would take the food that I had made for our dinner that was not too spicy and puree it in a blender.

These 1/2 cup sized ice cube portions are the perfect size for baby food. I credit my daughter not being a picky eater to doing this when she was younger.

She has always eaten whatever we eat. Fruits can be pureed and frozen for later use too. The size is just perfect.

Baby with spoon and food on face.

13. Spaghetti sauce frozen in ice cube trays

Ever needed just a cup of tomato sauce for a recipe and then found the rest of the bottle growing mold a few months later in the back of the fridge?

No more with these large silicone ice cube trays. Immediately freeze, then pop out, store in zip lock baggies and label. Next time you need just a cup, you will have it handy and won’t have to waste another bottle.

14. Frozen yogurt cubes

There are so many lovely flavors of yoghurt now. Freeze some of them for a healthy low cal “ice cream” treat in exactly 1/2 cup servings.

Greek yoghurt is rich and creamy and makes a great healthy dessert when topped with your favorite fruit.

Frozen yogurt cubes with pomegranate toppings.

15. Freeze left over wine

Wait…is there such a thing as left over wine? Well, if you do have just a bit in the bottle, place it in the handy 1/2 cup cavities and freeze.

Many recipes call for 1/2 cup of wine, so you will have it handy. This can be done with both white and red wine.

Also, what could be better to chill down white wine that is at room temperature than a big ole white wine ice cube? Brilliant!

(Note, the frozen wine will be more like a slushy ice cube because of freezing qualities of wine, but it will still keep the wine cold without diluting it.)

Frozen wine cubes in a glass of wine with cocktail sticks and a peach colored napkin.
16. Preserve end of season herbs in ice cube trays

At the end of the summer, bring in the last of your fresh herbs and dice them and place them in the cavities of the large ice cube trays.

Cover with olive oil, coconut oil, or stock and freeze. Pop out, store in zip locks and label.

Perfect for fresh herb taste all winter long for your favorite recipes.

Olive oil or coconut oil is best because it preserves the freshness and prevents some of the freezer burn. (see some other ways to use up end of season herbs here.)

Frozen fresh herbs in butter in silicone ice trays.When the cubes are hardened, label them and put in zip lock bags for later.

This picture shows basil cubes, rosemary cubes, mixed herb cubes, tarragon cubes, parsley cubes and thyme cubes.

What a wonderful thing they will be to have to cook during the winter when most herbs are dormant.

Get more ideas for preserving herbs here.

Frozen fresh herbs in olive oil o a blue and yellow plate.

17. Freeze left over sauces in big silicone trays

My husband and I love food with sauces, but I usually end up with more then just the two of us can eat.

Freeze the left over sauce in the ice cube trays and you will have it to dress up plain chicken or beef the next time you are in a hurry for dinner.

18. Freeze left over coffee for ice coffee

Do you have a pot of really good freshly brewed coffee but can’t drink it all? Freeze it in these big ice cube trays and use it to make iced coffee later.

The large sized cubes will melt very slowly and keep the drink really cold without watering it down like normal ice cubes will do.

Just pour over 1/3 freshly brewed coffee and 2/3 milk.

iced coffee in a glass with a red napkin.

19. Healthy smoothies

Do you add spinach or kale to smoothies? Puree until smooth and add to the silicone ice cube trays.

Use the frozen kale or spinach cubes later to make healthy smoothies for a fast morning drink.

20. Make pretty fruit cubes

There are times of the year when citrus fruits are a real bargain. Buy them in bulk and use the juice to make extra large fruit juice cubes.

Add to sparkling water or mixed drinks for a taste that won’t get watering as the cubes melt.

Cherry frozen in a large ice cube

Pin these silicone ice cube trays for later

Would you like a reminder of ways to use ice cube trays made of silicone? Just pin this image to one of your household tips boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

Hands with large ice cubes, soap cubes and herb cubes and text reading 20 Uses for Silicone Ice Cube Trays

Admin note: this post for using silicone ice cube trays first appeared on the blog in March of 2015. I have update the post to add new photos, more tips, a printable project card and a video for you to enjoy.

Yield: 12 herb cubes

Freezing Herbs in Olive Oil

Herbs frozen in olive oil.

Preserve the last of the seasons fresh herbs by freezing them in ice cube trays in olive oli.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Estimated Cost $1

Materials

  • Fresh herbs
  • Extra virgin oiive oil

Tools

  • Ice cube tray

Instructions

  1. Be sure to choose very fresh herbs. Chop the herbs or cut them into small pieces or use leaves.
  2. Fill each of the ice cube tray sections about 2/3 full of herb pieces.
  3. Pour extra virgin olive oil over the herbs.
  4. Cover the ice cube tray with a cover, or use plastic wrap to seal it.
  5. Freeze several hours, or overnight.
  6. When the cubes are frozen, place them in zip lock freezer bags and label with type of herb and date.
  7. To use later, remove a single cube and use it in a frying pin with your recipe.

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Edward J Kirby

Tuesday 18th of October 2022

I make a huge batch of slow-cooker sauerkraut (with apples, pork and all the extras) and then dole the portions into these large cubes. That constitutes a small portion for me -- a single guy -- to enjoy on a far more regular basis than I normally would.

Gotta get those probiotics into my system!

Carol Speake

Tuesday 18th of October 2022

Great idea Edward!

Handful

Monday 6th of April 2015

People have leftover wine?? ;)

Love the 1/2 cup portion!

admin

Monday 6th of April 2015

Hi! No left over wine in my house! LOL My favorite part of these is the half cup portion. That is what sets them apart! Carol

Sue Hull

Saturday 4th of April 2015

I love these big ice cube trays! I'm always saying I wish I could have bigger ice cubes, I drink lots of ice tea so these are perfect. Thank you for the chance :)

admin

Sunday 5th of April 2015

My pleasure Sue. I am really enjoying using mine! Carol

Nancy

Saturday 4th of April 2015

I like all the suggestions you gave for using this helper!

Dianna Davis

Saturday 4th of April 2015

Wow!! Now this is so great thank you so much for sharing-- I always take my left over coffe and put it in Ice trays to make my ice coffee drinks in the summer.

admin

Saturday 4th of April 2015

Hi Dianna. Glad you enjoyed the article. Carol

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission from the sale, but the price is the same for you. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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