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Ice cube trays that spill, stick, or absorb freezer smells can be a major annoyance. If you reach for ice cubes often, a quality ice cube tray is a worthy investment. The best ice cube trays don’t drip, crack, or stick to the ice cubes. Also, some are designed to prevent unpleasant freezer tastes and smells.
Common ice cube tray materials include plastic, silicone, and stainless steel. Plastic trays are easy to find and use. They are often budget-friendly, but plastic can pick up freezer odors and is prone to cracking. Silicone trays are flexible and durable, but they also can absorb freezer smells. Stainless steel trays are very durable, but it can be more difficult to extract the ice.
Ice trays come in a range of materials, sizes, and shapes to make every type of ice cube imaginable. You can find fun novelty shapes, mini cubes, ice spheres, and more. Easy-release trays make taking out ice cubes a simpler task. Lids can stop freezer smells, prevent spills, and make stacking ice cube trays easier.
Our Top Picks
The best ice cube tray for you depends on your preferences. With the range of options on the market, you don’t need to settle for flimsy ice cube trays. Durable, easy-release, and covered trays make ice cubes easier to make and help banish freezer-burned cubes. The following ice cube trays can keep your drinks cold without hassle.
Best Overall
glacio Small Ice Cube Silicone Trays
These silicone ice cube trays from glacio come as a convenient two-pack. They are flexible and have an easy-push design to quickly release ice cubes with just a bit of pressure. They are made from high-grade, nonstick silicone that is BPA-free. The silicone does not crack like some plastic trays.
Each ice cube tray holds 21 small cubes. Each tray includes a stackable lid so you can use both trays without taking up much freezer space. With both trays holding 42 ice cubes total, this set is great for entertaining.
The lids seal securely to keep freezer odors out. Glacio also recommends these trays for frozen juice, popsicles, baby food portions, or coffee ice cubes. This set is a versatile option for a reasonable price.
Best Bang For The Buck
OMorc Ice Cube Trays 4 Pack, Easy-Release Silicone
This four-pack of ice cube trays from OMorc is an affordable pick that doesn’t skimp on design. Each tray holds 14 ice cubes for a total of 56 from the four trays.
The plastic and silicone tray is easy to use and each tray includes a removable lid. The lid is stackable, allowing you to stack all four trays neatly without any sticking. The lid also protects the cubes from absorbing freezer odors.
The top of each tray is BPA-free plastic, with a silicone base in each ice cube cavity. The plastic top means you can fill the tray without it flexing and spilling like many silicone trays. The silicone base material is flexible and allows you to pop ice cubes out when they are ready. These trays also are dishwasher-safe so you can put them in the dishwasher for a deep clean.
Upgrade Pick
Morfone 2 Pack Silicone Ice Cube Trays with Lid Scoop
Make and store ice cubes with this tray and bucket set. The set includes two ice cube trays, a handy bin with a lid, and an ice scoop. Each tray holds 32 cubes, so you can make 64 cubes with this set. The bin and scoop can be used for serving beverages.
The ice cube trays are made from food-grade silicone that is nontoxic and BPA-free. It is flexible and releases the ice cubes easily. The trays fit inside the bin, so you can put the entire unit neatly into the freezer. The bin’s lid protects the trays from freezer odors. The simple design fits inside your freezer or on the countertop when entertaining guests.
Best Plastic
OXO Good Grips No-Spill Ice Cube Tray
This classic plastic ice cube tray from OXO Good Grips includes an innovative silicone lid. The silicone lid seals water into the tray so you can store the tray at an angle.
Just fill the tray with water and smooth the silicone lid while pouring out excess water. This action forms a seal, so you can carry the tray from the sink to the freezer and even store it on an angle without worrying about spills. The lid also prevents unpleasant freezer smells and allows for stacking multiple trays. The lid is removable for easy cleaning, and the entire unit is dishwasher-safe.
This tray makes 14 ice cubes. The plastic base is rounded to release ice cubes easily. It also has a contoured handle so you can get a good grip for filling, carrying, and popping out the ice cubes.
Best Silicone
Wu0026P Peak Silicone Everyday Ice Tray with Lid
The Everyday Ice Tray two-pack from W&P Peak is made from flexible silicone with an embedded steel frame. The steel frame gives structure and rigidity to the tray. This framing makes the trays easy to fill, carry, and stack without bending or spilling.
Each tray includes a lid to keep freezer smells out and make them easily stackable. The trays and lids are made from BPA- and lead-free silicone that meets LFGB requirements (European food-grade standards). This set is dishwasher-safe.
Unlike the attached compartments in many silicone trays, each ice cube has its own compartment. This design makes it easier to release each ice cube. It lets you pop out one cube at a time without needing to twist and crack the tray. This tray has a trendy minimalist design and creates 12 perfectly square ice cubes.
Best Stainless Steel
RSVP International Endurance Ice Cube Tray
The retro design of this stainless steel ice cube tray is inspired by the ice cube trays of the 1950s. It uses a lever system to break the ice cubes apart—a process similar to that used with the aluminum ice cube trays of previous decades.
This tray holds 18 ice cubes and can be used to freeze sauces, purees, and baby food. Made from a durable and corrosion-resistant 18/8 stainless steel, the polished steel looks stylish and also is dishwasher-safe. Stainless steel is a well-suited material for ice cube trays. It doesn’t absorb freezer smells or food odors like some more porous materials, and stainless steel is BPA-free.
Best For Large Ice Cubes
Ticent Silicone Sphere and Cube Ice Cube Molds
This large ice cube and ice sphere set from Ticent is the ideal set for whiskey and cocktail drinkers. It includes two trays: one square ice cube tray that creates six 2-inch ice cubes and one ice ball mold that creates six 1.75-inch spheres.
These larger ice shapes have a greater surface area and melt slower than smaller cubes, making them ideal for alcoholic drinks. They’re also a great pick for nonalcoholic drinks since they won’t dilute your drink as quickly as small ice cubes.
The large ice cubes are easy to twist out of the soft molds. Both trays are made from a nonstick, easy-release silicone that is food grade and BPA-free. The trays are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
If you carry iced water with you in a bottle, these narrow ice stick trays are an excellent pick. This package includes three ice stick trays that hold 10 ice sticks each, for a total of 30 ice sticks.
Each ice stick is 3.75 inches long and .75 of an inch in diameter, making them narrow enough to fit through a standard water bottle opening. This means no more shoving or chipping away at ice cubes to fit them in your water bottle. The narrow surface area also means these ice sticks freeze faster than larger ice cubes.
The trays are made from BPA-free silicone that is flexible and easily pops the ice stick out. They also include a plastic cover for easy stacking and keeping freezer smells out. Each ice stick has its own compartment, which means you can remove individual sticks.