Get Hacking with your Ice Cube Tray

​This one-dollar kitchen tool is a lot handier than you thought.

From single-serve cookie dough to Garbage Disposal Fresheners , why stick to ice cubes when the tray that’s been hiding in your freezer can do so much more? With a little imagination, it can serve as a mold, organizer, food platter and more. Ice cube trays are about to become your favorite kitchen gadgets once you get a load of these simple ice cube tray hacks and tricks.




Almond milk ice cubes


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​Almond milk ice cubes - These almond milk cubes are perfect for smoothies and coffee drinks. Whether you freeze a small-batch or create your own homemade recipe, these almond milk cubes will keep you cool and your drinks delish all summer long.




Aloe Vera Cubes


​​Aloe Vera Cubes - When summer hits, and the sun is in full force, try these aloe vera cubes to soothe your sunburn. Aloe vera gel helps skin retain moisture and helps prevent peeling. Add a little Lavender essential oil which helps speed the healing of sun burned skin. Combine the two and freeze for a summer refreshment that your skin will appreciate.




Bacon Fat Cubes



Bacon Fat Cubes - Bacon fat is a flavorful oil and great to cook with. Store the oil in ice cube trays for future use. When you are ready to use the bacon fat cubes, just pop them out of the tray and place in your frying pan. Check out the many ways you can use the bacon fat cubes at Taste of Home.






Coconut Oil Bath Melts




Coconut Oil Bath Melts - Treat yourself to an all-natural bath. To make the melts, place coconut oil in a double boiler and melt until liquid. Carefully remove from the double-boiler and stir in citrus zest. Using a silicone ice cube mold or ice cube tray (make sure they’re BPA-free), spoon the mixture in. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until completely solid. Run a bath and drop in one of the melts.





Freeze buttermilk



​Freeze buttermilk for future use. - Buttermilk will last up to three months frozen. Now you never have to let the rest of the container go to waste. When measuring out into the cube compartments, make sure to equally measure how many tablespoons are in each cube. Now, when you need buttermilk, just pop it out, thaw and add.






Freeze fruit juice or fruit



​Freeze fruit juice or fruit - add it to seltzer water. - So good.






Freeze Homemade Stock



Freeze homemade chicken and vegetable stock for future use. - Only thaw what you need! It should be OK to use for up to three months.
Homemade chicken broth can bring your dishes from average to extraordinary because of its rich flavor. But finding a recipe that doesn’t look complicated can be daunting.






Freeze your herbs in olive oil



​Freeze your herbs in olive oil so they don't go to waste. - Fill the ice cube compartments about 2/3 full of herbs. Pour extra-virgin olive oil, covering the herbs. Top the tray with plastic wrap and freeze for several hours or overnight. Remove the frozen cubes from the ice trays and store in freezer bags. 




Garbage Disposal Fresheners

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​Garbage Disposal Fresheners - Your garbage disposal can stink up a storm. To keep your sink (and your entire kitchen) smelling nice, you have to keep the disposal fresh smelling. Accomplish this easily with these citrus ice cubes. Freeze vinegar and lemon slices into cubes, then pop them down the disposal for a fresh scent that will fill your entire home.




Freeze Your Own Baby Food



​Make and Freeze Your Own Baby Food - You can make your own homemade baby food, which ensures that your little one gets all-natural foods. You can use ice cube trays to freeze your homemade baby food so that it stays fresh longer. Baby food will last for several months in the freezer and the little ice cube slots are the perfect portions for babies. You just thaw out what you need and the rest is there for later.





Beef Broth Dog Treats




Make Beef Broth Dog Treats -A great way to make treats for your pup.

Ingredients - 1 cup beef stock  - ¼ cup crushed dog treats
Instructions - Dissolve beef bouillon cube in warm water - Pour into ice cube trays - Add  dog treats.
Freeze until solid and serve!







Bite Sized Candy Bars




Make Bite Sized Candy Bars - They make the perfect squares of candy and are just the right size for smaller snacks and treat bags. You can create just about any candy bar recipe that has plenty of taste and is much easier to mold into ice cube tray slots. You may want to spray the slots with just a bit of non-stick cooking spray before adding the chocolate. Make your own peanut butter cups.
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Chai Iced Tea Cubes


​Make Chai Iced Tea Cubes - These tea cubes are very easy to make and you can store them in the freezer for several months in a freezer bag. You just mix up the ingredients for the tea and then pour into your ice cube trays and allow to freeze for an hour or so.  Easy Chai Tea Recipe
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Make coffee ice cubes for your iced coffee. - No more watered-down iced coffee!






Chocolate ice cubes



Make chocolate ice cubes and add them to vanilla milk. -
A prefect way to cool off in the summer. Besides, who doesn't love chocolate milk?

​Cold as Ice Chocolate Ice Cubes





Chocolate-covered cheesecake bites


Make chocolate-covered cheesecake bites. - These Ice Cube Tray Chocolate Covered Cheesecakes are wonderful, and great for portion control. 

Ice Cube Tray Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Bites With Raspberries

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Chocolate-covered strawberries




Make chocolate-covered strawberries. -You need: *12 medium-sized strawberries * 12-ounce bag of chocolate chips
Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, or in a makeshift double boiler. Heat until chocolate is melted, and stir until smooth. Fill each ice cube slot about 2/3 full with chocolate. Place one strawberry in each slot. Place tray in refrigerator and chill for at least one hour until chocolate is set.







Make Crayons



​Make Crayons - Instead of throwing out old crayons, simply peel the paper off, put them in a silicone ice cube tray and bake for a few minutes. The crayons will melt into each other creating new crayons. Use fun shaped ice cube trays, you will have fun shaped crayons for the kids. Note that you will have to use silicone trays for this, plastic will melt in the oven.




Make crazy interesting cocktails



Make crazy interesting cocktails. - The piña colada ice cubes are alternating layers of pineapple juice and coconut milk. 

15 Great Blended Cocktails to Enjoy This Summer






Make delicious slushies



Make delicious slushies that won't taste watered down. - Freezing and blending cubes of juice means more flavor and less hassle. 

Slushie Recipes






Leftover wine



Make ice cubes with leftover wine. - If for some reason you have leftover wine, make ice cubes for sangria or to cook with in the future.

Best-Ever Red Sangria






Make Jell-O shots



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Make Jell-O shots. -
Try these Cosmopolitan Jell-O Shots made in an ice cube tray.

Rice Krispies Poppers



Make Rice Krispies Poppers - Make traditional Rice Krispies treats, then mix it up just a bit by forming your treats in the slots of ice cube trays. They come out in smaller bite sized pieces which are absolutely perfect for parties or any snack time. Once they have set properly, you can pop them out and dip them in chocolate and sprinkles or just serve them plain. 






Sugar Scrub Cubes




Make Sugar Scrub Cubes - If you love sugar scrubs, you can make your own and form them perfectly with old ice cube trays. When making them this size, you can store them all together but grab one cube each time you want to scrub. These are great for gifts as well. Just make them up and add them to a mason jar or other glass container or keep them for yourself. 

Seed Bombs



​Make Your Own Seed Bombs - If you have areas that are otherwise lacking in color, you can just throw a few seed bombs on them and they will begin to grow beautiful colors to cover up those otherwise boring areas. You can use ice cube trays to help you shape the seed bombs and to keep all of the ingredients inside until they mold properly. 




Organize Your Craft Supplies



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​Organize Your Craft Supplies - This ideas for organizing craft supplies is exactly what you need if you feel overloaded with crafting clutter and need an inspiring way to conquer the mess!

Sushi




Pretend you're a master sushi roller by using the ice cube tray as a mold. - …maybe a little bit brilliant.
Cube Sushi Recipe here.






Sauce Cubes



​Sauce Cubes - Extra sauce from dinner? Don’t throw it away! Instead freeze it for the next time you need it by storing it in you ice cube tray. You’ll have convenient cubes of any sauce that will help you make your next dinner a breeze. 

Seed Planter




​Seed Planter -Ice cube trays make a great DIY seed planter! We suggest drilling little holes in the bottom so the water can drain out of your soil and the roots of your seedlings won’t rot.

Stock Up On Pesto



Stock Up On Pesto - Pesto is great for soups, dips, salad dressings and many other recipes. You simply make the pesto , freeze it in the individual ice cube slots and you have the perfect portion size for adding to all of your favorite dishes. You can store the frozen pesto cubes in freezer bags and they will keep for several months.

Toddler Lunch Divider



​Toddler Lunch Divider - Take an ice cube tray and fill it with a bunch of different finger foods. Watch as your child eats more that you’ve seen in weeks. Seriously. My kids pretty much emptied their trays almost every time.




Homemade Cookie Dough



Use your ice cube tray to portion out homemade cookie dough. - Next time you make cookies, bake half of them and put the rest into an ice cube tray to freeze. Then when you want something sweet, you can just take one cookie out and bake it.
Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Frozen Yogurt Bites



​Frozen Yogurt Bites - These yogurt bites can be made with any type of yogurt and any fruits, nuts, or chocolates can be added in for a little extra! They make for a refreshing snack on a hot afternoon or a light dessert at a summer picnic.




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