The Finest Ice Dice Trays of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

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We’ve formally turned the calendar to spring, and with the change in seasons additionally come a number of adjustments in our culinary habits. From swapping hearty stews for refreshing salads and oatmeal for smoothies, everybody likes to lighten it up and funky issues down as soon as the temperatures rise. Whether or not you dedicate your mornings to making chilly brew or your evenings to a refreshing highball cocktail, utilizing high quality ice is essential.

We examined 15 common ice dice trays from manufacturers together with OXO and W&P to find out which trays made one of the best ice for our drinks. We additionally included a number of choices for sphere ice, massive rocks, and storing leftovers. The perfect ice dice trays will probably be high quality additions to your kitchen that don’t require as a lot house as a countertop ice maker —  simply in time for iced espresso season.

Ice Tray

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W&P


W&P is a model identified for creating kitchen equipment which can be quality-made and classy, making them stunning and practical additions to your on a regular basis routine. Their Peak Silicone On a regular basis Ice Tray has a thick silicone design strengthened with a metal body for straightforward, spill-free transporting. The tray makes 12 1.25-inch ice cubes that may be individually popped out (as a substitute of cracking and dislodging a complete tray) with a push of the silicone dice base. The tray has a safe high, which retains liquids inside and prevents rogue cubes from falling out as soon as frozen. 

Throughout our testing, we preferred this ice dice tray’s versatile however agency form, which made it simpler to fill and transport to the freezer with out spillage. Whereas we preferred its handy cowl, which protected the liquid whereas freezing and saved freezer odors from leeching in, we wished it snapped on extra securely. The cubes made utilizing the tray have been good and strong, with none bubbles or hole spots within the center — although we famous they have been a bit cloudy and had a skinny layer of freezer burn on high if we overfilled the tray. This tray is compact, dishwasher secure, and simple to scrub and dry by hand. General, this ice dice tray is good for a pair or small family that received’t undergo greater than 12 cubes a day. It is glossy and classy, so it made opening our freezer on daily basis really feel just a little bit extra enjoyable.

Materials: Silicone, metal | Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.6 x 1.6 inches | Variety of Cubes: 12 per tray | Dice Measurement: 1.25 inches | Dice Form: Sq.

Amazon Jrisbo Ice Cube Tray with Lid and Bin

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Amazon


If you wish to create ice in bulk for a cocktail social gathering, you may’t go fallacious with this assortment of 4 trays from Jrisbo. Every silicone and plastic design creates 14 cubes, that means you may crank out 56 cubes without delay. Your buy additionally comes with a number of useful equipment, together with 4 steel straws, an ice scoop, steel ice dice tongs, and a plastic storage container that holds your trays as they freeze and retains your cubes prepared for drinks.

Whereas testing this assortment of trays, we preferred how simple they made the method of making massive batches of ice without delay. Whereas the cubes created utilizing these trays have been on the smaller aspect, we discovered them to be the perfect measurement for nonalcoholic drinks like water or seltzer. As a result of this set comes with so many transferring elements (4 trays, serving utensils, a field, and a lid), there was so much to scrub without delay, however scoring loads of bulk ice made it value it. These trays made it harder to take away the cubes than different silicone designs on our listing. Nonetheless, getting the grasp of the mandatory twisting maneuver was simple. 

Materials: Silicone, plastic | Dimensions: 10 x 4 x 1 inches | Variety of Cubes: 14 per tray | Dice Measurement: 1.73 x 1.18 x 1 inches | Dice Form: Rectangle

Clearly Frozen Clear Ice Cube Tray

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Amazon


We advocate this ClearlyFrozen choose for cocktail fans critical about ice and seeking to obtain crystal-clear cubes. Because the identify suggests, it’ll make it easier to mildew pristine ice that appears nice in a spring cocktail or mocktail. The multi-piece design comes with a silicone tray, in addition to a bigger container and foam encompass, which make it easier to obtain directional freezing, inflicting the ice to crystalize downward and pushing the dissolved air — which is what makes regular ice cloudy — via the holes within the backside of the mildew, leaving clear ice above.

Testing this ice dice tray was a multi-step course of. To begin, you’ll fill the included foam field with round two inches of water, then insert the mildew and fill it with water to the fill line. You then place all the unit inside your freezer till frozen, which takes about 24 hours for greatest outcomes. The model recommends utilizing unfiltered water to attain one of the best outcomes, and all the course of takes an honest period of time, to not point out an incredible little bit of freezer house. Nonetheless, the outcomes have been spectacular and it is a worthy splurge for cocktail connoisseurs or anybody keen to place within the effort it takes to attain luxe cocktail ice.  

Materials: Silicone, plastic, foam | Dimensions: 12 x 6 x 6 inches | Variety of Cubes: 10 per tray | Dice Measurement: 2 inches | Dice Form: Sq.

Amazon Cocktail Kingdom 1.25-Inch Square Ice Cube Tray

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Amazon


Execs

  • At 1.25 inches, this tray makes smaller cubes than many different true squares in the marketplace, making them nice for blended drinks and cocktails.

Spend any time at a bar that takes their cocktails significantly and also you’ll discover a pattern: Sq. is the place it’s at. Should you often play bartender at residence, think about including Cocktail Kingdom’s sq. ice dice tray to your property bar cart. Made out of mushy however sturdy silicone, this versatile tray makes freezing completely sq. cubes — and eradicating single cubes at a time — a cinch. The food-grade rubber received’t impart any taste or odor to your ice, so you may sip your spicy margarita whereas having fun with the pure flavors of your tequila and lime. 

Throughout testing, we liked how this tray simply cranked out straight-edged squares that seemed spectacular however required little effort. They froze quick and strong, and whereas they weren’t crystal clear, they weren’t tremendous cloudy both. In contrast to among the different silicone tray choices on our listing, this one doesn’t have a body help of any sort and, due to that, it may be a bit tough to hold whereas stuffed with liquid to your freezer with out spilling. The shortage of construction additionally makes coming out cubes a two-handed job, however that didn’t hassle us. This tray makes 15 ice cubes per batch. That’s one of many highest capacities on our listing for a single tray. 

Materials: Silicone | Dimensions: 7.35 x 4.5 x 1.5 inches | Variety of Cubes: 15 per tray | Dice Measurement: 1.25 inches | Dice Form: Sq.

TINANA Crystal Clear Ice Ball Maker

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Amazon


One thing a few completely spherical sphere of ice defies logic and immediately wows a crowd, making Tinana’s Crystal Clear Ice Ball Maker the choose for anybody seeking to impress as an beginner mixologist. This design is simply as practical as most of the higher-end sphere ice devices in the marketplace, however far cheaper than pricier items that routinely ring up at 3 times the fee. Whereas making spherical ice takes for much longer than conventional cubes (24 to 36 hours, to be precise), this mildew is in any other case fairly hands-off, so that you received’t should stroll via a number of steps or complicated equipment to make attractive globe ice a actuality. 

This four-sphere silicone mildew took high honors throughout our hunt for greatest sphere ice molds, and we liked it a lot we needed to embrace it right here, too. All it is advisable to do is fill the molds with water and place them throughout the bigger insulted dice that helps forestall the ice from absorbing any lingering odors out of your freezer. Wait 24 to 36 hours, peel away the silicone mildew, and also you’ll have 4 crystal-clear, completely spherical spheres to stage up your go-to whiskey cocktail or Scotch on the rocks with out diluting the flavour or focus too shortly. 

Materials: Silicone | Dimensions: 8.46 x 7.48  x 7.3 inches | Variety of Cubes: 4 per tray | Dice Measurement: 2.5 inches | Dice Form: Spherical

OXO Good Grips No-Spill Ice Cube Tray with Silicone Lid

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Amazon


Cons

  • The cubes created by this tray can greatest be described as skinny, rounded rectangles, a form that will hassle some ice purists.

Not all freezers have the house for a number of ice molds. Whether or not yours is crammed with bulk meat or your favourite pints of ice cream, it can save you house for the essential stuff by choosing OXO’s space-saving ice tray. Like many OXO merchandise, the design of this tray is full of modern options, like a thinner-than-average design and easy-stacking form. A useful silicone lid prevents water from spilling out of the tray, no matter what angle you stash it at.  

Whereas testing this tray, we have been impressed by how little it disrupted the circulate and storage all through the remainder of the freezer. These trays may be saved in some ways, from stacked atop each other to at precarious angles, guaranteeing you may sneak them into your freezer regardless of how little house you’ve. The included silicone lid was a useful addition and it efficiently saved liquid from leaking into the remainder of the freezer, although it did take some fiddling to connect it securely. To take away the cubes, you do the normal twist and crack technique to the plastic tray. One other perk? The entire thing is dishwasher-safe. 

Materials: Plastic, silicone | Dimensions: 15.5 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches | Variety of Cubes: 14 per tray | Dice Form: Arched rectangle

Ice cube Tray

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Souper Cubes


One among our favourite methods to retailer leftovers is by batch-freezing them. Souper Cubes’ silicone freezer trays are a good way to avoid wasting extras or batch-cook meals with out crowding your freezer with cumbersome meals storage containers. Merely put no matter you need to freeze into the 2-cup silicone molds (this purchase comes with two trays, providing you with 4 2-cup molds in complete), enable it to freeze, then simply pop it out and stash it in its frozen rectangle kind in a gallon freezer bag till you’re able to eat. 

We liked that these Souper Cubes might freeze something to perfection, from soups and stews to spaghetti, pesto, and pancake combine. Throughout testing, we discovered that meals popped out of the molds simply and with out freezer burn, due to the included lid. Whereas the molds aren’t meant for storage, they stack simply. All of the elements have been simple to wash, and nothing beats the comfort of defrosting simply particular person parts without delay as a substitute of a complete batch of meals. 

Materials: Plastic, silicone | Dimensions: 11.5 L x 5.5 W x 2.5 H inches | Variety of Cubes: 2 per tray | Dice Measurement: 4.125 x 4.25 x 2.25 inches (2 cups) | Dice Form: Rectangle

wpstore-extra-large-ice-cube-tray-by-peak

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Amazon


Cons

  • True to its identify, the cubes created by this tray are additional massive, and you’ll have issue becoming them into a few of your glasses.

Folks sometimes fall into two camps: One group loves having a bevy of ice cubes of their beverage so that they chew on them in between sips or swish their iced espresso round intermittently; the opposite group is extra purist, with a less-is-more angle that interprets to a need for fewer ice cubes. Should you fall into the second camp, you’ll need to store for a tray that makes a literal iceberg that can soften slowly and preserve your drink chilled to perfection — and this extra-large silicone tray from W&P does simply that. 

This ice dice tray has comparable options to the On a regular basis Tray, together with a versatile silicone mildew, a agency metal body, and a handy storage lid. Whereas W&P’s On a regular basis Tray makes aproachably sized cubes that measure in at 1.25 inches, the Additional-Giant model freezes up hefty sq. blocks which can be 2.25 inches. They’re an incredible choice for anybody seeking to chill their sip with out the clinking of a ton of ice, or anybody seeking to whip up spectacular cocktails. That mentioned, these cubes didn’t freeze clear like among the different choices on our listing, an element that will dissuade ice (or cocktail) purists in the long term. 

Materials: Silicone | Dimensions: 6.4 x 6.4 x 2.4  inches | Variety of Cubes: 4 per tray | Dice Measurement: 2.25 inches | Dice Form: Sq.

Our Favourite Ice Dice Tray

We examined over a dozen ice dice trays in our quest for one of the best, however the primary spot goes to W&P Peak Silicone On a regular basis Ice Tray. Not solely is the silicone mildew sturdy and simple to make use of and retailer, however the ice it creates is the perfect measurement for just about any drink you’re pouring, whereas the sq. form offers your sip a contemporary and stylish contact. 

How We Examined Ice Dice Trays

We examined 15 ice dice trays that differed in materials, dice capability, and measurement. Some ice dice trays have been particularly geared towards a sure sort of sip (like spheres meant for cocktails), whereas others served a extra common function. Every ice dice tray was assessed on quite a lot of completely different parts and options, together with:

Meals & Wine/Arnesia Younger


  • Ease of use: We paid shut consideration to how simple the ice dice trays have been to replenish with liquid and carry to the freezer, noting whether or not they have been susceptible to spills or overflowing. We additionally assessed how nicely any included equipment have been used, together with whether or not lids went on simply or storage containers efficiently corralled frozen cubes.
  • Efficiency: After all, the standard of ice every tray created was of peak precedence. We made notice of how strong cubes felt and the way shortly they appeared to soften, in addition to whether or not the cubes froze crystal clear (if that was the intention) or whether or not they had any freezer burn or frost on them. 
  • Versatility: As we assessed the cubes every tray created, we additionally took versatility under consideration, noting whether or not the kind of cubes may very well be utilized in quite a lot of completely different drinks or in the event that they have been geared towards a single use (like simply cocktails). In some situations, we additionally assessed the ice dice trays on their capacity to freeze different issues as nicely, resembling leftovers or sauces. 
  • Ease of cleansing: We paid shut consideration as to if any of the ice dice trays left smells or flavors behind, in addition to whether or not they allowed rogue freezer scents to leech into our ice. We additionally took notice of how simple or tough the ice dice trays have been to wash by hand, in addition to whether or not or not they have been dishwasher secure.

Meals & Wine / Mary Claire Lagroue


What We Regarded For

Materials

One of many first issues to contemplate when looking for one of the best ice dice trays is what sort of fabric your tray is comprised of. Whereas there are a lot of choices in the marketplace, the designs we examined for this piece have been sometimes comprised of silicone, plastic, or some mixture. Every choice has perks, so it’s extra about what materials most closely fits your wants. Silicone ice dice trays typically make it simpler to come out a single dice at a time. Plastic trays supply extra stability (particularly in the course of the precarious liquid section) and may generally be simpler to stack.

Meals & Wine/Arnesia Younger


Dice Measurement and Form

The dimensions and form of your ice dice are one other essential consideration when looking for one of the best ice dice tray. Earlier than buying a sure mildew, think about what sort of beverage you drink essentially the most and tailor your choose accordingly. Should you’re searching for a dice that can soften slowly and preserve your favourite spirit chilled, your choose will probably be far completely different than in case you’re seeking to whip up bulk batches of ice for on a regular basis use. Equally, there are a lot of completely different dice shapes, from fashionable squares to eye-catching spheres to make any cocktail appear to be it got here out of a high-end bar. 

Meals & Wine/Arnesia Younger


Design

It could appear to be a broad class, however the design of an ice dice tray is without doubt one of the most essential components to contemplate earlier than buying. You need to pay shut consideration to how your chosen ice dice tray is structured, together with whether or not its design makes it steady to hold or simple to take away cubes shortly. Likewise, you’ll need to asses any extra equipment the tray comes with, resembling lids, ice scoops, and storage bins.

Meals & Wine/Arnesia Younger


Continuously Requested Questions

  • What’s the greatest materials for ice dice trays?

    Whereas there isn’t a one “greatest” materials for an ice dice tray, we discovered all through our testing that the top-tier trays have been both comprised of silicone, plastic, or some mixture of the 2. Silicone tends to be the preferred materials in the marketplace at the moment, thanks largely to its flexibility and skill to make eradicating single cubes at a time a cinch.

  • What’s one of the best ways to get ice cubes out of the tray?

    The way you take away your ice cubes from their tray will largely depend upon what sort of fabric your tray is comprised of. Most moldable trays depend on a twist technique to “pop” the cubes from their compartment, typically dislodging most (if not all) of the cubes without delay. Alternatively, silicone trays let you take away single cubes at a time by both peeling the silicone away from the dice kind or pushing the dice out of the silicone mildew from the bottom.

  • How do you freeze herbs in ice dice trays?

    Herbs may be frozen in any sort of ice dice tray, so long as they’re chopped sufficiently small to suit inside a singular dice or mildew. One other perk? You should utilize herbs in several methods, from freezing them in water for herb-infused ice cubes to making a pureé for a marinated and even freezing them in cooking oil of your alternative for a flavor-packed addition to your subsequent stir-fry.

Different Ice Dice Trays We Examined

Sturdy Contenders

Whereas the 8 ice dice trays that earned a spot on our listing have been one of the best of the bunch, we nonetheless discovered a number of robust contenders all through our testing. The trays beneath are nonetheless high quality choices in your kitchen, falling brief in only one or two testing classes that prevented them from making our greatest listing. Right here’s what stood out — and the place they may have accomplished higher:

Glacio Small Ice Dice Silicone Trays with Lids ($17 at Glacio)
This duo of ice dice trays made the most important batch out of any on our testing listing, with every tray cranking out a powerful 21 cubes. We liked the dimensions and form of those cubes, however the operate of the piece left a bit to be desired. Not solely was this tray a bit tough to fill (we needed to fill every dice up individually), however we additionally skilled loads of overflow, which resulted in a near-solid sheet of ice atop all of the cubes that needed to be damaged aside earlier than we might take away them from the tray. 

Meals & Wine/Arnesia Younger


Joseph Joseph QuickSnap Ice Dice Tray with Cowl Lid ($15 at Amazon)
This modern tray featured distinctive built-in “switches” which can be speculated to snap the chosen cubes from their kind, permitting you to take away a number of items of ice without delay as a substitute of dislodging a complete tray. Whereas we loved that function, we didn’t love the form the ice froze into, particularly contemplating the switches gave every bit of ice sharp little tooth.

OXO 2pk Ice Dice Tray Gentle Blue ($20 at Amazon)
This cheap duo from OXO is underneath $20, making it an incredible choice for anybody who wants a brand new tray final minute or a number who desires to crank out additional ice forward of an enormous bash. That mentioned, this design was not as user-friendly as others we tried, which is finally why it didn’t make our listing. The tray is sturdy due to its onerous plastic design, however the included lid is tough to get on and will lead to some spilling.

Viski Whiskey Dice Tray with Lid ($15 at Amazon)
This silicone tray makes six 2-inch cubes per batch, with a tightly fitted lid that can guarantee mentioned cubes come out with out freezer burn and in essentially the most spectacular sq. form attainable. Throughout testing, we liked how massive and slow-melting the cubes have been, however getting them out of the tray felt a bit like a wrestling match, which left us docking this mannequin a number of factors. 

What Didn’t Make the Record

As a result of we purpose to deliver you one of the best kitchen merchandise in the marketplace, there are inevitably a number of objects left behind on the chopping block that didn’t meet our rigorous testing standards. Within the case of ice dice trays, a number of designs by manufacturers like Wibimen, Aussa, and Kitch didn’t earn a spot on our listing, primarily because of an absence of user-friendly options, flimsy kinds, and defective equipment that don’t contribute to the mildew’s performance. 

Our Experience

Alyssa Longobucco is a contract author, editor, and stylist with a background in meals, inside, and way of life content material. She has over a decade of expertise within the digital and journal trade creating distinctive and modern content material for storied manufacturers resembling Meals and Wine, Home Stunning, HGTV, The Knot, Domino, House Remedy, Actual Easy, Food52, Good Housekeeping, and extra.

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