From coffee to fruits, there’s more to our kitchen staple – the classic ice cube tray, than just freezing water. Now, freeze convenience with these must-try ice cube tray hacks! Channel your inner creative self with these easy yet ingenious ice cube tray hacks, great for storing leftovers in handy portions along with so many other things. In fact, you might be surprised to see exactly how much you can do with the humble ice cube tray. Give these ice cube tray hacks a go and bring frozen goodness and convenience to your kitchen!
1. COFFEE CUBES TO UP YOUR ICED COFFEE GAME
Nothing hits the spot like a smooth iced coffee. A watery, tasteless iced coffee, however…not so much! Don’t worry, we have the secret to taking your iced coffee game to the next level! Freezing coffee in ice cube trays is an easy and convenient way to enjoy your iced coffee with maximum coffee intensity and deliciousness. Say goodbye to that unappealing watery coffee and get ready to say hello to some smooth rich iced coffee goodness. Simply pour your brewed coffee into a clean ice cube tray and pop it in the freezer. Within 3-4 hours your frozen coffee cubes will be ready for you to create some iced coffee perfection!
2. FLORAL ICE CUBE TRAYS TO DRESS UP YOUR COCKTAIL
Edible flowers make a stunning show in a cocktail. From dressing up your drinks for celebrations to simply adding that something pretty to your glass of water. This hack is perfect for jazzing up your favourite drink.
Start with filling an ice cube tray halfway with water, place the flower on the surface and add just a few more drops of water on top. Freeze for 12-24 hours then add another layer of water to fill the tray to the top; this ensures the flower stays in the middle of the ice cube and is protected in its little ice cube bubble. Freeze for another 12-24 hours and voilà! These gorgeous frozen flower cubes are good to use for up to 2 weeks!
3. HERB INFUSED OLIVE OIL AS A BASE FOR A SPEEDY DISH
Love using fresh herbs when cooking but never manage to use the whole bunch? This is the hack for you! Take some of your favourite leftover herbs - basil, thyme, parsley (whatever you have on hand), chop them finely and pop into your ice cube tray. Pour some olive oil over the top (don’t fill completely – the oil will expand when freezing) and freeze until set. Preserving the herbs in this way is perfect for creating a quick and easy base for soups, sauces and so much more: simply pop a frozen olive oil cube into your saucepan, leave to melt and build your dish from there!
4. VEGGIE PUREE CUBES FOR YOU OR YOUR BABY
An easy way to amp up the nutritional content of any dish is to throw in some vegetable puree! Let's be honest, purees often take a long time to prepare, from chopping to roasting, fitting this task into your already busy daily schedule can be difficult. An easy solution here is to prep your puree and freeze it in advance, so you have the frozen baby food ready in the freezer whenever you need it. The easiest way is to simply boil or roast your veggies, then puree and portion into the ice cube trays and pop them into the freezer. This is also a great way to store baby food! Once frozen, it should last for up to 3 months.
5. FROZEN FRUIT CUBES- DON'T BIN THOSE BERRIES
Berries are notorious for their short shelf life. Often, it feels like you’ve only just bought them, and they’re fit for the bin! Luckily, there's an easy solution to avoid any wastage: just pop them into your ice cube tray, top with water and freeze. Another idea? Berries and lemon make a delicious infused water! Create frozen berries and lemon ice cubes by popping berries and lemon juice into your tray to give that refreshing kick to your water. Fresh juice doesn’t stay fresh for long - pour the final few ounces of your 100% fruit juice into an ice tray, perfect for topping up your cocktails!
6. MILK CUBE- CREAMY ICE CUBES
Changing up your usual breakfast routine and swapping your cereal for that healthy fruit salad? Is your litre of milk a little fuller than usual and slowly nearing its end date? Don’t throw it away! Thankfully, there's a simple way to avoid throwing the milk (and your money) down the drain! Did you know milk stays good in the freezer for several months? (Although, for best results, it should be consumed within the first month.) Freeze in an airtight container, with space for expansion as the milk freezes. What’s even better? These little frozen milk cubes are great for smoothies and coffee-based drinks!
7. STOCK CUBES- THE PERFECT BASE FOR SOUPS AND SAUCES
Whether we’re talking about vegetable or meat-based, a lot of work goes into creating the perfect pot of homemade stock. So why not make the most of all that work by cooking up a big batch and freezing the extra? That’s where an ice cube tray comes into play, pour your extra stock into ice cube trays and freeze until set. This way you can have your frozen stock cubes, ready anytime you need it! Note: Store your stock in an air-tight container to increase its freezer life.
8. FROZEN PESTO CUBES TO UP YOUR PASTA GAME
What better way to add depth of flavour to pasta and sandwiches than a big dollop of fresh basil pesto! Why not try Neven Maguire's fresh basil, parmesan, and pine nut pesto? The green goodness is sure to add that extra level of flavour to your favourite pasta dish. Prepare the sauce following your favourite recipe, then spoon the pesto into an ice cube tray and place it in the freezer until set! The sauce will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months. These frozen pesto cubes are perfect for whipping up a quick and tasty meal in no time.
9. COFFEE & COCONUT CUBES- LIVEN UP YOUR COFFEE
We mentioned iced coffee above but why stick to your standard espresso and milk when there are so many exciting variations out there. Try these flavourful frozen coffee cubes made with brewed coffee and coconut cream to create a more exotic morning coffee experience. To make these flavoured coffee ice cubes, you need coffee, coconut cream, coconut extract and some sugar for that hint of sweetness. The preparation is simple: brew 2 cups of coffee, then mix ½ can of coconut cream, 2 tsp of coconut extract and a little bit of sugar (if required). Once the sugar has melted, leave to cool, pour the heavenly concoction into an ice cube tray and freeze until set! If you’re not a coconut fan switch the coconut milk to the cream of your preference or even some vanilla extract, the possibilities are endless!
10. FROZEN WINE CUBES
Do you like your red wine chilled? Don’t worry, we forgive you! Watery wine, however, is something we can’t excuse! Wine ice cubes are a brilliant way to make your wine as chilled as you'd like without watering it down with your regular ice cubes. These frozen wine cubes are also perfect for use in cooking or to use up leftover wine you don't want to throw away!
These ice-cube tray hacks are deceptively simple yet such a game-changer. Work smarter not harder, they say, and we absolutely agree. Our team here at Eatto simply love these tricks and we hope you do too! Let us know which one is your personal favourite in the comments section below.
