15 Clever (And Healthy) Things To Do With Your Ice Cube Trays
Liivi Hess
Did you know the humble ice cube tray could save you time and boost your health in at least 15 different ways? Those little compartments provide the perfect way to create many clever solutions for your kitchen, household and family life.
15 clever (and healthy) things to do with your ice cube trays
You’ll love all of these fun and surprising ideas to make your ice cube trays go the extra mile.
1. Make herb butter
Do you have extra herbs from the garden or just a big bunch of parsley or coriander you haven’t been able to use up? Don’t let them go to waste. Chop them finely and portion out into an ice cube tray. Cover with melted butter or olive oil and you have ready-made cubes to add to any recipe. This is also a great way to save an overabundance of homemade pesto.
2. Make a big batch of wellness shots
Make thatmorning wellness shot habit easier to stick to by blending up a supersize batch and freezing into ice cubes. Then just pop one in a glass each morning and let it thaw while you get ready, then throw it back as you’re heading out the door.
3. Make a big batch of wheatgrass juice
Another way to get that shot of health down your gullet in the morning is with wheatgrass juice ice cubes. Drink them straight or add to smoothies. This is also a smart idea for saving excess amounts of greens and having them ready to pop into the blender when making a smoothie.
4. Mix up pre-made detox bath cubes
How much more likely would you be to take adetox bath if you didn’t have to wander around the house collecting the ingredients first? Skip the hassle by making up a large batch and having the cubes ready to go.
5. Make healthy baby food easier
Make a large batch of baby food and freeze it for later use.
If you’d like to avoid packaged baby food, set some time aside to blend up some simple, nutritious purees and pop them into ice cube trays for convenient little-person-sized portions.
6. Help yourself drink more water
Think outside the box when it comes to your ice cube trays. Support that daily water habit by making your water look and taste better. Freeze some fruit cubes with either fruit juice or chunks of fruit, and pop them into your water bottle. They’ll slowly add just a touch of flavor. Why not also try coconut water cubes?
7. Hack your summer coffee habit
Iced coffee, anyone? If you’re anything like me, a summer day isn’t complete without an icy latte or frappuccino. However, if you don’t want togain 20 pounds before September, it’s smarter to make your own rather than consume the sugary concoctions from mainstream coffee chains.
Coffee ice cubes can make the homemade habit much easier to stick with. You can freeze the coffee, the milk (or milk alternative) or both, depending if you’re making a simple iced drink or a blended delight.
8. Turn dessert into a health food
Making frozen cubes out ofdelicious treats and desserts helps you control portions and savor the indulgence for longer.
Try making mini frozen yogurt smoothies. Simply blend yogurt with your favorite fruit and pour into trays! You can even get super-fancy and make beautifully layered dessert cubes by pouring in coconut milk, a juice of your choice and some smoothie mix. Use different colors for a stunning effect.
Other treats to experiment with include chocolate covered strawberries, mini cheesecake bites and healthy peanut butter cups made with dark chocolate and organic peanut butter.
9. Save leftover wine
Homemade red wine sangria with orange, apple, strawberry and ice in pitcher and glass on rustic wooden background Remember that bottle of wine you opened on the weekend and then never got back to? Before it turns into vinegar, freeze it and keep the cubes for easy flavor when cooking. They could also be used for sangria.
In fact, this can be done with any leftover ingredients, such as coconut milk, buttermilk, whipping cream…anything you haven’t been able to use but don’t want to go to waste.
Just make sure to measure the volume that fits into each ice cube compartment first, and write this on the bag when storing the cubes. To do this, take a measuring spoon and perform a test by scooping water into one cube compartment. Count the scoops until it’s full. Now you know how many teaspoons or tablespoons each cube will contain, so you’ll be able to accurately follow recipes later when you use the ingredients you’ve frozen.
10. Increase your broth intake
Homemade broth hasso many benefits, so make a point of working it into your diet any way you can. Make up a huge batch and save it in easy-to-use portions by freezing into ice cubes. Personally, I like to have a hot cup of broth on a wintery day. If you pop a broth cube into a mug and pour boiling water over top, your drink will be ready to go and perfect drinking temperature.
11. Save those delicious drippings
Don’t throw out the drippings from bacon or roasting meat. Pour into an ice cube tray, of course! Use these savory flavor-bombs when frying veggies, meat or potatoes, or add it to a homemade salad dressing or soup.
12. Speed up those weeknight meals
Freeze fruit ahead of time for smoothies. Ever felt frustrated spending 20 minutes chopping ingredients before you can even start cooking? And yet, it’s so important to provide yourself and your family with healthy, whole ingredients.
One way to shave off a few minutes of prep time is to take some time on the weekend to pre-grate, slice or chop common ingredients like garlic, ginger, chilis or green onions. Pop them in an ice cube tray, then remove the cubes and store in bags once they’re frozen. You’ll love being able to grab a cube and add lots of fresh flavor to those recipes, without the labor on a busy weeknight.
13. Make homemade dishwasher detergent tabs
Why use those toxic commercial dishwasher tabs when you can make your own non-toxic ones? Simply mix two cups baking soda, two cupsborax, 1/2 cup coarse sea salt, 1/2 cup vinegar and 15 drops of lemon essential oil in a bowl with a spoon, then pack into molds and let harden for 24 hours.
14. Create healthy treats for your dog
Don’t let your four-legged family members miss out on all the ice cube tray fun. Why not make somehealthy puppy treats? Use a mixer to blend 1 1/2 cups oats, 1/2 cup peanut butter and one cup mashed sweet potato. Pack the ingredients into ice cube molds and allow to firm up in the fridge or freezer. Done!
15. Fragrance your home naturally
Here’s one you don’t need the freezer for — but your ice cube tray will come in very handy as a mold. Melt 2/3 cup coconut oil with one ounce of beeswax in a double boiler. Allow to cool slightly, then mix in several drops of your favoriteessential oils. Pour into ice cube compartments and let cool. Pop out the little pucks and you’ll have readymade natural wax to use in your oil burner.
