The ice cube tray.
It’s a common kitchen tool found in most homes. Named for its practical use, the ice cube tray transforms water into rectangular shapes. An ingenious idea, when you think about it.
These plastic or silicone trays come relatively cheap and can even be found at the dollar store. While most freezers come with an ice-making dispenser, these trays can come in handy in increasing your ice supply.
But while trays that fit nicely in freezers may have originally been just intended to be used with water, that’s really just the start. There’s much more that these trays can do. Especially when it comes to meal prepping and planning for future culinary adventures, having these trays in your arsenal can make getting dinner on the table even easier.
Five Things You Can Make With a Simple Ice Cube Tray
To help you get restarted in using ice cube trays, here we share some fun and practical ways you can incorporate these trays into your meal prep and cooking.
Pesto
Making your own pesto can be a great way to use up a bunch of fresh basil or other greens you have on hand. When it comes to using that pesto, you usually just need a tablespoon or so to add to a pot of pasta or to spread on top of a sandwich.
With an ice cube tray, you can store your pesto in individual portions you can keep in the freezer until you’re ready to use them. Make a batch of your favorite pesto, such as with this Arugula Pesto recipe. Pour the pesto into the ice cube tray and freeze. You’ll get individual portions of pesto that makes getting just a little pesto for your recipe even easier.
Iced Coffee
Stopping by your favorite coffee shop to pick up your go-to frozen beverage can be a fun routine, but it can also get expensive. Consider making your own frozen brews at home with the helpful use of an ice cube tray. Brew a pot of strong coffee and let it cool. Pour the coffee into the ice cube tray and freeze. When you’re ready to make your own iced coffee or frozen blended beverage, just pop a few coffee cubes in your glass or blender and become your own barista.
Smoothie Ingredients
Mornings can be rushed and chaotic. Between getting ready for work, setting kids set for school and remembering to feed the dog, it can sometimes be a challenge to get yourself something for breakfast. Smoothies are often an easy go-to for a filling and refreshing breakfast but can require some time.
Make your mornings easier by using an ice cube tray to prep some of your key smoothie ingredients. Use it to freeze cubes of blended kale or spinach to add some greens to your smoothie. Freeze juice or yogurt to make cubes to just pop in the blender with some other of your favorite ingredients. Using an ice cube tray in smoothie prep can be a major time-saver for your morning routine.
Store Your Herbs
Fresh, vibrant herbs can transform recipes. But they don’t last forever. To help preserve the life of herbs like rosemary, oregano and thyme, you can freeze them in olive oil. Fill compartments with about ⅔ of your favorite herbs and top with olive oil to cover them. Stick them in the freezer and you’ll have fresh herbs ready to go for your next stir-fry or baked dish.
Vegetable Stock
Don’t throw away those celery ends or unused onion slices. Make your vegetable stock by sticking your leftover veggies you don’t use in a pot and simmer with water for about an hour. You’ll end up with a rich and flavorful broth you can use in recipes like risotto or other soups. Store your stock in the freezer using those helpful ice cube trays and only take out what you need at a time.
Tomato Sauce
From pizzas to pasta to baked dishes and more, flavorful tomato sauce can tie a recipe together. Make it quicker and easier to get that fresh tomato flavor by making your own sauce ahead of time and storing ice cube sized portions in the freezer. After cooking up your own sauce, like using this recipe, let it cool slightly and pour it into your ice cube tray. Freeze and store those frozen cubes for a later time.
Rediscover the Versatility of an Ice Cube Tray
The ice cube tray may look like a simple and straightforward kitchen tool. But the opportunities for its use in cooking and meal prep are revolutionary. Pick up a tray for yourself and discover how you can make life easier with an ice cube tray and a freezer.