Lots of ice is the need of every family in summer. We all love chilled drinks, but with large households comes the requirement of big ice cubes.
Not everyone may have ice machines or refrigerators that are equipped with ice makers. Also, ice trays can only store a small number of ice cubes which may not be enough for your needs.
If you have guests coming over for a party or your family is at your home for a holiday, you must be prepared in advance. Don’t have enough ice trays or any at all?
Do not worry because we are here with some fantastic hacks that will enable you in making ice cubes without a tray. Sounds unbelievable, right?
We have come up with some innovative ideas that will solve your ice problems.
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How To Make Ice Cubes Without A Tray
If you don’t have an ice tray at home, you can try these methods to make ice cubes-
1. Ziploc Bag
This is the easiest method of all time if you do not have an ice tray or your refrigerator is too full to contain anything else.
You just need one Ziploc bag or multiple ones, depending on the amount of ice you require.
Since Ziploc bags are available in literally every household, it will not be an excellent task to find them.
Simply take a Ziploc bag, fill it with water and place it in the freezer. That’s all you have to do, and you will be done with the process.
After a few hours, you can take the ice out and use it for whatever you need. If you want to have a large solid rock of ice, then fill the Ziploc bag with water up to the brim.
Of course, you will have to crush it in pieces to use it. Also, you can fill the Ziploc bag with one-fourth quarter if you wish that the thickness remains less and the ice is easily crushable.
With this method, you will not end up having properly shaped ice cubes, but you will have plenty of ice so it’s an amazing hack.
2. Silicone Molds
If aesthetics is important to you, using silicone molds to make ice cubes is definitely the technique for you. Every household has tonnes of silicone molds as they can be used for so many purposes.
You may have used them for baking cookies, cakes, bread or even making candy. Have you ever tried it for making ice?
This is what makes silicone molds so versatile. Moreover, silicone molds are just like ice trays or at least an incredible alternative to the ice tray. Just fill it with water, keep it in the freezer, and voila, you will have the pretty ice cubes.
You can use different molds like the heart-shaped ones of the designed ones. Especially if you have kids, they are going to love these new ice cubes.
Since silicone molds are available in a wide variety, you can have fun making cute shapes out of ice. Furthermore, it is recommended that you leave the silicone mold overnight so the ice does not melt too quickly.
Although this method is more convenient than the Ziploc bags, it will be a problem for people who do not have enough space in the freezer for trays.
3. Lego Cubes
Another thing that you will definitely find in your house is lego cubes. We don’t know how these are available in every household, even if there are no kids.
It is all because of the extreme popularity of legos, we guess! For those who crave perfection and do not want crushed ice, this method is perfect for you.
Get aesthetically pleasing as well as fun ice cubes with legos. Collect a few pieces of legos and wash them nicely.
Ensure that there is no dirt in them before you fill them with water.
Also, let there be a little space left on the top of the legos. It may be pretty difficult to get the ice cubes out of the legos.
To make the process simple, put the legos in warm water for a few seconds, and you will see how easily the ice cubes will come out.
If you do not really care about the fun shapes, you can hit the legos on any surface and then get ice.
Not only is this a helpful hack but is also super fun. Do try this and see how amazing the results will be!
4. Egg Cartoon
Ever thought of using egg cartons for the formation of ice?
Probably not…
Emergencies call for innovative methods, and egg cartons are one of them.
Keep in mind that this method is a temporary one and specifically for problems when you do not have other options.
Take an egg carton and cover it with aluminum foil. If you fill water directly in the egg carton, it will break, and ice will not be formed.
Moreover, putting water in the carton will result in the mixing of impurities. No matter how much you clean the egg carton, the smell may still be there, so ensure that you cover it properly with a foil.
After placing a foil, fill it with water, keep it in the freezer for a few hours, and wait for the ice to form.
In this technique, you will have to crush the ice to use it in your drinks or for different purposes.
Also, remember that you do not fill the carton with water up to the brim. When you are out of every option possible, then this one will still save you.
5. Freezer Bags
Freezer bags are yet another outstanding alternative to ice trays. They are just like Ziploc bags but a more neat option.
Since these bags are also readily available in most households, this is a good option for making ice.
If you are a fan of the aesthetics, then we would suggest you use freezer bags.
Also, the best thing about these freezer bags is that they are easy to use and consume less space.
People often complain that there is absolutely no space in the freezer for ice trays, so do not worry because freezer bags have got your back.
Take a freezer bag and fill it with water. Put this bag in the freezer for a few hours, and your ice will be ready.
Plus, you will not have to worry about the smell of other food items kept in the freezer incorporated into the ice.
This is the main advantage of a freezer bag because it does not allow any foreign smell to mix with its content.
Even if the bag is surrounded by strong smells like that of garlic and onion, the ice will remain unaffected.
6. Portable Ice Makers
Potable ice makers, also known as countertop ice makers, are the best when it comes to making ice.
In DIY methods like using an egg carton or a Ziploc bag, you will have to wait for a significant amount of time before the ice is formed and is ready to use.
However, with portable ice makers, you can get ice on demand whenever you want.
Whether you are in a car, on a train, on a picnic, or just anywhere, you can take this ice maker with you, and it will provide you with ice cubes.
Also, the best thing is that you won’t even have to wait for long to get ice. Most of the ice makers will make ice in just seven minutes.
Countertops ice makers are especially beneficial for large households where the demand for ice is more.
Also, these machines are compact and very easy to use so that they will be your best investment to date.
You can also choose the quantity of ice that you want so the ice maker will prepare a batch accordingly.
If your need for a significant amount of ice is permanent, then a portable ice maker will prove to be profitable.
Other Methods
Ice can be formed in literally anything if you keep it in the freezer. Be it a pan full of water, a bottle, glasses, or even bowls, ice will be formed in any of these.
However, it can get a little messy, and you will have to break the ice multiple times before using it.
The techniques that we have mentioned above are simple and will work for sure. Get ice without any hassles without using an ice tray.
Ensure that you are careful while breaking the ice. Do not use hammers or any such dangerous thing that may hurt you or others.
Final Verdict
These were some sure-shot methods of making ice without using ice trays. We hope you found this article helpful. For days when you need extra ice, these hacks will be a lifesaver for you. No matter how big your family is, you can now fulfill the needs of everyone.
