How To Make Ice Cubes Without A Tray?
What could be simpler than making ice? One of the most common ways to make cubed ice is to use a tray. However, there may be times when you need more ice than usual and do not have an extra ice tray, or your tray may go missing just when you require it the most. Every problem, of course, has a solution.
It’s times like these when you wish you had some other options.
We decided to look for the coolest and most practical DIY ways to make ice cubes without a tray because it’s life hack season.
This article contains some tips and tricks for making ice cubes without a tray. However, please note that all these methods with give you hardened ice cubes like you’d get from freezers. Continue reading to find out.
How To Make Ice Without An Ice Tray
Ice is a necessity to cool down the summer. Be it shaved ice or your beloved cubed ice, you’ll find yourself seeking those frozen gems quite often. And if you find yourself in a situation where you need ice but don’t have an ice cube tray, you’ll have to think outside the box.
The list below will help make ice without a tray that will work well in a bit of an emergency.
1. Ziploc bags
Because they are simple and quick to deal with, Ziploc Bags are excellent alternatives when you don’t have an ice tray. Ziploc bags are available in a variety of sizes. They can be filled with water if you get the really small ones, typically three inches by five inches. If you do not have access to small bags, larger bags will work just fine.
Fill a Ziploc bag halfway with cold water and place it in the freezer for a few hours. Don’t refill the bag, or it may explode, or the ice may become a big block and difficult to break. Also, lay the bag flat to allow the water to freeze evenly. It will make a medium-thick layer of ice that can be easily broken into smaller pieces.
The disadvantage of using Ziploc bags is that you won’t get perfectly shaped ice. If you don’t mind the shape of the ice, a Ziploc bag is one of the best options.
2. Silicon molds
Silicon molds are now extremely common and widely available. It comes in various fun and unusual shapes and is much easier to remove from the mold than a regular ice tray.
You use the silicon mold in the same way that you would a regular plastic ice tray.
Place the molds in the freezer for several hours after filling them with water, leaving them overnight results in harder, well-frozen ice that melts more slowly.
3. Freezer bag
Freezer bags work well in place of an ice tray. It is extremely simple to learn how to use freezer bags. Fill the freezer bag with water. When it’s full, seal it up and place it flat in the freezer. These freezer bags will be frozen after a few hours.
The advantage of using these bags is that they prevent the transfer of food odours to the ice.
Because freezer bags have separating lines inside, this ice freezing method creates more perfectly shaped cubes.
4. Egg Carton
It’s an unusual solution to use egg cartons instead of an ice tray. However, they do work. It’s more of a last-resort option than a regular one. Ideally, they should only be used when you don’t have an ice tray or silicone molds but still want well-shaped ice cubes. You’ll also need some aluminum foil for this method.
To make ice with an egg carton, spread the aluminum foil on the left third of the carton, where the eggs rest . It should perfectly sit right in. It is done so that the foil can shield the carton from water.
With the foil still protecting the carton, fill each compartment with water and place the carton in the freezer. Allow it to harden for several hours.
5. Portable and Countertop Ice Makers
Using a portable ice maker is an excellent way to make ice without a tray. Portable ice makers are also known as countertop ice makers. Portable or countertop ice makers are small, lightweight, and take very little space in the kitchen. They are very convenient for small houses, and you can take them with you on a boat, or even on a picnic. They do, however, require a power source.
Ice makers can usually make more ice than a Ziploc bag, freezer bag, or egg carton. The ice machine operates on autopilot. It can make ice very quickly. A batch of ice is ready to go in seven minutes to fifteen minutes. Further, you may have options for the texture of your ice. In a freezer, you’d only be able to make cubed ice, but with portable ice makers, you may as well make nugget ice (slightly different from cubed ice).
This machine is simple to operate. Connect it. Fill the reservoir to the top with water. Turn on the machine and select the size of ice needed – small, medium, or large. After a few moments, the first batch of ice is ready. When the ice bin is full, the machine will shut down automatically.
Ice Makers come in a variety of capacities, so you can find one that meets your requirements. The smallest can produce between 20 and 26 pounds per day, while larger ones used in restaurants and pubs can produce between 28 and 40 pounds per day.
Since these machines are heavily insulated, the ice will remain frozen for an extended time. As usual, the ice will melt with time. The melted ice goes back to the reservoir, and the machine will make new ice from it.
6. Built-In Freezer Ice Maker
It is a long-term ice-making solution that you can use even if you have an ice tray nearby. Let us now discuss the built-in freezer ice maker.
Large freezers usually accompany large refrigerators with built-in ice-making kits. The advantage of this option is that you can get ice whenever you need it.
You don’t have to wait long for it to freeze because the ice maker does it for you.
The disadvantage is that such a fridge will be expensive. Furthermore, the ice-making kit will take up a lot of space inside the freezer, requiring more kitchen space.
Conclusion
There are several excellent methods for making ice cubes without the use of an ice cube tray. You can use Ziploc bags, freezer bags, or even egg cartons if you need ice right away. It will also work if you have any clever ideas of your own. If you don’t have any, we hope this article was helpful. However, if you need perfect ice cubes, an ice maker is unquestionably the best option.
