Category: Daily Living
Hi all:
This might be a weird question, but I'm wondering how all of you deal with the filling of ice trays without spilling at least some of the water on the floor, as that's unfortunately almost always what happens to me when I take the tray from the sink to the freezer. I've heard of ice trays that are shaped like a bottel or something, something like that anyway, but I'm not sure how well they work, if at all. Tips? Thoughts? Suggestions?
Thanks!
At one time I had these ice cube trays that made ice cubes in the shape of melon balls. There was two sections to the tray: a bottom and a top. The bottom had half circle compartments enough to make 12 and then a top part the same only a small hole over the top of each half circle. Place the top over the bottom and fill with water through all the little holes. Water is like locked inside the two half circles that when filled make for the complete circle or melon ball shape of an ice cube. Hope this makes sense.
Also they have these like shapes like for example, stars, that are like those freezer paks for a ice chest only really, really small where there is a liquid like jell in the shape that is sealed. You freeze these, drop them in beverage container for the chilling effect they provide and then simply wash and toss back in the freezer. I have never tried these so can't give recommendation. Never at any time do you add water to these shapes and just check on them from time to time to make sure all seams have remained sealed.
To Cold beverages on Hot Days as well as,
~*Thunderous MidNight*~
Liz I find that when refilling the ice trays, if I hold the middle of the tray with my hand over the tray, I can balance the tray better. I also find that if I open the freezer door then transprot the tray to the freezer, the likelyhood of spillage is less. That's a wrap.
Nem
balance is the key, but yes keep the freezer door open while your filling them and that helps.
Also besure to drain some of the excess water so they're not overflowing.
also, when you fill the ice tray, try to tip it just a little and direct the water twards the middle near the bottom so it doesn't fill too full. When you tip the tray, the water works its way up to the top compartments. Then,hold it level while transfering.
I agree with the last two posts. This may sound obvious, but make sure you know exactly where you're going to put the trays in the freezer. I've had a couple icebergs from spills in the freezer, because I didn't do my homework the first time I opened the freezer door.
You might look at some of the varous ice cube containers as described above. I think the blind catalogs have some of them, and going through the housewares section at k-mart, wal-mart, or even the dollar stores or grocery stores might give you some ideas.
Lou
I think I remember Tupperware or some catalog that had ice trays with lids on them. I tried those bottle trays a long time ago and they're okay, but if filled to full you cannot get the ice out of them.
tupperware, does have ice tray with lids. i have never tried them. We have a ice maker in our freezer!
Shea
Balance is the best solution. I usually just let the access drip into the sink after filling them.
Troy
The tupper ware trays make very small ice cubes, but the trays have lids to solve the spillage problem. I quit using the tupper ware trays because of the small ice cubes that got made, and just do the balance tricks and making sure there is room in the freezer for the trays before I put them in.
Liz,
All of the above are good suggestions, and you might test each according to your preference, but just a word of caution about the refreezable things, they're more work than they're worth, in my opinion. they don't stay frozen very long, because there's more plastic to the thing than there is frozen ice inside, so when it melts, you have all these abstructions preventing you from drinking your drink, and it's getting hot again, besides.
Something else that you might try, which I prefer, is to just set aside a couple dollars every month to buy ice.
I know it sounds stupid, and it's not that I'm incapable, in fact, I'm quite capable of filling ice trays.
It's only that I prefer store bought ice, because ice tray ice, is solid, and weird as it may seem, i like to eat my ice when I'm done witth my drink, and big ice cubes are anoying for this form of entertainment.
Hoping this finds you well,
Amber
Whilst I think this is wasteful, Glad (makers of gladwrap) make an icemaking bag; I don't know what it's called or if it is still available.
The bag, which is divided into interconnected compartments has a mouth which you hold over the tap. to fill. When the iceblocks are made, you can twist the blocks off and use as needed.
Wayne
I have an ice maker. They rok lol.
aww I wish I had an icemaker. It would be so cool cause I too love eating my ice after I finish my drink. heheheheeh
Michelle
yayayayayayayayayayay for ice makers! and as for those jell filled things, watch that they don't burst. one of them did in our freezer, and it was a big mess!
in agreement with amber, i'd buy the ice in a bag. shove it in the freezer, take it out when ya need it.
...and IF the jell thingy bags do burst..
do NOT eat the stuff..
To be thrown out~
~*Thunderous MidNight*~
this kind of funny because when I was in the south I had an ice maker. I forgot how much of a pain in the ass its to fill and refill these trays. I personally open the door first, fill the trays I try to make sure that the water is even and not exactly at the top. then slowly place them in the freezer. still what a pain LOL
We have two ice cube trays at home. I made up some ice recently to put in my cold drinks and to help mum out when we were getting ready for this family do we were having on the August bank holiday, so I just used a squeeze bottle of water so I could just squeeze it directly in to the little ice cube moulds, then I managed to lower both trays very slowly and carefully in to the top drawer of our freezer without spilling a drop.
Jen.
..that sounds Smart..
~*Thunderous MidNight*~
well you learn something new everyday, don't you? I never know what I am gonna learn next!
lol
they make freezable cups, they're a bit of a pain though coz when they defrost, they tend to leave puddles behind. Failing that, you could always try a syringe, rofl
I was gonna suggest a syrringe - I'd guess they're more controllable than a bottle of water. Does anyone know where you can get those ones that kids have in the UK?
RNIB sells syringes. They have a notch cut out of the plunger to tellyou when to stop drawing the water/other liquids in to the barrel, then you know to depress the plunger. They come in either 5, 10, 20, 50 or 100 Ml increments.
Jen.
rubber bulb syringes work well, too!
I tried the ice cube bottle too, but I couldn't get the ice out. Where did you get the melon ball ice trays? Those sound way easier.
I've used the ice cube bottle. It owrked pretty well; definitely only fill it 1/4 the way or so. It lays flat in the freezer, so the water falls into the half circles.
I've also liked the tupperwear ice cube trays. In fact, I left mine behind in a move, and plan on replacing them.
Lately, I've been buying the cheep silicone ice cube trays. These are cool! Sure, it is still a balance thing, but you get fun shapes and the ice flips out so easy.
I saw the following on qvc over the weekend and I'm tempted. It is silicone ice cube trays but with lids. They have mixed reviews though.
K15203
Prepology Set of 2 Silicone Ice Cube Trays withLids
I'm a big fan of lock & lock and googling one day, it looks like they have ice cube trays. I can't figure this one out for definitely. It seems like it is only available in England. Lock & Lock hasn't disappointed me though, if if they have a ice cube system, I bet it is cool. There egg keeper sure is! *smile*
I agree with post 11 I rather just buy my ice.