Why your ice cube tray matters more than you think
Hard plastic trays crack, stick, and give you lopsided cubes — silicone fixes all three problems at once.
The flex in silicone is what makes release effortless; twist the tray and cubes pop free instead of needing a crowbar and a prayer. The gap between a good tray and a bad one shows up in the details: self-leveling fill so every cavity gets the same amount of water, food-grade material that doesn’t pick up freezer odors, and a mold stiff enough to carry to the sink without folding in half and dumping ice everywhere.
- Flex is the whole point Silicone’s job is easy release — a tray that still needs you to run it under hot water or whack it on the counter defeats the purpose.
- Bigger cubes melt slower Oversized molds like 1-cup blocks are built for coolers and punch bowls where you want cold without a watered-down drink.
- Dual-purpose molds stretch your money Trays rated for soap, candy, or baking in addition to ice give you more use out of the same cavity shape.
- A flexible scoop finishes the job Rigid ice scoops crack against silicone-formed cubes that are slightly larger or irregularly shaped; a flexible scoop handles both standard and novelty ice without chipping it.
Best Overall: Rubbermaid Easy Release Ice Cube Tray
Easy-release silicone cubes pop free without sticking, and the self-leveling fill means evenly shaped ice every time you pour.
- Cubes twist out cleanly without cracking the tray
- Self-leveling design keeps every cube the same size
- Low profile fits most freezer door shelves
- Two trays mean you can refill one while the other freezes
- Standard cube size isn’t great for slow-melt drinks
- Light purple color shows staining from colored liquids
- Thin walls mean the tray flexes more than you’d like when full
Best Premium: Souper Cubes 1 Cup Silicone Freezer Molds
Thick, steel-reinforced 1-cup molds with snap-on lids form oversized, slow-melting ice blocks ideal for coolers and punch bowls.
- Snap-on lids prevent freezer burn and spills during transport
- Steel reinforcement keeps the mold rigid even full of water
- Large blocks melt far slower than standard cubes
- Doubles as a freezer mold for soup, stock, and sauces
- Priced well above a dedicated ice tray
- Cup-sized blocks are overkill for everyday drinks
- Takes up more freezer space than a standard tray
Best Budget: SJ Rectangle Soap Mold Set
18 cavities across 3 budget trays withstand -40F to 446F, giving the most ice-cube capacity per dollar of any pick here.
- Three trays for under nine dollars beats any single-tray option on volume
- Wide temperature range means they survive both freezer and oven use
- Food-grade silicone has no taste transfer to water
- Rectangle cavities stack neatly in a small freezer
- Not purpose-built for ice, so cavities are slightly larger than a standard cube
- Thinner silicone than dedicated ice trays, so it flexes more during carrying
- Soap-mold branding means it looks out of place next to drinkware
Best for Novelty Ice: Kamehame Gummy Frog Molds
150 tiny frog-shaped cavities turn plain water into fun novelty ice cubes, with droppers for mess-free, no-spill filling.
- Droppers make filling tiny cavities mess-free
- Nonstick surface releases frog shapes cleanly every time
- High cavity count means you can freeze a big batch at once
- Doubles as a candy and chocolate mold when you’re not making ice
- Frog cavities are too small to meaningfully chill a drink
- Filling 150 tiny wells takes longer than pouring a standard tray
- Delicate shapes are easy to tear when prying out if frozen too hard
Best Ice Scoop Pairing: OXO Good Grips Flexible Scoop
Flexible sides squeeze into a spout, so this 1-cup scoop pairs with any ice tray for mess-free, no-spill transfers into glasses.
- Flexible sides squeeze into a spout for spill-free pouring into glasses
- Non-slip handle stays secure even with wet hands
- Soft material won’t chip silicone-formed cubes like a rigid scoop can
- Doubles as a scoop for flour, pet food, and other dry goods
- 1-cup capacity means multiple scoops for a full ice bucket
- Flexible material feels less sturdy than a metal scoop
- Not dishwasher-safe on the top rack long-term without some warping
Side-by-side comparison
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Best Overall
Rubbermaid Easy Release Ice Cube Tray (2 pack, Orc
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Best Premium
Souper Cubes 1 Cup Silicone Freezer Molds with Lid
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Best Budget
SJ Rectangle Soap Mold Set, 3-Pack 6-Cavity Silico
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Best for Novelty Ice
Kamehame Gummy Frog Molds Silicone Gummie Mold Non
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Best Ice Scoop Pairing
OXO Good Grips Flexible Scoop with Non-Slip Handle
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| Cavities per Set | 14 (2 trays) | 2 | 18 (3 trays) | 150 | N/A (scoop) |
| Cube/Mold Size | Standard cube | 1 cup block | Standard cube | Novelty frog shape | 1 cup scoop |
| Easy-Release Design | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| Multi-Use Beyond Ice | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $14.99 | $39.99 | $8.99 | $11.99 | $9.97 |
| BUY NOW | BUY NOW | BUY NOW | BUY NOW | BUY NOW |
What to look for in Silicone Ice Cube Trays
Why do silicone ice cube trays work better than plastic ones?
Silicone flexes, so twisting or pressing the tray releases cubes without cracking them loose or snapping the tray itself. Plastic trays are rigid, which means cubes often stick and require hot water or forceful twisting that can crack both the ice and the tray over time.
Do silicone ice trays affect how fast ice melts?
The silicone itself doesn’t change melt rate, but silicone trays make it practical to mold oversized cubes or blocks that melt slower simply because they have less surface area relative to volume. A 1-cup block from a mold like the Souper Cubes will outlast a standard tray cube by hours in a cooler.
Is it safe to use silicone molds not specifically labeled as ice trays?
Yes, as long as the silicone is food-grade, molds made for soap, candy, or baking can safely hold water and go in the freezer. Just confirm the listing specifies food-grade material, since some novelty silicone molds are made for crafts, not food contact.
How do I get cubes out without snapping tiny or novelty shapes?
Let the tray sit at room temperature for 30-60 seconds before twisting, rather than prying immediately out of the freezer when ice is hardest and most brittle. For small or intricate shapes like the frog mold, push from the bottom of each cavity instead of pulling from the top to avoid tearing off thin details.
The bottom line
- Rubbermaid Easy Release Ice Cube Tray is the reliable daily-use pick for evenly shaped, easy-release cubes.
- Souper Cubes 1 Cup Silicone Freezer Molds justify their premium price with slow-melting blocks built for coolers and punch bowls.
- SJ Rectangle Soap Mold Set gives you the most ice capacity for the least money, soap-mold shape aside.
- Kamehame Gummy Frog Molds turn plain water into a novelty kids and party guests will actually notice.
- OXO Good Grips Flexible Scoop pairs with any tray here to get ice into glasses without spills or chipped cubes.
For most kitchens, the Rubbermaid tray covers daily ice-making without drama, while the Souper Cubes molds earn their higher price the moment you need ice that survives a cooler all afternoon. Round out either pick with the OXO scoop so you’re not fishing cubes out by hand.
