The Tovolo Perfect Cube Ice Trays are the best silicone ice trays because their sturdy walls keep cubes perfectly square, the cubes pop out with one twist, and the food-grade silicone stays odor-resistant longer than bargain trays. Good silicone trays solve the two things plastic trays get wrong, cracked trays and cubes that shatter on release. Whether you want everyday cubes, big slow-melting cocktail cubes, or spill-proof lidded trays, these four cover it.
The Tovolo Perfect Cube Ice Trays are the best silicone ice trays, producing uniform 1.25 inch cubes that release with a single twist. The glacio Large Cube Trays are the budget-friendly pick for slow-melting two inch cocktail cubes with lids.
- Best overall: Tovolo Perfect Cube Ice Trays
- Best value: OXO Good Grips Covered Silicone Ice Cube Tray
- Best budget: glacio Large Silicone Ice Cube Trays
- Avoid: Ultra-thin bargain silicone trays, they flop when carried, spill in the freezer, and pick up freezer odors fast
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Quick Picks
- Best overall: Tovolo Perfect Cube Ice Trays, Sturdy walls make uniform square cubes that release with one twist.. Check price on Amazon
- Best value: OXO Good Grips Covered Silicone Ice Cube Tray, A snug lid stops spills and keeps freezer smells out of your ice..
- Best budget: glacio Large Silicone Ice Cube Trays, Two inch slow-melt cubes with lids at an easy price point..
Comparison Table
| Ice tray | Cube size | Best for | Lid included | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tovolo Perfect Cube Ice Trays | 1.25 inch cubes | Everyday drinks | No | Check Price |
| OXO Good Grips Covered Silicone Ice Cube Tray | Large cubes | Spill-free filling and clean-tasting ice | Yes | Check Price |
| glacio Large Silicone Ice Cube Trays | 2 inch cubes | Whiskey and iced coffee | Yes | Check Price |
| W&P Peak Ice Tray | Extra-large cubes | Craft cocktails and gifting | Yes | Check Price |
How We Chose These Ice Makers Picks
We compared wall stiffness, cube geometry, lid designs, and silicone quality across the most popular trays, then read aggregated owner feedback for the failure points that actually matter, floppy trays that spill during the freezer carry, cubes that tear the tray on release, and silicone that absorbs freezer odors. Trays that stayed rigid when full ranked highest.
Key Takeaway: The carry from faucet to freezer is where cheap silicone trays fail. Buy trays with reinforced or thick walls, or a sealed lid, and your counters and freezer floor stay dry.
Best Overall: Tovolo Perfect Cube Ice Trays
Best for: Anyone replacing cracked plastic trays who wants uniform, easy-release cubes for everyday drinks. Why it made the list: The trays combine flexible cavities with firm structural walls, so they carry to the freezer without slopping, sit flat on wire shelves, and release perfectly square 1.25 inch cubes with a light twist instead of a wrestling match.
- Key specs: Food-grade silicone, 1.25 inch square cubes, sturdy reinforced sides, stackable design, dishwasher safe, typically sold in multi-packs.
- What we like: Cubes release cleanly one at a time, the square shape packs efficiently into water bottles and glasses, and the trays hold their shape when carried full.
- What we do not like: There is no lid on the standard trays, so ice picks up freezer odors if stored too long, and the cavities are too small for slow-melt cocktail ice.
- Who should buy it: Households that empty trays regularly into drinks or an ice bin and want reliable, uniform cubes without frozen-in air gaps or shattered shards.
- Who should avoid it: Whiskey and cocktail drinkers who want large-format ice, the glacio and W&P trays make far better slow-melting cubes, and anyone who insists on a lid.
- Common complaints: A faint silicone smell out of the package, which washes out, and ice absorbing freezer taste when trays sit unused for weeks without a cover.
- Size note: Each tray makes cubes sized for standard glasses and bottles, and the trays stack cleanly, so a two-tray rotation fits even a packed freezer shelf.
- Cleaning note: Dishwasher safe on the top rack, but skip strongly scented detergents and rinse with baking soda water occasionally, silicone can hold onto perfumes.
- Alternative: If freezer smells are your main complaint, the OXO Good Grips covered tray seals the ice off completely and stacks with a full tray on top.
Ice Tray Buying Guide
Cube size changes the drink
Standard 1 to 1.25 inch cubes chill fast and suit water, soda, and blended use. Two inch cubes melt far slower, diluting whiskey and iced coffee less, but they take a full day to freeze solid. Most kitchens do best owning both, small cubes for volume and a large-cube tray for sipping drinks.
Wall stiffness and lids
Pure floppy silicone is the number one regret in this category, trays taco-fold during the carry and dump water in the freezer. Look for reinforced rims, thick molded walls, or a fitted lid. Lids also block freezer odors, stop spills, and let you stack trays, three problems solved with one piece.
Silicone quality and odors
Food-grade silicone is safe and freezer-stable, but it can absorb smells from an open freezer over weeks. Buy trays from established brands, wash before first use, empty trays into a covered bin regularly, and refresh smelly trays with a soak in baking soda solution.
Safety Notes
- Buy trays labeled food-grade silicone from established brands, uncertified bargain silicone can leach odors and degrade.
- Wash new trays before first use to remove manufacturing residue.
- Do not use silicone trays for hot liquid molds and then ice without a full wash, flavors carry over.
- Keep filled trays level on a stable shelf, refreezing spilled meltwater creates a slip hazard at the freezer.
What to Avoid
- Paper-thin silicone trays that fold when carried full of water.
- Storing ice in open trays for weeks, it absorbs freezer odors and tastes stale.
- Twisting cubes out violently like a plastic tray, push from the bottom of each cavity instead.
- Washing silicone with heavily scented detergent, the trays hold the perfume and pass it to your ice.
FAQ
Why does ice from silicone trays taste bad?
Almost always freezer odors, not the silicone itself. Silicone is slightly porous to smells, so ice left sitting in open trays absorbs whatever the freezer holds. Use lidded trays or transfer cubes to a sealed bin, and refresh trays with a baking soda soak if they have picked up a smell.
How do you get ice out of silicone trays without spilling?
Let the tray sit at room temperature for one minute, then push up on the bottom of each cavity with your thumb rather than twisting the whole tray. Trays with rigid walls, like the Tovolo Perfect Cube, release with a gentle flex instead of a full-tray wrestle.
Are silicone ice trays dishwasher safe?
Nearly all quality silicone trays are top-rack dishwasher safe, including all four picks here. The main caution is scented detergents and rinse aids, which silicone can absorb. If your ice starts tasting soapy, hand wash with unscented soap and a baking soda rinse.
Final Verdict
The Tovolo Perfect Cube Ice Trays are the best silicone ice trays for everyday cubes that release cleanly, while the OXO Good Grips covered tray solves spills and freezer smells, and the glacio large cube trays handle slow-melt whiskey ice on a budget.
