If you've cleaned out your freezer lately, you've probably noticed there are a significant number of items in there that you really don't need. There's that package of steak that you bought 6 months ago that has enough freezer burn to render it unrecognizable; that dairy-free, nut-free ice cream you bought when you swore to yourself you were going to start a new diet; and of course, all those unmarked freezer bags full of unidentifiable leftovers. And then there are your ice cube trays -- remember those? Before you toss them in the trash and reward your built-in ice machine full ice cube privileges, pause. Your ice cube trays may not be the easiest way to make ice cubes at home, but that doesn't mean they can't be incredibly useful to you in other ways.
With a resurgence of interest in DIY, recycling, and repurposing, it's easy to find ways for almost everything in your home to serve multiple purposes; the ice cube tray is no exception. So we can make ice quickly and in large quantities using electricity; that doesn't mean we need to send our plastic ice cube trays to clutter up our landfills.
One genius use for old ice cube trays is to store prepped ingredients so that you can cook in small batches. Cooking for one can be a hassle when sauce recipes make enough to serve 4 to 6 people or call for only a small amount of a much larger ingredient like fresh herbs. Go ahead and make that sauce recipe, but freeze individual portions of it for future use in your ice cube trays. And, save leftover herbs in another ice cube tray, frozen in olive oil, for future. Being able to portion out some of your favorite recipes and save them is perfect for when you're cooking for one.
And, that's just the beginning; read on to learn about other genius ways you should be using your ice cube trays and prepare to appreciate them all over again.
-Sara Kay, The Daily Meal
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