# Anyone ever used the old aluminum ice cube trays? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748 "2006-11-01T17:05:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/1 "2006-11-01T17:05:47Z")
So here we are in Japan for the next three years, and we can’t get to the plumbing in our duplex to install an icemaker in our fridge. So we are stuck using the dreaded ice cube trays. The only ones I can find here are utter crap. They crack after a few weeks, are hard to get the cubes out of, and if you stack them in a non-alternating pattern they spill water everywhere. So has anyone used [these?](http://cgi.ebay.com/ALUMINUM-ICE-CUBE-TRAY-WITH-QUICK-RELEASE-HANDLE_W0QQitemZ160046862292QQihZ006QQcategoryZ20651QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) Do they work? Do they stack well? If not, can you recommend something that does? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/2 "2006-11-01T17:09:24Z")
Wow. They still make those? I loved them, when I was a kid. Like 30 years ago. They work great, if they crack the ice somewhat when you pull that lever to get the ice out. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/3 "2006-11-01T17:10:28Z")
I grew up with those. They worked fine and lasted forever. I don’t remember how they stack, though. If you have little kids, they’ll find the mechanism fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/4 "2006-11-01T17:15:17Z")
My dad was getting all nostalgic about them a while back, and some nice doper pointed me to a website where you can buy them. So I bought the ol’ man a couple. He then proceeded to tell me that the plastic ones are better. Sigh…old age. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/5 "2006-11-01T17:21:01Z")
Ahem [http://shophometrends.com/product.asp?pn=409163&sid=FROOGLE&EID=FR409163&bhcd2=1162401602](http://shophometrends.com/product.asp?pn=409163&sid=FROOGLE&EID=FR409163&bhcd2=1162401602) ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/6 "2006-11-01T17:22:09Z")
I loved those things! Nothing like that snap when you pull up the handle. Though they can be painful…frozen metal! Just don’t put your tongue on them. And I wouldn’t stack them. Might get stuck. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/7 "2006-11-01T17:30:51Z")
Oh boy those bring back memories, and they aren’t good. Those things were very difficult to get the ice out. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/8 "2006-11-01T17:32:52Z")
When I was very young we had them. They worked very well and apparently were indestructible. I believe my parents had their 3 trays for 15 years. They were fascinating to use. They did stack. Now can someone tell me where to buy and old fashion Fifties style mechanical Ice crusher? Something [like this one](http://www.amazon.com/Metrokane-Manual-Ice/dp/customer-reviews/B00004RDB4). My Parents have one and it is still the best. Jim ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/9 "2006-11-01T17:44:37Z")
I used them all the time when I was a kid, and it was my job to fix drinks for dinner. There were two important tricks: One, rinse quickly under running water before attempting to operate the darned thing. Two, make sure your hands aren’t damp when you pull the trays out of the freezer, because your hands _will_ freeze to them; a most unpleasant experience. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/10 "2006-11-01T17:46:24Z")
We had those things up to my teenage years and maybe longer. They work but they will stick to your skin. Getting the ice cubes out of them was a problem but, if you turn them upside down and run water over the bottom while working the lever, removing the cubes is much easier. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/11 "2006-11-01T17:47:10Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Now can someone tell me where to buy and old fashion Fifties style mechanical Ice crusher? Something [like this one](http://www.amazon.com/Metrokane-Manual-Ice/dp/customer-reviews/B00004RDB4). My Parents have one and it is still the best. Jim [/QUOTE] [http://cgi.ebay.com/ALUMINUM-ICE-CUBE-TRAY-WITH-QUICK-RELEASE-HANDLE\_W0QQitemZ160046862292QQihZ006QQcategoryZ20651QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem](http://cgi.ebay.com/ALUMINUM-ICE-CUBE-TRAY-WITH-QUICK-RELEASE-HANDLE_W0QQitemZ160046862292QQihZ006QQcategoryZ20651QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/12 "2006-11-01T17:48:35Z")
bah! sorry, meant to post this: [http://www.fantes.com/ice\_utensils.htm#crusher](http://www.fantes.com/ice_utensils.htm#crusher) ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/13 "2006-11-01T17:50:40Z")
Dear God, I feel old… ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/14 "2006-11-01T17:55:24Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Now can someone tell me where to buy and old fashion Fifties style mechanical Ice crusher? Something [like this one](http://www.amazon.com/Metrokane-Manual-Ice/dp/customer-reviews/B00004RDB4). My Parents have one and it is still the best. Jim [/QUOTE] You’ll find one in my parents’ garage. 😛 I think they might still use it sometimes. [Tupperware ice trays are the best](http://cgi.ebay.com/Tupperware-Ice-Cube-trays-with-Purple-with-lids_W0QQitemZ220044151665QQihZ012QQcategoryZ11657QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item220044151665). The lids keep the water from going everywhere, and they are stackable. I remember those aluminum ones sucking rocks - it was always a fight to get the ice out. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/15 "2006-11-01T18:03:20Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Now can someone tell me where to buy and old fashion Fifties style mechanical Ice crusher? [/QUOTE] I have that very ice crusher. It belonged to my parents. How much is it worth to ya? 😃 But wait! There’s more! For the right price, I’ll throw in one of those hand-cranked food grinders. (Just kidding, Mods. I’m not selling anything!) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/16 "2006-11-01T18:08:19Z")
Erm…I have that particular ice thingie. No, really. I have plastic trays, too. I don’t use the metal thing. the ice lever actually works wonders but my plastic tray has a lid with a hole in it, to be able to fill it up and then close the lid and transport to freezer without spilling. And since I have more trouble not spilling then getting the ice out, I choose to use the spill-free one. But the metal thing works great! ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/17 "2006-11-01T18:08:43Z")
I used both the aluminum and plastic varieties until . . . very recently. We got a new refrigerator with a functional icemaker about five years ago. In fact I have a recipe that depends on the old aluminum ones, and I’ve saved the trays for that very purpose. Aluminum had its issues, as mentioned (sticking to your hands, sometimes the cubes are balky) but I had better luck with those than with plastic (you have to twist to get the ice out–but it’s frozen solid!). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/18 "2006-11-01T18:09:18Z")
Those were the _New & Improved_ kind. Remember their predecessor, the ones that gave you rectangular cubes about 1/3 as thick? I remember when the plastic, twistable trays came out. We thought it was _suuuuuch_ a brave, new world. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/19 "2006-11-01T18:49:00Z")
[QUOTE=Renee] … Do they work? Do they stack well? If not, can you recommend something that does? Thanks! [/QUOTE] Should have mentioned, they work best when you don’t fill them very full at all. Halfway to the top of the tray at most. So if you need a lot of ice, you need to have a lot of them. But they do stack well. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748/20 "2006-11-01T19:08:41Z")
[QUOTE=Renee] bah! sorry, meant to post this: [http://www.fantes.com/ice\_utensils.htm#crusher](http://www.fantes.com/ice_utensils.htm#crusher) [/QUOTE] Perfect, that is it and a reasonable price. I will have to order when I get home. Thank you so much. It looks just like my parent’s one. Jim [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-used-the-old-aluminum-ice-cube-trays/378748.md?page=2)