# Ice-cube tray question... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2002, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239 "2002-07-28T15:03:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/1 "2002-07-28T15:03:09Z")
We recently got a new fridge, without an icemaker :eek:, luckily, I found the recipe for ice cubes on the 'net, and have been making them in plastic trays. My question is, when I fill two trays with water and stack them, the cubes in the bottom tray are hard to get out and always break into many pieces. If I put the trays side-by-side (taking up precious frozen pizza room 😃 ), all the cubes come out whole. Does anyone know why? I thought of spraying PAM on the trays as a test, but I have a feeling there would be a slightly "off’ taste to my ice… MC$E ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/2 "2002-07-28T15:18:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MC$E \* > \*\*I found the recipe for ice cubes on the 'net, and have been making them in plastic trays. > \*\* I don’t know the answer to your question…but there are _recipes_ for making ice cubes? (call me dense, but I thought it was an obvious process) ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/3 "2002-07-28T15:32:44Z")
I find the recipes on [Whoosh.net](http://Whoosh.net) to be the best. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/4 "2002-07-28T17:04:08Z")
You may be filling the trays too full. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/5 "2002-07-28T20:12:47Z")
WAG: Some of the water from the trays vaporizes instead of freezing in the trays. (That’s one reason ice forms all over the freezer.) The water vapor from the top-most tray settles in the lower trays, hence filling them a little more than when you put them in. Then the two trays get frozen together. Like I said, it’s just a WAG. ---
**Author:** ![I\_forgot\_my\_username](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecd19e/32.png) [@I\_forgot\_my\_username](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_forgot_my_username)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/6 "2002-07-28T20:36:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MC$E \* > \*\*…I found the recipe for ice cubes on the 'net… \*\* [sarcasm]Does anyone have a recipe for hot water?[/sarcasm] ---
**Author:** ![JS\_Princeton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JS\_Princeton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JS_Princeton)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/7 "2002-07-28T21:47:09Z")
Could it be that you are spilling water from top ice-tray to bottom ice tray? The small-scale equivalent of a seiche may be occuring in your trays during transportation from sink to freezer, thus increasing the possibility of spills. Furthermore, any water on the outside of top tray will tend to drip-collect in bottom tray. Whatever the reason, try filling bottom ice tray with less water. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/8 "2002-07-28T22:16:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by I forgot my username \* > \*\* > [sarcasm]Does anyone have a recipe for hot water?[/sarcasm] \*\* Yeah its two lines above toast ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2002, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/9 "2002-07-28T22:20:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by I forgot my username \* > \*\* > [sarcasm]Does anyone have a recipe for hot water?[/sarcasm] \*\* Well, Food Network used to have a show called “How to Boil Water”; so they probably had a recipe. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/10 "2002-07-29T00:28:42Z")
I don’t have that problem. 🙂 Try putting in the bottom tray first and then putting in the top one separately, instead of both at once. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/11 "2002-07-29T02:30:49Z")
Try putting the bottom tray on the top. 😑 ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/12 "2002-07-29T03:29:36Z")
Listen, all you smartasses, there is SO a recipe for ice cubes. [http://wolfs.org/icecubes/](http://wolfs.org/icecubes/) So there. 😛 To address the OP: My experience is that it’s overfilling and then stacking the trays that causes this. No idea why, sorry. Try just barely filling up each compartment, rather than shoving it under the faucet until it’s totally overflowing. Also, sometimes it’s the flimsier Dollar Store El Cheapo trays that are the worst offenders, also no idea why. Try investing in trays made out of slightly more rugged plastic. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/13 "2002-07-29T04:07:22Z")
Hmmm, anyone know if those metal ice trays (with the lever to extract the cubes) are still being made? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/14 "2002-07-29T05:02:08Z")
I don’t know if they’re still made, but I sure enough have one in my kitchen! ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2002, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/15 "2002-07-29T05:57:46Z")
SirRay, [Ask and you shall receive.](http://www.stacksandstacks.com/html/7064.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/16 "2002-09-27T23:27:05Z")
I am reviving this thread to report that for months I have been alternating my upper and lower trays, and ALWAYS the lower tray is harder to empty as described in ther OP. I don’t pay much attention to how high I fill the trays, but it seems extremely unlikely I always over (or under) filled the one I happen to place on the bottom. I feel this is a question worthy of his Cecilness. **MC$E** , you should sent this one in to Cecil if you haven’t already. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/17 "2002-09-27T23:54:43Z")
Ok, a lone attempt at a serious answer: I can think of a couple of things that would be different about a tray underneath another tray vs. a tray in exactly the same position in the freezer, but without a tray on top of it. With a tray on top, there would be less air circulation over the tops of the freezing cubes. In addition, having something on top of a tray would tend to trap the heat better. So, perhaps the difference is that the water in the bottom tray is taking longer to freeze, and thereby giving you the difficult to remove cubes. Try some experiments: Try using just one tray, but put something solid (like a book) over it. Try doing it your usual way, but fill the bottom tray only 3/4 full, and then again 1/2 full. Try changing the temperature of your freezer: make it a few degrees warmer, then put in just one tray. If my hypothesis is correct, this should produce the same hard-to-remove cubes. Then try setting it even colder than before and using the stacked trays, and see if the bottom ones come out any better. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/18 "2002-09-28T00:16:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SirRay \* > \*\*Hmmm, anyone know if those metal ice trays (with the lever to extract the cubes) are still being made? \*\* They’re in stock at all garage sales. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/19 "2002-09-28T00:41:51Z")
use tupperware icecube trays. they have lids. no problem removing the ice, no “freezer” taste. now if someone could get me the name of the iceman in japan, that makes this ice that is absolutly crystal clear and musical, i’d be in ice heaven. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239/20 "2002-09-28T00:43:53Z")
I am actuall going to address the OP. My icemaker went out a couple years ago and I’ve been making ice the semi-old-fashioned way too. Exact same observations as **MC$E**. I do note that spilled water from filling the upper tray makes the cubes in the lower tray larger. So sometimes I’ll put it on a towel while filling the lower tray. As to breakage, I run the bottom of both under the faucet to loosen them and no more broken cubes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cube-tray-question/121239.md?page=2)