Specifically the kind often referred to as ice sticks, because they’re long and narrow enough to fit through the top of a standard pop bottle. I bought three of these molds and then couldn’t figure out how to carry them from the sink to the freezer without spilling all the water. Apparently this is a common enough problem that the better ones are sold with covers; but not the ones I bought. What to do?
Is the problem that they’re too floppy to carry, or that you just can’t carry water in a nearly full container without spilling?
If the former, put them on something flat like a cookie sheet, cutting board, or maybe pizza peel. You’ve probably got something suitable lying around your kitchen already. Then carry that to the freezer then slide them off the whatever-carrier into the freezer compartment. The thinner the carrier, the better that slide-off will go.
More advice (I don’t have the spillage problem because my silicone trays make cubes and are more structurally sound but yes, they are pretty floopy when you carry them): If, after living in your freezer for awhile they start to pick up that moldy freezer odor, put them in a hot oven for awhile - doesn’t hurt them, and the smell burns off.
I haven’t found any fix for that works for the icky taste of silicone trays. Thew them out–that worked.
And if it’s the latter, don’t fill them up as high.
Dishwasher? Or are you talking about silicone smell/flavor from new or that “old freezer” smell any ice tray or even ice itself picks up eventually regardless of material?
I used to clean the icemaker in my old fridge with bleach. Take out all the ice, let it defrost, bleach it then let it dry good and hot in the sun for awhile before reinstalling.
Any reason not to put the empty ice mold in the freezer (on the shelf, on the bottom of the drawer, whatever your freezer configuration) and then fill it in situ by pouring from a small spouted container like a measuring cup?
Only my clumsiness which would guarantee spilling water in the freezer.
I’m talking about the disgusting odor several brands of silicone trays have picked up within a couple of weeks. We’ve had no success with this product and had to switch back to plastic.
Hmm. I’m familiar with the freezer stench that all ice cubes & trays pick up after a few months which dates back to when I was a kid even when the trays were 100% metal. And I think most silicone stuff smells a bit off, but not objectionably so. I have no experience with your objectionable smells.
Not trying to disagree or pooh-pooh your lived experience. Just offering another confused / confusing data point for everyone’s consideration.
Mine are floppy and they have covers which help, but it’s still pretty easy to spill when carrying from sink to freezer. Mine are 6 large cubes each, and I really like them. The occasional spill, yes it’s annoying but I live with it.
To the OP, can you put your tray on a small saucer for that to give it support, and just put the whole thing into the freezer, saucer and all? Once frozen you can use the saucer for the next tray.
Or a similar stiff support?
I really like the trays I have. No bad odor or taste. I have two different kinds but with one kind it’s difficult to extract the frozen cube. I rarely use that kind. The good ones I have, I have 3 trays and each makes 6 large cubes. Each cube is roughly a little smaller than the size of a racquetball ball.
That’s what I’m looking into. A saucer isn’t quite flat enough.
Use a piece of cardboard.
Or an inexpensive solution could be a piece of plastic cut to the right size.
TAP Plastics: https://www.tapPlastics.com