9 Silicone Ice Trays That Pop Cubes Out Easily
OXO Good Grips Covered Silicone Ice Cube Tray wins overall with a rigid frame and a lid that truly seals. Souper Cubes doubles as a portion freezer and earns best value. DOQAUS costs the least while still releasing cubes cleanly, making it the budget pick.
Cubes that twist free without cracking the tray, water that stays put until the freezer door closes: that is the real test of a silicone tray. OXO’s covered design meets both marks with a rigid outer frame and a lid that actually seals. Souper Cubes adds portion freezing to the mix, and DOQAUS keeps a full ice run affordable.
Soft silicone that releases ice easily also flexes enough to slosh water before it reaches the freezer shelf. That tension between flexibility and rigidity shapes every design choice on this list. We compared cube geometry, lid seal quality, base stiffness and stacking fit, then checked owner feedback on freezer odor and how long each lid kept sealing over time.
Our top picks
OXO Good Grips Covered Silicone Ice Cube Tray
A rigid outer frame wraps the flexible silicone mould, so the tray holds its shape when carried full. Fourteen cubes fill it per batch, and the lid clicks into a genuine seal rather than resting loosely on top. Owners report cubes push free from underneath with light pressure, no twisting required.
Pros
- Rigid frame stops spills during transport
- Lid seals fully against freezer odors
- Cubes release with a gentle push, no twisting
Cons
- Priced above simple flexible trays
- Standard cube size melts quicker than large formats
Souper Cubes 1 Cup Freezing Tray
Souper Cubes started as a stock and soup freezer, and the same mould turns out large ice blocks that melt slowly. Fill lines cast into each one cup well remove the need for a measuring jug. Thick silicone and a reinforced rim mean owners report years of use before any wear shows.
Pros
- Freezes stock and soup portions, not just ice
- Molded fill lines remove guesswork
- Thick silicone holds up over years of use
Cons
- Blocks are oversized for most drinking glasses
- Wells use considerable freezer shelf space
DOQAUS Silicone Ice Cube Trays
Multiple trays ship per pack, which suits anyone who needs volume over a handful of perfect cubes. Soft silicone lets roughly fourteen cubes per tray pop free with light pressure. Lids fit by friction rather than a true seal, so owners report stacking them level matters more than with framed trays.
Pros
- Lowest cost per tray in this lineup
- Soft silicone releases cubes with light pressure
- Multipack yields more ice per freezing run
Cons
- Friction fit lids do not fully block odors
- Flexible base needs care when carrying it full
Tovolo Perfect Cube Silicone Ice Mold
Large square cubes carry far less surface area per unit of volume than small ones, so they melt slower and dilute a drink less. A sealing lid keeps the trays stackable in a crowded freezer. Six to eight cubes fill each tray, sized more for rocks glasses than tall tumblers.
Pros
- Large format melts slowly and limits dilution
- Sealing lid keeps trays stacked securely
- Solid build holds shape when full
Cons
- Yields fewer cubes per freezing cycle
- Cube size crowds narrow glassware
W and P Peak Everyday Silicone Ice Tray
Clean edged bar style cubes come out of this tray, built with silicone thicker than budget options so it holds shape when full. A lid limits flavor transfer in a shared freezer. Owners report the cubes look noticeably clearer than typical trays produce, and the tray itself looks tidy enough to leave on a counter.
Pros
- Clean edged cubes suit cocktail presentation
- Lid limits freezer flavor transfer
- Thick silicone holds shape when filled
Cons
- Costs more for a modest cube count
- Cube size limits which glasses it suits
Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds
Round ice carries the lowest surface area of any shape, which explains why bars serve whiskey over spheres rather than cubes. A two part mould fills through a top opening and seals to hold its shape. Owners report a flat freezer shelf matters here, since any tilt produces a lopsided sphere.
Pros
- Slowest melting shape available for spirits
- Sealed mould keeps ice clean tasting
- Presentation stands out when serving guests
Cons
- Produces only two spheres per batch
- Needs a genuinely level freezer shelf
Ticent Ice Cube Trays with Lid
Standard size cubes fit any glass and chill drinks fast, which is the point of this pack of lidded trays. Cube count per tray runs higher than most, suiting households that go through ice daily. Faster melting is the tradeoff owners report for that quick chill and easy fit.
Pros
- High cube yield per freezing cycle
- Standard size fits any glass and chills fast
- Lids allow stacking in the freezer
Cons
- Small cubes melt and dilute quickly
- Silicone runs thinner than premium trays
How they stack up
| # | Model | Cube count | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OXO Good Grips Covered Silicone Ice Cube Tray | 14 cubes | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Souper Cubes 1 Cup Freezing Tray | 1 cup per well, other sizes available | Best value | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | DOQAUS Silicone Ice Cube Trays | Multiple trays per pack | Best budget | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Tovolo Perfect Cube Silicone Ice Mold | Large square format | Best for slow-melting cubes | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | W and P Peak Everyday Silicone Ice Tray | Bar style square cubes | Best for cocktails | 8.5 | Check price |
| 6 | Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds | Sphere, about 2.5 inches | Best for spirits | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | Ticent Ice Cube Trays with Lid | Higher count per tray | Best for everyday ice | 8.0 | Check price |
How to pick the right one
What makes a silicone ice tray worth buying? Soft silicone flexes enough to pop cubes free, and that same flex can fold a full tray in half on the way to the freezer. Rigid frames or thicker walls solve that problem, which is why framed designs like OXO feel sturdier in daily use. A sealing lid matters just as much, since uncovered ice absorbs whatever else sits in the freezer. Flexible trays without a frame still work fine if you carry them flat on a plate.
How much does cube size actually change a drink? Large cubes carry less surface area per unit of volume, so they melt slower and water down a drink less. Small cubes do the opposite: they chill fast and fit any glass, which suits everyday water and soft drinks. Spheres take that logic furthest, since a round shape has the least surface area of any form. Most households end up wanting one large format tray alongside a standard one.
Which tray suits cocktails, whiskey or freezing stock? Bar style trays like the W and P Peak cut clean edges meant for cocktail glasses and clear presentation. Whiskey and other spirits served neat call for sphere molds, since slow melting matters more than yield. Souper Cubes solves a different problem entirely, doubling as a portion freezer for soup, stock and sauces. Matching the tray to the drink, rather than buying whatever is cheapest, avoids wasted freezer space.
Why does silicone ice sometimes taste off, and how do you fix it? Silicone holds onto greasy residue more than plastic does, and that residue is usually the source of an odd smell. A hot dishwasher cycle clears most buildup, and a baking soda soak handles anything stubborn. Dry trays completely before storing them, since trapped moisture invites the same problem again. Filtered water also helps if tap water leaves a mineral taste in the finished ice.
Frequently asked questions
Why does ice from a silicone tray taste or smell off?
Usually the tray sat uncovered, and the ice absorbed odors from other items in the freezer. A sealing lid fixes that, and a hot wash or baking soda soak removes greasy residue causing the smell.
How do you get cubes out of a silicone tray without breaking it?
Push each cube up from underneath instead of twisting the whole tray. Letting the tray sit at room temperature for thirty seconds first softens the edges enough to help.
Are silicone ice trays better than plastic ones?
Silicone flexes and releases cubes without cracking, where hard plastic trays turn brittle and split over time. The tradeoff is that fully flexible trays need careful handling, which is why framed designs combine both strengths.
Can you pour hot liquid into a silicone ice tray?
Some trays, including Souper Cubes, carry an oven and microwave rating that covers hot contents. Check the listing for that rating first, and let very hot liquid cool slightly before pouring into any lighter tray.
What is the best silicone ice tray for cocktails?
The W and P Peak Everyday Silicone Ice Tray cuts clean, bar style cubes built for cocktail glasses. Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds suit spirits served neat, since round ice melts slower than square cubes.
How do you make clearer ice at home?
Cloudiness comes from dissolved air and minerals freezing into the center of a cube. Filtered or boiled and cooled water reduces that, and directional freezing in an insulated container clears it further.
Are silicone ice cube trays dishwasher safe?
All seven trays here list dishwasher safety on their packaging. A hot cycle clears the film that causes lingering odors better than a quick rinse does.
What cube size should you pick for everyday use versus drinks?
Small cubes chill fast and fit any glass, which suits water and soft drinks. Large cubes and spheres melt slowly and suit spirits, so households doing both benefit from owning one tray of each.
Why does ice come out lopsided or misshapen?
The tray or mold likely sat unlevel in the freezer. Sphere molds show this most, so check the shelf is flat and nothing underneath is tilting the tray.
Do silicone trays with lids stack better than open ones?
Lidded trays stack far more reliably, since a flat lid gives the tray above something solid to rest on. Open trays without a lid tend to slide and spill when stacked.
Our take
OXO’s covered tray earns the top spot by solving the two real annoyances: water spilling in transit and lids that let freezer odors in. Souper Cubes makes sense if stock and soup portions matter as much as ice, and DOQAUS covers anyone who just needs volume cheaply. Pairing one large format or sphere tray with a standard one covers nearly every use case at home.
Dana Whitfield
Dana spent eight years buying and merchandising for a regional kitchenware retailer before moving into editorial work. She has handled thousands of SKUs across cookware, small appliances and kitchen organization, and focuses on the practical differences that matter once a product is actually in daily use.
