Sticking ice cubes

Quoted message said:

I bought some new (cheap) ice cube trays, and the cubes tend to stick
in the trays. What is the secret to non-sticking ice cubes?!? Is it
more expensive trays? Is it the water? I use tap water, which is
very good where I live, but it has a pH of about 8.2, so a bit hard.

Cheap trays can have relatively rough surfaces (microscopically
speaking). This gives the ice more crannies to freeze into, and more
difficult to get out. Spend a little more and get trays that have a
nice slick and glossy surface, your problem will go away.

Abe said:

Quoted message said:

I bought some new (cheap) ice cube trays, and the cubes tend to stick
in the trays. What is the secret to non-sticking ice cubes?!? Is it
more expensive trays? Is it the water? I use tap water, which is
very good where I live, but it has a pH of about 8.2, so a bit hard.

Cheap trays can have relatively rough surfaces (microscopically
speaking). This gives the ice more crannies to freeze into, and more
difficult to get out. Spend a little more and get trays that have a
nice slick and glossy surface, your problem will go away.

Probably talking plastic trays, you're likely too young to even
remember metal ice cube trays. Doesn't matter how much you spend on
plastic trays, they all stick, but it's very easy to make them non
stick. Coat the trays with a very light film of ordinary vegetable
oil and let sit over night. Next day wash by hand with ordinary dish
liquid and hot water as you would dishes. Now your ice cube trays are
non stick and will remain so for many years... if after a couple three
years they begin to stick repeat the oiling.

Sheldon

Quoted message said:

Abe said:

Quoted message said:

I bought some new (cheap) ice cube trays, and the cubes tend to stick
in the trays. What is the secret to non-sticking ice cubes?!? Is it
more expensive trays? Is it the water? I use tap water, which is
very good where I live, but it has a pH of about 8.2, so a bit hard.

Cheap trays can have relatively rough surfaces (microscopically
speaking). This gives the ice more crannies to freeze into, and more
difficult to get out. Spend a little more and get trays that have a
nice slick and glossy surface, your problem will go away.

Probably talking plastic trays, you're likely too young to even
remember metal ice cube trays. Doesn't matter how much you spend on
plastic trays, they all stick, but it's very easy to make them non
stick. Coat the trays with a very light film of ordinary vegetable
oil and let sit over night. Next day wash by hand with ordinary dish
liquid and hot water as you would dishes. Now your ice cube trays are
non stick and will remain so for many years... if after a couple three
years they begin to stick repeat the oiling.

Sheldon

Not too young at all. I grew up with metal trays that you had to turn
upside down onto the top of the cube compartment and then pull a lever
on the side to break out the cubes.

"Abe" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Not too young at all. I grew up with metal trays that you had to turn
upside down onto the top of the cube compartment and then pull a lever
on the side to break out the cubes.

My favorite part about those was how the whole contraption
stuck to your fingers.

nancy

Sheldon said:

Probably talking plastic trays, you're likely too young to even
remember metal ice cube trays. Doesn't matter how much you spend on
plastic trays, they all stick

I have three plastic trays and they only occasionally stick.
Usually they're just fine.

-sw

"Steve Wertz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sheldon said:

Probably talking plastic trays, you're likely too young to even
remember metal ice cube trays. Doesn't matter how much you spend on
plastic trays, they all stick

I have three plastic trays and they only occasionally stick.
Usually they're just fine.

-sw

Ditto. I had some cheap 3 for a dollar trays that were bad, but picked up
some "normal" quality trays for a couple bucks and they are fine. A quick
small twist and they are all loose.

Abe said:

Not too young at all. I grew up with metal trays that you
had to turn upside down onto the top of the cube compartment
and then pull a lever on the side to break out the cubes.

Mom would run hot water along the back of the tray
before pulling the handle.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Steve Wertz said:

Sheldon said:

Probably talking plastic trays, you're likely too young to even
remember metal ice cube trays. Doesn't matter how much you spend on
plastic trays, they all stick

I have three plastic trays and they only occasionally stick.
Usually they're just fine.

-sw

Run a bit of tap water over the back of the tray...

Works for me.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a [censored]" -- Jack Nicholson

Thanks everyone! I guess it's always true you get what you pay for.

"brushfire" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Thanks everyone! I guess it's always true you get what you pay for.

Oh, I don't know. I have 6 ice cube trays, they are in the freezer
in two stacks. Two different brands. No matter how you arrange
them, the bottom one of each stack will stick.

I do the hot water on the bottom routine, or just leave them out
until the cubes decide to let go of the tray.

nancy

brushfire said:

I bought some new (cheap) ice cube trays, and the cubes tend to stick
in the trays. What is the secret to non-sticking ice cubes?!? Is it
more expensive trays? Is it the water? I use tap water, which is
very good where I live, but it has a pH of about 8.2, so a bit hard.

Invert the ice cube tray and run some water over it. That will thaw just
enough of the outside of the cubes to let them fall out. You could also
just leave them out for a few minutes. More expensive trays don't work any
better. They just last longer. Water hardness doesn't have anything to do
with it, and pH does not make water hard. The pH is a measure of the acid
or base in the water, though hard water often contains alkaline materials.
I have very hard water but it is well balanced.

brushfire said:

I bought some new (cheap) ice cube trays, and the cubes tend to stick
in the trays. What is the secret to non-sticking ice cubes?!? Is it
more expensive trays? Is it the water? I use tap water, which is
very good where I live, but it has a pH of about 8.2, so a bit hard.

The trays need to be washed with soap and hot water once in a while.
You can't just fill them up and empty them forever and ever without a
good washing once in a while.

Karen

brushfire said:

I bought some new (cheap) ice cube trays, and the cubes tend to
stick in the trays. What is the secret to non-sticking ice
cubes?!? Is it more expensive trays? Is it the water? I use
tap water, which is very good where I live, but it has a pH of
about 8.2, so a bit hard.

I fought this for years; I was always trying different designs and
makes. I'd too frequently break trays, twisting them to try and get
the cubes to break loose. Then I picked up some Rubbermaid trays,
and they're super -- no more sticking, little effort needed to
release the cubes. I don't have a model number, but they're white
and the plastic feels a little thicker than the others I'd tried.
They were, IIRC, three bucks apiece, and I know I got them at BB&B.

--
Blinky
Killfiling all posts from Google Groups
Details: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html

In article <[email hidden]>,

Abe said:

Quoted message said:

I bought some new (cheap) ice cube trays, and the cubes tend to stick
in the trays. What is the secret to non-sticking ice cubes?!? Is it
more expensive trays? Is it the water? I use tap water, which is
very good where I live, but it has a pH of about 8.2, so a bit hard.

Cheap trays can have relatively rough surfaces (microscopically
speaking). This gives the ice more crannies to freeze into, and more
difficult to get out. Spend a little more and get trays that have a
nice slick and glossy surface, your problem will go away.

Or just wait a minute or two while the ice cube trays thaw slightly on
the counter and they'll pop out, no problem.

On 15 Jul 2007 09:27:14 GMT, Blinky the Shark <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I fought this for years; I was always trying different designs and
makes. I'd too frequently break trays, twisting them to try and get
the cubes to break loose. Then I picked up some Rubbermaid trays,
and they're super -- no more sticking, little effort needed to
release the cubes. I don't have a model number, but they're white
and the plastic feels a little thicker than the others I'd tried.
They were, IIRC, three bucks apiece, and I know I got them at BB&B.

GREAT! I need new ice cube trays so this info came just in time. It
seems like the grocery store doesn't carry the blue trays anymore, so
I have to look elsewhere. I was at Target on Friday and forgot all
about my need for ice cube trays, so I blew my chance and have to make
a dedicated ice cube tray hunt trip now.

--

A husband is someone who takes out the trash and gives the impression he just cleaned the whole house.

<sf> wrote

Quoted message said:

On 15 Jul 2007 09:27:14 GMT, Blinky the Shark <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I fought this for years; I was always trying different designs and
makes. I'd too frequently break trays, twisting them to try and get
the cubes to break loose. Then I picked up some Rubbermaid trays,
and they're super -- no more sticking, little effort needed to
release the cubes. I don't have a model number, but they're white
and the plastic feels a little thicker than the others I'd tried.
They were, IIRC, three bucks apiece, and I know I got them at BB&B.

GREAT! I need new ice cube trays so this info came just in time. It
seems like the grocery store doesn't carry the blue trays anymore, so
I have to look elsewhere. I was at Target on Friday and forgot all
about my need for ice cube trays, so I blew my chance and have to make
a dedicated ice cube tray hunt trip now.

Who knew it would get to be so hard to find the blue ice cube
trays! I have the white ones now, and they are fine. Watch out, I don't
know if Rubbermaid still sells them, but I did buy blue ones thinking they
were like the old ones. Get this. They nest. You have to line them
up a certain way or they ... nest, and that pushes out the water. Can't
imagine what they were thinking. Look for the white Rubbermaid kind.
I think I ordered them from Ace Hardware.

nancy

Quoted message said:

Blinky the Shark said:

I fought this for years; I was always trying different designs
and makes. I'd too frequently break trays, twisting them to try
and get the cubes to break loose. Then I picked up some
Rubbermaid trays, and they're super -- no more sticking, little
effort needed to release the cubes. I don't have a model
number, but they're white and the plastic feels a little thicker
than the others I'd tried. They were, IIRC, three bucks apiece,
and I know I got them at BB&B.

GREAT! I need new ice cube trays so this info came just in
time. It seems like the grocery store doesn't carry the blue
trays anymore, so I have to look elsewhere. I was at Target on
Friday and forgot all about my need for ice cube trays, so I
blew my chance and have to make a dedicated ice cube tray hunt
trip now.

I haven't seen the ones I recommended at Target anyway.

--
Blinky
Killfiling all posts from Google Groups
Details: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html

"Karen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

brushfire said:

I bought some new (cheap) ice cube trays, and the cubes tend to stick
in the trays. What is the secret to non-sticking ice cubes?!? Is it
more expensive trays? Is it the water? I use tap water, which is
very good where I live, but it has a pH of about 8.2, so a bit hard.

The trays need to be washed with soap and hot water once in a while.
You can't just fill them up and empty them forever and ever without a
good washing once in a while.

Karen

I have always wondered why we don't have silicone trays. We have silicon
baking pans (horrible as they are... my opinion only).

Somebody!

Somebody said:

"Karen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

brushfire said:

I bought some new (cheap) ice cube trays, and the cubes tend to stick
in the trays. What is the secret to non-sticking ice cubes?!? Is it
more expensive trays? Is it the water? I use tap water, which is
very good where I live, but it has a pH of about 8.2, so a bit hard.

The trays need to be washed with soap and hot water once in a while.
You can't just fill them up and empty them forever and ever without a
good washing once in a while.

Karen

I have always wondered why we don't have silicone trays. We have silicon
baking pans (horrible as they are... my opinion only).

Somebody!

I do and they stick-- but worse they flop in the freezer and spill
water. If they weren't in such cute shapes, I'd toss them.

--
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