Tips for Ice Cubes and Trays

When regular ice cubes melt, they will water down your drink. Prevent this from happening by making the ice cubes with tea, milk or punch, whatever you and your guests will be drinking. This is especially good to use if you are making punch.

Alternatively, freeze fruit juice and try dropping them into tea, water and more.

For fun, freeze a maraschino cherry, fresh mint leaves, citrus slices etc, in each cube for a festive touch.

Crushing regular ice cubes in the garbage disposal will keep the blades sharp.

Prevent ice cubes from shattering by cleaning the ice cube trays with white vinegar and then soak in soapy water. Rinse trays well before refilling.

Rinse a coffee pot clean by swishing around ice cubes, some salt and water for a couple of minutes and then rinse.

Leftover red wine? Freeze in ice cube trays and use them the next time you need to deglaze a pan to make a sauce.
Freeze leftover coffee in ice cubes and use to cool down a boiling cup of coffee.

Baby food - Cook and puree vegatables. Freeze in ice cube trays and store in Ziplocs. Now you have single serve portions for day care or quick dinners.

Freeze tomato paste in 1 tsp. amounts so that you always have on hand and won't have to waste a whole can for just a little amount.

Create instant sorbets by freezing fruit juice in ice cube trays and pulse until smooth.

For instant white sauce, blend a cup each of softened butter and flour and spread it evenly in the ice cube tray. Freezeand store in a plastic bag until you want to make a sauce. Then heat 1 cup milk and 1 cube, stirring until cube is melted and the liquid is warm.