8 Other Things to Put In Ice Cube Trays

1. Herbs. Like all good things, fresh herbs do come to an end (they have a shorter shelf-life than you realize). But, there is a way to preserve them so they can be used for delicious, fresh-tasting meals year-round. All you need is an ice cube tray and a little bit of olive oil!

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You could use water, but preserving herbs in oil reduces the risk of browning and freezer burn. Divide the herbs you want to preserve in the tray and then top them off with oil. Pop that baby in the freezer, and use your olive-oil cubes whenever a recipe calls for them!

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2. Pocket Stuff. If you’ve ever accidentally included a pen in your laundry cycle and ruined a favorite shirt, you understand the importance of a pre-cycle pocket check. Instead of ruining clothes, keep an ice cube tray in the laundry room. Before you throw those pants in the machine, empty the pockets and toss the contents in the ice cube tray.

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3. Jewelry. It’s fun to have variety, but it can be almost impossible to keep track of your entire collection of earrings. Next time you need a specific pair of gold sparklers, grab them from an organized ice cube tray instead of digging through a massive jewelry box.

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If you’re a little anal about your bling, you can even organize them by metal and color within the tray! If you don’t love the look of an ice cube tray on your dresser or desk, use it to organize your junk drawer, instead.

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4. IKEA Parts. IKEA is awesome. Where else can you leave with a bed, a new lamp and delicious meatballs for less than it costs to fill up your gas tank? It’s basically highway robbery, but it does come with a cost: time.

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Make furniture-assembly go faster by organizing your tools in an ice cube tray while you work. That way, you’ll be able to put part “B” in piece “D” without embarking on a search-and-rescue mission along your carpet!

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5. Medicine. If your health is perfect and you don’t need daily medicine, that’s great! If your daily routine comes with a pill or two, though, it can be a little difficult to stay organized. Ditch the space-wasting bottles and make sure you never miss a dose by organizing your pills in small ice cube trays. You can even label each slot with a day of the week!

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6. Coffee. Once the weather starts to warm up, few things are more refreshing than a tall glass of iced coffee. But, ice cubes have a nasty habit of melting inside of warm drinks, and watered down iced coffee isn’t refreshing for anyone.

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Instead of chugging your beverage to avoid a meltdown, use frozen coffee to cool your drink! Freeze some coffee in ice cube trays and break one or two out when you want to enjoy the beverage. Your coffee will maintain its flavor and will never be watery again.

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7. Paint. So your little one wants to play Picasso, but you don’t want to play cleanup with full bottles of paint, eh? Ice cube tray to the rescue! Drip a kid-sized amount of paint into your ice cube trays (make each slot a different color).

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Keep one slot clear for mixing and fill one slot with water, and you have a self-made paint kit! If your kid gets ambitious when he or she paints, keep the mess to a minimum by covering every available surface with newspaper first.

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8. Vino. A glass of cabernet is delicious. The last few sips at the bottom of a bottle? Not so much. Instead of drinking the dregs, pour the last drops of wine into your ice cube trays and pop them in the freezer.

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Next time you’re making a dish that calls for wine, don’t open that $35 bottle – grab a wine-cube instead! Your sauce will taste just as delicious with your thawed wine-cubes as it would with a brand-new expensive bottle!

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