<i></i> <i></i> <i></i> 0<p><img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/c-users-ammar-ahmed-downloads-23-11-2995-jpg.jpeg"/></p> <img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/word-image-1355.jpeg"/>Shutterstock.com <p>The simple ice cube tray may be nothing special to look at, but it could be a lifesaver for you in many ways! As it turns out, the little compartments in these humble items have several uses you may not have dreamed of.</p> <p>When you’re done reading the tips below, you’d be tempted to get a whole load of nice new ice trays! Don’t worry, you can use the old ones for the hacks not related to food. Keep reading to find out just how you could be using these handy things right now:</p> <h2>11. Pack in the Yogurt</h2> <img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/word-image-1356.jpeg"/>Shutterstock.com <p>Yogurt is a great health food but is also extremely delicate. It can go bad in a matter of days when kept in the fridge, and in a matter of hours if kept outside. The solution? Freezing, of course! Yogurt freezes very well, and tossing it in an ice cube tray would enable you to portion it out for the whole week. Pop them in the blender with some milk and fruit for a breakfast smoothie. You can also mash a few cubes together for the frozen yogurt experience.</p> <h2>10. Gourmet Chocolates</h2> <img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/word-image-1357.jpeg"/>Shutterstock.com <p>Make a nice chocolate sauce, pop some strawberries into your ice cube tray, and pour the sauce all over them. Put it all in the freezer and enjoy your delicious chocolates in a matter of minutes.</p> <p>When made correctly, the chocolate sauce could even go with your diet! Use honey instead of sugar, and real cacao powder instead of readymade chocolate. This way, your chocolates could be paleo and even keto friendly.</p> <p>However, the fun doesn’t have to stop at strawberries. Line the compartment of your ice cube tray with the chocolate, freeze it and then use fillings of your choice. These could include dulce de leche, Nutella, nuts, shredded coconut, or some combination of these. Once you’ve had enough filling, seal them off with more chocolate. Let it all set in the freezer for some time. Then take out the tray and pop out your delicious homemade chocolates! There are even special silicone trays for chocolate making in case you want to make a hobby out of it.</p> <h2>9. Save Those Eggs!</h2> <img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/word-image-1358.jpeg"/>Shutterstock.com <p>There may come a time in life when you just have too many eggs. Don’t roll your eyes; it happens to the best of us. You may live on a farm; have received them as a gift, or simply not have enough people to finish them off.</p> <p>The answer to this problem can be as simple as cracking each egg into an ice cube tray compartment. This way, you can freeze all of them at the same time. There would be no problem with eggshells when you need just a couple for breakfast or baking.</p> <h2>8. No More Weak Cold Coffee</h2> <img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/word-image-1359.jpeg"/>Shutterstock.com <p>Iced or cold coffee tastes amazing in summers, but plain ice cubes can water down the best of drinks. In order to avoid this situation, freeze your black coffee the next time you have some left over. When you make a cold version of coffee the next time, use these cubes for blending or simple cooling. When they melt, they wouldn’t weaken the coffee concoction.</p> <p>The same could go for when you make tea. Brew up a batch of black tea and freeze the liquid once it’s cool. Then you can crush those tea cubes and use them for an instantly strong iced tea!</p> <p>Do NOT pour hot liquid into your plastic ice cube tray. Nor should you put anything hot in your freezer. This could severely damage your appliances cooling and even cause it to break down.</p> <h2>7. Colorful Cubes</h2> <img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/word-image-1360.jpeg"/>Shutterstock.com <p>The next time you have leftover juice, simply put it in an ice cube tray for some multicolored cubes. These little blocks of flavor would provide an instant and refreshing smoothie when you need it. It may also fascinate children if you pop when in a jug full of water or lemonade.</p> <h2>6. Minting it Up</h2> <img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/word-image-1361.jpeg"/>Shutterstock.com <p>You can use the compartments in an ice cube tray for freezing lemons and mint together. Slice the lemon and put a few sprigs of mint in with the slices. You can choose to top it all up with water. Once frozen, you can use the cubes for a refreshing addition to lemonade or any other drink.</p> <h2>5. Utilize Your Herbs</h2> <img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/word-image-1362.jpeg"/>Shutterstock.com <p>You may have an herb garden or just brought a lot of herbs from the market. Whichever the case, you may find yourself unable to use them all. Scraping them into the dustbin is a huge no-no. Herbs are precious for a healthy and nutritious diet, so be sure to make the most of them.</p> <p>You can save your herbs by placing them in an ice cube tray and covering them with olive oil. Once set, these would provide handy little cubes of herbs that could enhance any savory dish.</p> <h2>4. Freeze the Gel</h2> <img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/word-image-1363.jpeg"/>Shutterstock.com <p>Aloe vera is a hardy and common plant that requires a minimum of maintenance. It is also an excellent way of having a natural beauty treatment handy when you need it. Simply cut a piece of the thick leaves off, and peel it to get to the gel inside.</p> <p>However, the gel is quite sensitive and can easily rot in the open air. Get a way around this by freezing it in an ice cube tray. You may even try blending it with some Vitamin E or any beneficial add-in. the next time your skin is inflamed or breaking out, get one of those cubes and rub it on the affected area. Trust us; it would have a magical effect very soon.</p> <p>Your ice tray is not just for edibles. Magical cubes of aloe vera will do wonders for your sore or overheated body and skin.</p> <h2>3. A Homemaker’s Ease</h2> <img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/word-image-1364.jpeg"/>Shutterstock.com <p>Homemakers usually find themselves with a lot of leftover sauces, pesto, stock, etc. they don’t need to finish up all these right away. A handy tock of ice cube trays could save all of these for later use. The compartments would portion out the sauces and other leftovers so one doesn’t have to thaw a huge batch at a time.</p> <p>What’s more, parents can also make their own baby food and freeze it in handy portions whenever they need it. This can be a lifesaver for chaotic moments or days when one just doesn’t feel up to making fresh food.</p> <h2>2. All Neat and Tidy</h2> <img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/word-image-1365.jpeg"/>Shutterstock.com <p>If your ice cube trays are too old for food items, don’t toss them just yet. Use them as a way to organize those little earrings, rings, paints, pins, paper clips, etc. If you have a collection of knickknacks, ice cube trays are excellent vestibules for holding those as well.</p> <p>For non-kitchen applications, ice cube trays are a great way to store all your tiny knickknacks, such as rings and earrings, tools, art supplies and other small office supplies.</p> <h2>1. Teach Math</h2> <img src="https://cdnone.netlify.com/db/2017/11/word-image-1366.jpeg"/>Shutterstock.com <p>If a child is not interested in math, or just need a refresher, the ubiquitous ice cube tray can help them out! They can easily double as counting and multiplication devices. For instance, putting three buttons in six compartments would give you the answer to three times six. The same goes for subtraction and division. This could be a fun and engaging learning activity for a rainy day!</p> <p>For older children, coins and flash cards could be inserted into the ice cube tray activities. If you need more ideas on how to make the trays work for teaching your child, look up some videos online. There are several experts online who would guide you best.</p> <p>Ice cube trays are cheap, easily available, and come in quite a lot of funky colors. When you combine this with the hacks above, you can really have a lot of fun while experimenting with them. We’re off to see how many trays we have right now!</p> <i></i>