Tovolo King Cube Ice Mold Tray

THIS IS A RE-REVIEW: I HAVE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM!! In just a few days after my initial review - my initial ecstatic review - my trays developed the "fug" or "funk" that some of the others have described. Whatever it was that flavored my ice cubes - they started tasting like a freezer condenser smells. So I ordered another round of this tray and another round of the smaller square cube trays - and added the spheres while I was at it - why not? The basic problem is that silicone is not a suitable substance for use in the freezer as it absorbs everything that comes into contact with it - whether from dishwashing or just sitting in the freezer waiting to freeze - the trays are magnets for lots of stinky stuff. Stinky stuff that will end up in your ice cubes. I detailed the solution to the first problem below: NEVER WASH YOUR ICE CUBE TRAYS WITH DETERGENTS - NEVER - WHETHER YOU WASH YOUR DISHES BY HAND OR IN THE DISHWASHER. A RINSE WITH HOT WATER SHOULD BE ALL THAT IS REQUIRED AND THAT ONLY FROM TIME TO TIME. (The manufacturers recommend washing the trays in a diluted solution of vinegar and water periodically. I am going to try that with my former set of trays but I don't "relish" vinegar-scented ice cubes!) Second: I use triple-filtered water in these trays. Not the stuff directly from the tap. Or if you want ice cubes that are clear you should use water that has been boiled and then allowed to cool. Third and this was my partners innovation: After they are filled, I am now placing the filled ice cube trays in freezer bags and then sealing them so the trays and iced cubes will not be exposed to the freezer at all - ever - during the freezing process. And, as I also described below, I store the finished frozen ice cubes in a sealed disposable freezer keeper so - again - they do not have the opportunity to absord "stuff" that will make them smell and taste nasty . This may seem like more trouble than they are worth but these cubes really are the PERFECT size and I feel they warrant all the attention! (What an innovative solution JP! Thanks for the suggestion.) MY ORIGINAL REVIEW: I usually don't care for silicone especially in bakeware. But these ice cube trays are just the ticket and they live up to their name = they make perfectly sized LARGE ice cubes that melt very slowly. Even the silicone is a bit easier to use here and the ice cubes pop out effectively. Perhaps because the cube trays are really not that big - 1 tray fills a large Gladware container perfectly and you can store your ice cubes in an airtight environment. Even after many rounds of ice cube making the trays never lose their shape. I, too, do not understand the quibbles with these trays. They, themselves, do not impart any smell at all and lend no scent to the ice cubes either. I keep my freezer impeccably clean and I have a box of baking soda in the freezer as well as the refrigerator - so maybe that's the difference. Also, I never wash silicone in detergent as that will be absorbed by the trays and your ice cubes will be perfumed and make your cubes taste like Dawn or Ivory or Joy or whatever you use. Not good. Again, it's the LARGE size that is the innovation here and that is the aspect of the cubes that pleases me most. Again, a great idea.

I ordered these last week in three colors as well as the Orb ice cube tray and the smaller cube version of this. I used to own similar ice cube trays from Ikea (smaller sized cube tray) but found over time a bad taste/smell formed and I noticed a film on the surface of drinks when I used the cubes. Both of these issues have been mentioned towards this brand as well. This brand may actually be the same brand found in Ikea, I am not sure. Because these issues and solutions were mentioned in other reviews (cleaning with vinegar etc, etc..) I felt I was making a pretty informed decision and was prepared for whatever issues may develop. After using the cubes for the first time about 10 minutes ago I have to say I LOVE these trays. They are not perfect, but the resulting cubes are exactly what I have always wanted. Lets get the bad out of the way first. They are silicone so I expect them to be soft and not hold their shape holding it with one hand. I expect to have to use two hands after they are filled. The individual walls are a bit thinner than I expected and they are less firm than their smaller cubed counterparts but they are pretty much what I expected. Fill with care to the top, hold it steady with two hands, and place on a flat surface in the freezer. The only bad thing I really have to say about these trays are I expected to be able to sit them on top of each other in the freezer. With the smaller cubed tray you can fill them, stack them, and they sit level on top of each other. These trays have a beveled bottom so if you place them on top of another tray of the same size, it sits into the tray below. If you want square cubes then you pretty much have to fill the tray to the top. If you want to rest them on top of each other you have to guess how far to fill to and then stack a tray into it. This will result in possible spills if you guessed the water level wrong and a ice cube that is no longer square. Certainly not an issue if you were not going to stack them and of course after they are frozen you can stack them. My solution was to mix the jumbo size cube trays and the normal size cube trays alternating between the two. I was able to stack them nicely and all the cubes came out square. The biggest pro to these cubes are they are huge! You know when you fill a cup with ice and a warm drink and you take a sip and it's not cold yet... Not with these!! I use really big glass mugs so I can fit 3-4 of these cubes into a mug. I filled it with liquid and by the time I sat down with the mug my first sip was cold! no waiting, no mixing, just pour and drink a cold beverage! The cubes also last a long time like other reviewers have said. Because your ice lasts longer you drink does not get as watered down and you can refill and still have an immediate cold drink. If you use a smaller glass you may have an issue of more ice than drink in your cup but my solution to that is, just get a bigger cup :) Since I have just gotten this product I am interested in how they will perform after freezing something other than water. Will they eventually hold a bad taste? and will I be able to get rid of it with vinegar? Will they somehow start to form a weird film that will float in my drink? I certainly hope not. Time will tell. If you want large ice cubes that will quickly cool your drink and last a long time, these trays are the way to go. I love em, and look forward to creating a bunch of cubes and storing them in a sealed container it the freezer. This way I can just reach in my freezer and quickly pull out the number I want.

Hands down great, the cubes are about as big as a standard glass would fit. 1) It melts slower while still cooling the drink equally well due to less surface area. 2) No more re-freezing and drink in your face, one cube does the job. 3) Looks sweet, and makes ice feel like a luxury item once again. I haven't had any trouble removing the cubes, it isn't hard folks (if you can't push a cube out of this thing then how in the world are you able to do much harder tasks like filing for taxes? actually... Think I just answered my own question there). The tray is actually very stretchy and flexible due to the silicone, allowing the cubes to easily pop out with a thumb movement while still hugging the others in place for dispensing; This is great for filling a line of glasses, or saving them in the freezer for later. Re-filling empty cubicles with water before putting it in the fridge is super easy, just one cube will keep the tray rigid as a whole when refilling. I would also recommend this for people who have ice makers, the shape and size is quite the luxury, had it for a few weeks, and putting ice in my water still feels "prestigious". I no longer use the ice of the common folk for my beverages. If you don't live in an area where the water is so hard that you can't cut it with a knife, then you won't have any trouble with this weird coating people are talking about. I live in Atlanta and use city water, the cube comes out as clear ice and nothing else. Cool Tip! For extra glassy ice boil your water first. This will remove all the air dissolved in it. Fun Fact! Hot water freezes faster than room temperature water. (look it up O_O)

Resistance to change manifests itself in many ways --- both large and small, sober and amusing. Sometimes you remain in a job for too long without seeking alternatives. Sometimes you can't muster the energy to unglue yourself from the couch. (We've all been there.) And sometimes, God only knows why, you hang on to the same disgusting ice cube trays you discovered abandoned in the freezer after moving into your apartment three years ago. The inertia that kept those cracked plastic ice cube trays in my freezer for three years was abruptly shattered one day when my girlfriend reached in for some ice cubes. "Ewwwww, gross." My girlfriend had planted the seed of shame that led me to log in and search for something new, something bold, something... something that was at least sanitary. And that is how I came to own the Tovolo King Cube Ice Tray. I love this product. It differs from the typical hard-plastic ice cube trays in that it's made of pliable, flexible silicon rubber. It produces six robust, crystal clear ice cubes. The cubes emerge almost completely transparent, which stands in stark contrast to the cloudy-looking cubes produced by traditional plastic trays. This particular Tovolo tray makes six larger-sized cubes, which are perfect for cooling pitchers of water or soda or ice tea. But I use them just as often for a glass of water or to cool down a warm glass of Diet Coke. The larger cubes keep their form for much longer, so you don't have to worry as much about accidentally swallowing melted-down chunks. The one downside is that you have to kind of twist and squeeze the tray to wring out the cubes, which are often a bit stubborn about coming out. I bought these trays for my parents because I lick them so much and my mom tells me she sometimes has difficulty getting them out of the tray. ✔ PROS -Produces robust, crystal clear ice cubes -Larger-sized cubes don't melt as quickly and keep their form longer; perfect for cooling pitchers -Trays hold up well with heavy use; they're sturdy -Dishwasher safe -Trays are attractive looking -Trays DON'T crack or stain like traditional plastic trays -Easily stackable in the freezer, even before the water is frozen -Good price point ✔ CONS -It can sometimes be a bit challenging to get the cubes out of the tray ✔ FYI The trick to removing the ice cubes is to turn the tray upside down and then use your thumb to push out the individual cubes. (It's really not as difficult as it sounds. And remember, these are large-sized cubes, so most of the time you'll only need one or two.) In sum, I'm so glad I purchased these trays. I would never go back to the cheap plastic kind. All in all a good product at a good price point.

I purchased the blue Tovolo King Cube tray about 3 months ago for my home bar, and I recommend it. I use distilled water for my bar ice, and this tray makes perfect, clean tasting, and clean smelling ice, as expected. On average, I'm refilling this mold once or twice per week. I use the ice for the rocks glass servings of cocktails, (such as old fashions or negroni's), as well as for stirring cocktails to be served up, (martini's, manhattans, etc). For comparison, I had purchased a similar 2" cube ice mold made by Adoric about 5 years ago. I immediately noticed that the ice is easier to remove from this Tovolo mold than the similar Adoric 2" ice cube mold. This Tovolo has aged for a few weeks now, and the ice is still quicker and easier to pop out, (vs my 5yr old Adoric mold). Though the Tovolo has thick walls, it's plenty flexible to enable one to apply a light twist to the tray to help get the cubes to quickly release from the mold. For bartenders, I recommend this Tovolo model.

Very nice ice tray. Love it. Great for drinks.

I have a device to make clear, round ice cubes but it takes longer, the cubes are bigger and it only makes two at a time. I really don't need clear ice cubes 95% of the time and I like the slightly smaller volume on these cubes. I have the tray for six and I use about two a day. I have extra in an airtight container but if the cubes are left in the tray for two or three days they are quite fresh. They take a little effort to eject cubes from the silicone tray but I find pushing on just a corner of a cube, sometimes vigorously, gets them out easily enough.

I can't believe I paid the price of two for the price of one here. These ice molds let the ice be removed easily. Love how easy it is to take them out. The ice is perfect for my matcha, coffee, tea and so many more. It didn't come with a lid but that's to be expected.

Why would anyone need or want a giant ice cube? - It takes longer to melt, hence diluting your drink less quickly, cooling it longer - It is quicker, easier and neater to dispense into your drink - It being large means you are not drinking ice cubes as they melt into tiny pieces - It just plain looks cool This tray makes some pretty huge 2.5 inch cubes. The tray is silicone but with a slightly more rigid base, so getting the ice cubes out is a doddle. I am going to ditch my three normal trays that make those poor little ice cubes and replace them with a couple of these. They seem well made and do the job. Simple but great idea.

Un oggetto ben fatto ed efficace, provati i cubetti XL mai piu' senza!

I like the two-inch , mostly clear cubes that these trays make. These large cubes contain about as much ice as the 4 of the 1.25 " cubes that my other Tovolo trays make, and since they take longer to freeze, the air dissolved in the water has more time to escape, and they come out clearer, but not completely clear. They are too big to fit into some of my smaller glasses, but do fit into the ones that I use most often for drinks. Just shove the cubes out with both thumbs, and they'll come out easily, with no ice sticking to the trays, and the trays will bounce right back. No need to baby them. You can definitely find cheaper trays, but I really like these.

El producto es de muy buena calidad, al principio se me dificulto un poco sacar los cubos de hielo pero conforme a la practica ya no se me dificulta en nada, pense que el material no iba a ser lo suficientemente durable al manipularlo y la verdad es que si. Hay que tomar en cuenta que los cubos son demasiados grandes y por lo tanto no cabe en todos los vasos.

Neat, large sized cubes - perfect for one cube a glass.