Do ice cube trays age?

raintyger

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Totally stupid question, but this has been nagging me.

I have a couple of old plastic ice cube trays. When I got them the ice cubes used to just pop out in a single cube no problem. Many years later and now the cubes always shatter and it is difficult to flex the trays.

So do ice cube trays age? Do I need to replace them, or will I likely just wind up with the same problem right away?
 

denice

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I think they eventually do what yours have done, it's like they get hard and are no longer flexible.   I remember when I was a kid we had metal ice cube trays in two parts.  The tray and a separate part that went into the tray that divided the cubes, that part had a lever that you pulled up to loosen the cubes.  I haven't seen those in years, in fact they were being replaced with the plastic ones when I was a kid and I am 58.
 
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raintyger

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I remember the metal ones! Wow, those were painful. Your hands would stick to the metal, and that metal was so frickin' cold! As a kid I couldn't loosen up the ice at all.

Thanks for letting me know it isn't my imagination with the plastic ones. I guess now I have to get new ones. The last time I was surprised at how difficult getting a simple pair of ice cube trays was. Most places were out-of-stock or too expensive and then the ones I wound up with were difficult to stack.
 

Kat0121

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I remember the metal ones, too and I hated them but they lasted forever. I think the plastic ones probably warp after a while of being frozen then thawed over and over again. Things aren't built to last anymore. That's probably why the old metal ones went away. To make sure you had to buy new ones every few years. I think they might make silicone ones now, kind of like the silicone baking mats

You might be able to find some of the metal ones in a thrift store or at a yard sale if you look around. The old warhorses are probably kicking around somewhere. 
 

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they do make silicone ice trays, that makes it easier to pop the ice out. I haven't tried it yet, but I've seen them
 
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raintyger

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You might be able to find some of the metal ones in a thrift store or at a yard sale if you look around. The old warhorses are probably kicking around somewhere. 
Ummm...no thanks. I prefer buying new trays every once in a while to those metal monsters. Remember having to hold the cold tray upside down while you ran warm water over it?
 
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raintyger

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Too bad this one's so oddly shaped, or I'd totally go for it. We stuff our freezer so the shape has to be compact.

 

Kat0121

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Ummm...no thanks. I prefer buying new trays every once in a while to those metal monsters. Remember having to hold the cold tray upside down while you ran warm water over it?
You bet I do. Amazon actually still sells them and they are EXPENSIVE. They have a single one for $27.87 and a pair for $55.55  
 

larussa

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I think they eventually do what yours have done, it's like they get hard and are no longer flexible.   I remember when I was a kid we had metal ice cube trays in two parts.  The tray and a separate part that went into the tray that divided the cubes, that part had a lever that you pulled up to loosen the cubes.  I haven't seen those in years, in fact they were being replaced with the plastic ones when I was a kid and I am 58.
I remember those old metal ice cube trays too.  With these new refrigerators that have the water and ice dispenser right on the freezer door, you don't need trays anymore.  I don't miss them at all.  I agree that the plastic just gets old and hard, newer ones will work much better.
 
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raintyger

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You bet I do. Amazon actually still sells them and they are EXPENSIVE. They have a single one for $27.87 and a pair for $55.55  
I guess there's a customer for almost anything!
 
I remember those old metal ice cube trays too.  With these new refrigerators that have the water and ice dispenser right on the freezer door, you don't need trays anymore.  I don't miss them at all.  I agree that the plastic just gets old and hard, newer ones will work much better.
I get the trays because more often than not nobody cleans out the water/ice filters in the refrigerator and then it starts smelling and tasting funny. Then we start using ice trays again, but all that extra space that went toward the water and ice maker isn't available. So the last refrigerator we had special ordered without an ice maker.
 

caltritwiamb4

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I remember the metal ones that were 2 parts. The tray and then the insert that divided the tray into squares. The insert had a handle that you lifted up to release the cubes. I find that the cheapest plastic trays you can buy work the best. The softer the plastic the more flexible they are which makes it much easier to release the ice . I am very spoiled now. When I bought this town house it came with a fridge with ice and water on the door. I have never had an automatic ice maker before and now that I have this one I will always purchase a fridge with the water and ice on the door 
 

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How about small and shallow tinfoil pan, take several pieces bit of thick paper or cardboard and cover that with tinfoil, to make inner pieces of ice cube tray?

One could even do special shapes and sizes with such and enough tinfoil wrapping prevents paper/cardboard to get wet. Also it should be possible to iron those sheets so that it is smoother, just be careful as tinfoil gets very hot when ironed, better wait few minutes until touching.

I have not yet tried this, but I have had plans for it.

Also using wooden center pieces has crossed my mind, but not so sure if that would really work. Wood might soak the water and ice cubes might get very much stuck into wood.
 

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I remember the metal ones that were 2 parts. The tray and then the insert that divided the tray into squares. The insert had a handle that you lifted up to release the cubes. I find that the cheapest plastic trays you can buy work the best. The softer the plastic the more flexible they are which makes it much easier to release the ice . I am very spoiled now. When I bought this town house it came with a fridge with ice and water on the door. I have never had an automatic ice maker before and now that I have this one I will always purchase a fridge with the water and ice on the door 
I remember those; that's all my parents had for years. I have plastic ice cube trays that make all kinds of interesting designs, from plain circles to icicles, to little flowers to little squiggly lines.

We have the ice and water on the door and, while I didn't want it originally, I'm glad now that we have it. I'm thinking I drink more water since it's so easily accessible. It makes 10 pounds of ice cubes daily....I never thought we would use that much, but honestly, I'm using ice all the time now. 
 
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