Handpicked: These Ice Molds Make Frozen Works of Art

Jun 10, 2023

Handpicked

Ice might not be something you’d think could ever be fancy. It's just frozen water, after all. But, a number of social media influencers have been going all out to zhuzh up their ice and make their cocktails extra bougie.

TikTok users are making everything from crystal-clear orbs and colorful flowers suspended in perfect cubes, to stunning ice made in heart-shaped molds. In fact, the hashtag #fancyice has been viewed almost 20 million times. Instagrammers are also getting in on the trend and snapping photos of drinks featuring large clear ice spheres and posting freezers full of colorful, fruit-filled cubes.

All this ice inspiration may have you thinking that the regular ice cubes from your freezer tray for decades won't cut it anymore. If you want to make fancy ice, we’ve rounded up some of the best ice molds around, according to enthusiastic customer reviews.

Classic cube-shaped ice is always a winner. Here are some of the best options.

Use these molds to make 12 professional bartender-quality ice cubes. Fill them with fruit, flowers or anything else for a TikTok-worthy cube. As one reviewer suggested, "I made cubes with whole star anise pods and cranberries to add to a pitcher of cranberry punch."

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If you’re looking for extra-special ice for a party or event, check out these custom molds.

Put your own stamp on your ice—literally—with these customizable silicone trays. You can add your initials, your favorite team's logo or a short catchphrase. Choose from three different sizes of ice. "It's the coolest product we never knew we needed," one reviewer wrote.

Add monogramed ice to your drinks with these letter-shaped frozen chunks. They come as single ice cube trays, and each is made to fit a 3-inch cocktail glass. "The ‘M’ looks absolutely amazing floating in your cocktail," one customer raved.

Ice trays come in many fun shapes and sizes beyond the cube or rectangle. Here are a few favorites.

"So cute and fun to use," one reviewer said, and many others echoed the sentiment. These heart-shaped trays garnered a 4.4-star rating, and they are made of silicone so the icy hearts pop out easily.

These striking Xs and Os will make your cocktails Instagrammable, and as one reviewer noted, it's "more fun than the huge cube."

Large sphere-shaped ice is meant to keep drinks from diluting, since it melts slower than the standard cubes. Try these molds for fun.

Customers call these spheres "an old-fashioned requirement," "perfect" and "bar quality." They make 2.5-inch spheres, which are the best way to chill a glass of whiskey, bourbon or Scotch.

This ice mold helps you make six 2.5-inch spheres at once so you’ll always have one in your freezer. Customers who’ve purchased this say the tray is easy to fill, the ice spheres are easy to remove from the molds and they "fit perfectly into an Old-Fashioned glass."

Fancy options come in at many different price points. Here are some budget-friendly options.

This option create classic cubes, but customers say they’re a step above the old-school hard-plastic trays. "They’re easy to fill, easy to carry to the freezer, easy to loosen and [easy to] use the ice," one reviewer noted.

"A fun alternative to regular ice cubes," one customer wrote. This mold makes four spheres at once, which offers a more cost-effective way to keep fancier ice on hand.

Many molds create large fancy ice, but there are plenty that make smaller pieces, too.

Make more than 100 tiny ice balls at once with this set of trays. Customers say the ice is easy to remove from the molds and takes drinks up a notch. As one reviewer notes, "This is so great for those who love ice, especially tiny ones. I don't know what about it makes drinks taste better for me."

Each compartment holds two tablespoons of liquid for larger ice cubes. They feature a reinforced steel rim and come with lids for easy stacking. You can use them to freeze all kinds of things, too. "I love them for freezing chopped fresh herbs, lemon juice and zest and powerful sauces you only need a couple of dollops of," one reviewer wrote.

Silicone ice cube trays are often easier to use than plastic ones. The material is flexible, so it's easier to remove the cubes.

"Nice and sturdy" is how one reviewer described these square molds. They create simple, 1.25-inch ice cubes. The silicone material is BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.

Each of these large trays makes eight tennis-ball-sized ice spheres. Customers rave about them, too. "I’ve tried lots of different sphere ice cube makers, and this is the best by far," one wrote.

Large chunks of ice melt slower, keeping your drinks from getting too watered-down.

With a 5-star rating, these big ice cube trays are multi-purpose. Not only can you make ice, but they can be used to freeze stock, soup or other leftovers. Each compartment has 1-cup, 2-cup, 250-milliliter and 500-milliliter fill lines.

Crystal-clear ice cubes are trendy on TikTok and Instagram. These molds can help you make it yourself.

Silicone molds usually work better for ice than hard-plastic trays. Silicone is a flexible material, so it's easier to get the ice cubes out and they keep their shape better.

Silicone molds are flexible so it's usually easier to extract the ice cubes. The material is also dishwasher-safe so they’re easy to clean. However, silicone can absorb odors from the freezer, which might transfer to your ice. Plastic trays are easy to use, but they’re not as durable, and it's harder to get perfect ice shapes. At the end of the day, it's all about preference.

The length of time that it takes for ice to freeze depends on the size of the mold. Smaller ice trays may only take a few hours to freeze, but larger options may need up to 18 hours. Always place them in the coldest part of your freezer for optimal freezing.

Using distilled water—which is easy to find at your local grocery store—in your ice molds will help you get clearer ice. Another option is to purchase molds that use "directional freezing," which is where ice freezes slowly from one direction. Many molds feature insulated sides that make directional freezing possible. You can check out some more information on clear ice and how to make it here.

Using sphere-shaped molds will help you get perfectly round ice. Once you fill the molds, make sure they’re placed on a level surface to freeze to avoid leaks and ensure that you end up with a round shape. Allow the mold to stay in the freezer until it's completely set, which might take up to 18 hours. Then, remove the ice from the mold (run it under cold water if it sticks to the mold).

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