Innovative Ice Cube Trays

We’ve all done battle with rigid plastic ice cube trays. Transferring filled trays to the freezer without spilling is dicey, and dislodging frozen cubes is tricky. Worse, most trays aren’t covered, so the ice readily absorbs smells. We tested three models (priced from $4.50 to $32.99) that attempt to solve these problems with silicone or plastic covers or other innovations. Unfortunately, most of the modifications backfired: Filling the one of trays through a small opening in its lid—a feature meant to prevent spilling—was difficult because the lid was opaque; as a result, we added too much water and ended up with cubes covered by a sheet of ice. The silicone tray of another tray is too wobbly to transfer to the freezer once filled. Our winner sports a sturdy plastic base with rounded indents for easily dislodging cubes and a flexible lid that you press into place while pouring off excess water. It prevented spills and kept ice odor-free.