Getting the smell out of silicone ice cube trays
Hi Hotliners,
I have some silicone ice cube trays, like the ones used at bars to make large, square ice cubes. The problem is these trays have a very plasticy smell, and the ice cubes take on the flavor, such that it alters the flavor of a drink when the cube melts fully. I have had these for over a year, washed them thoroughly in soap and water, but they still have the same smell and flavor.
It's worth noting that my normal ice cube trays don't have any issues, so it is an issue with the tray, not just "freezer smell".
Anyone have any ideas? Thanks so much!
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24 Comments
Something like this... "there are plenty of solutions online that work. Such as, soaking in things like baking soda and vinegar or just apple cider vinegar, or boiling it for an hour. Or depending on the type, alot of silicone trays can be placed the oven at temps up to 500° F...."
Not, "I also serve drinks that taste horrible, because it's better than spending $1 on new trays, or doing anything else besides dunking them in soap for a few seconds. Plus I've looked at all 1 billion sites Google gives when asking 'how to deodorize ice trays' and none of them have anyone talking about ways to clean rubber, besides the 1 way I've tried, soaking the trays in various chemicals, to get rid of that strange chemical smell, ya know?... Lol
O.P. "how do I get the smell out of my ice trays?"
You "My ice trays smell like chemicals, and no matter how many chemicals I dump on them, it won't go away! Sorry I've never stumbled across a blog or forum of others with this very specific and not common problem.... They should really make a website that you could ask a question, and it would like search the web, for websites with answers to these questions... but unfortunately Google doesn't exist, so we are just gonna have to serve shitty drinks until a news site or a podcast we listen to talks about this issue...
There's literally hundreds of thousands of websites discussing solutions, easily found by just typing "how to clean silicon ice trays into google... shit even Martha Stewart has a post about it on her website...
Anyways, when people are asking for help online, don't reply by telling them you have the same issue and no answers on how to solve it... no one cares about the fact you don't have $2 to spend on not serving drinks that taste like garbage besides the people you are punishing with your drinks. You're wasting everyone's times, you're messing up the results for people that are smart enough to Google shit(because on the search results it says there's an answer to the question, then people waste their time coming to this site, only to realize it isn't an answer to their problem, just some dude that thinks it's important other people know that he too serves friends and family chemical ridden drinks because he's too dumb to contribute...
TL;DR: Nobody cares that your ice smells, quit raising your hand in class if you don't have an answer, you're wasting everyone's time, and you look dumb replying to a question, when your answers is "duhhhh I don't know"...
Stinky Ice-Cube Support Group comment below. We stand in solidarity with smelly cubes .
Time for an alternative? Cast iron are probably too heavy to be good muffin pans (unless pre-heating is possible). Seasoned carbon steel from Mauviel?
I was interested because my silicone (a few different brands) smells of chemicals, and I had previously thought it was all safe. Turns out it's a gimmick like all gimmicks, that it's entirely unregulated, and the manufacturer's guidelines are really just to cover their liability in case of fires. The manufacturers are selling our wish for kitchen convenience, not kitchen health and safety. Nobody knows WHAT'S in those things.
I believe, based on reading and experience, that it's all leaching toxic chemicals into food and air (and when unstable plastic chemicals heat they are highly toxic - is there even a 'stable' plastic?). Like everyone else I thought it was fabulous, and it turns out it's a toxic gimmick. Maybe the very expensive Silpats are better...? But I really wonder.
Enjoy yours if you aren't concerned. I'm done with them. :-(
Found many solutions at chowhound and ehow (search & you will find)...lemon, milk, baking soda etc.
Work you way through: try one that appeals to you and if that doesn't work, try another.
A baking soda/water combo might also be useful. Also, you might consider borax. although I don't know how the latter will react with silicone (which is generally pretty non-reactive).
Good luck.
You might try bringing the vinegar/water mixture to a boil, let it cool a bit (but not all the way back down to room temperature), then putting the ice trays in the hot bath.
If you do freeze the vinegar water, I would fill these to the rim, and put the tray on a sheet pan/etc. to handle spillage once the liquid expands.