Toss the Plastic: The Best Stainless Steel Ice Cube Trays Review (2026)
There is something surprisingly luxurious about pulling a stainless steel ice cube tray from your freezer. The weight, the clean lines, the way the metal fogs ever so slightly as it warms in your hand — it’s a small, quiet upgrade that changes how you think about something as simple as freezing water. If you’ve ever noticed your ice tasting faintly like the freezer, absorbing odors from leftovers, or coming out of plastic trays with a chemical note, you already understand the problem stainless steel solves.
Stainless steel ice cube trays have surged in popularity in 2026 because people are becoming more aware of what touches their food and drink. Many families have removed plastic from their kitchens entirely. Others are frustrated with silicone trays that stretch, stain, or hold onto smells. And some simply want a better ice experience for iced coffee, smoothies, cocktails or even baby food.
For all these reasons, stainless steel ice cube trays are becoming a healthy home essential. They freeze faster, taste cleaner, last longer and feel better to use. Once you try a good one, it’s hard to go back.
This guide brings together the best stainless steel ice cube trays — the ones that actually perform, feel durable, and elevate daily life. Each tray was tested in real-life conditions, with an emphasis on taste, performance, durability and lifestyle fit. Whether you’re upgrading your kitchen for wellness, sustainability, or simply better drinks, this review will help you choose the tray that fits your home.
Quick Answer
The best stainless steel ice cube tray is the Onyx Stainless Steel Ice Cube Tray. It freezes faster than silicone or plastic, releases cubes smoothly and lasts for decades. For those who love cocktails, the W&P King Cube Stainless Steel Tray makes large, slow-melting cubes that look and feel luxurious. For baby food or meal prep, the Buylor Divided Stainless Steel Freezer Tray offers perfect portioning and airtight storage. And for maximum durability that resembles restaurant equipment, the TigerChef 18/8 Stainless Bar Tray is the best heavy-duty option.
These trays outperform plastic and silicone in taste, speed, safety and long-term hygiene — making stainless steel the top choice for clean, non-toxic kitchen upgrades.
Why Stainless Steel Is the Cleanest, Safest Upgrade for Ice
Ice absorbs more than you think. When stored in silicone or plastic, it can pick up odors from yesterday’s leftovers, onions, frozen fish or open packaging. Plastic trays can develop micro-cracks over time, and silicone often absorbs scents from the freezer.
Stainless steel changes the experience completely:
Cleaner Taste
Stainless steel is flavor-neutral. It doesn’t absorb odors, oils or freezer tastes, meaning your ice tastes like… water. This matters if you drink iced coffee daily, make cocktails at home or freeze baby food.
Faster Freezing
Because stainless steel conducts temperature quickly, water freezes significantly faster compared to plastic or silicone trays. This is ideal for busy households, smoothie lovers or people who refill their trays often.
Decades of Durability
Stainless steel doesn’t warp, break, stain or weaken over time. A quality tray can last 20 years or more. Many families buy one and never replace it again.
Non-Toxic and Safe
Premium stainless steel (304/18-8) contains no BPA, no phthalates, no dyes, no coatings, no fillers and no microplastics. It is food-safe by nature.
Sustainable
Replacing disposable plastic trays or worn-out silicone with one long-lasting stainless steel tray reduces waste and lowers long-term costs.
Switching to stainless steel ice cube trays is a surprisingly meaningful step toward a healthier, cleaner home.
Testing Criteria: How These Trays Were Evaluated
This guide is based on real-life testing. Each tray was used in standard home freezers and evaluated for:
Freezing Speed
Ice was checked at 2, 4 and 6 hours. Stainless steel consistently froze water faster than silicone or plastic.
Odor Absorption
Water was frozen after keeping fish, onions and strong-smelling items in the freezer. Stainless steel trays consistently delivered odor-free ice.
Ease of Release
Handle-release models and twist-release models were compared for smoothness, cracking, ease and speed.
Cube Quality
Cubes were examined for clarity, shape, melting speed and overall density.
Durability
Each tray was:
- dropped on a countertop
- washed repeatedly
- stacked under heavy loads
- frozen next to bulky items
- tested for bending, warping or denting
Lifestyle Fit
Trays were tested for:
- iced coffee
- smoothies
- cocktails
- water bottles
- baby food
- herbal ice blocks
- meal prep portions
Material Quality
Stainless steel grade and thickness were examined to ensure long-term food safety.
The trays included in this guide consistently performed well across all categories.
Best Stainless Steel Ice Cube Trays (Full Reviews)
1. Onyx Stainless Steel Ice Cube Tray — Best Overall
If you want the stainless steel tray that simply works for anything — iced coffee, daily water, cocktails, smoothies — this is the one.
What Makes It Stand Out
The Onyx tray uses a classic handle mechanism. You lift the metal bar, and the cubes release cleanly and evenly, with a satisfying crackle. There’s no twisting, no banging and no need to run warm water over the bottom.
Lifestyle Experience
On busy mornings, the Onyx tray becomes something you appreciate more than expected. You pull the tray out, lift the handle gently, and perfect cubes fall into your glass or blender. No struggle, no plastic taste, no freezer smell. This alone makes the upgrade worth it.
Taste and Cleanliness
Ice comes out fresh, odor-free and crisp. This is the tray for anyone who notices subtle flavors in their iced drinks.
Durability
Built with 18/8 stainless steel, it feels indestructible.
Who It’s Best For
- everyday drinkers
- iced coffee lovers
- smoothie makers
- anyone upgrading their kitchen
- people sensitive to tastes or odors
Not Ideal For
People who want large cocktail cubes.
If you care about what touches your food, your air fryer matters too. See my Best Non-Toxic Air Fryer picks (PFAS-free & stainless)
2. W&P Stainless Steel King Cube Tray — Best for Cocktails and Aesthetic Kitchens
This tray creates large, slow-melting cubes that turn any drink into a visual experience.
Where It Shines
The cubes melt slowly, keeping your Negroni, iced whiskey, iced tea or cold brew strong and flavorful. They look beautiful in a glass and feel premium.
Lifestyle Experience
If you enjoy hosting friends or making elevated drinks at home, this tray changes the look and feel of your beverages. Even simple iced water looks more sophisticated.
Performance
Fast freezing (despite the large cube size) thanks to the steel conductivity.
Best For
- cocktail lovers
- iced coffee enthusiasts
- people with stylish kitchens
- those who love larger ice cubes
Not Ideal For
Small freezers or anyone needing quick-release smaller cubes.
Your ice is only as clean as your prep space. Discover the Best Non-Toxic Cutting Boards
3. Buylor Stainless Steel Divided Freezer Tray — Best for Baby Food, Broth and Meal Prep
The Buylor tray is perfect for freezing:
- baby food portions
- bone broth
- pesto
- herbal cubes
- lemon-ginger shots
- small sauces
- smoothie blocks
Why It’s Great
Each section is evenly sized and releases cleanly. The lid prevents freezer odors, making it ideal for families.
Lifestyle Experience
When you’re freezing pureed vegetables or fruit for your baby, this tray gives peace of mind — you know the material is clean, safe and non-toxic. For meal prep, it keeps portions neat and easy to store.
Best For
- parents
- meal-preppers
- wellness enthusiasts
- herbal and tea ice makers
Not Ideal For
Large cubes or cocktails.
Stainless steel done right comes from heritage brands. Learn about De Buyer – French Sustainable Craft for Conscious Kitchens
4. TigerChef 18/8 Stainless Steel Bar Tray — Best Heavy-Duty
This is the workhorse of the list. If you want something that can take a beating, this is your tray.
Why It Stands Out
Used in restaurants and bars, it’s built to last. Great for people who freeze a lot of ice or who have outdoor freezers.
Lifestyle Experience
Perfect for parties, big batches of ice, and anyone who wants something strong enough to handle daily use for decades.
Best For
- heavy ice users
- large families
- outdoor freezers
- cocktail bars at home
Not Ideal For
People who want a gentle release mechanism.
Concerned about metals, plastics, or chemical leaching? Read this How Cookware Impacts Gut Health
5. Ecozoi Stainless Steel Ice Tray — Best Eco-Friendly Choice
Ecozoi makes elegant, sustainable kitchen tools, and their tray is simple, clean and well-designed.
Why It’s Appealing
It has a minimalistic look, zero coatings and responsibly sourced materials. It’s ideal for eco-conscious households.
Best For
- sustainable living
- toxin-free kitchens
- minimalistic homes
Not Ideal For
Those wanting a more specialized design or large cubes.
Materials Matter: Why Stainless Steel Is Superior
Not all steel is equal. The trays in this guide use:
- 304 stainless steel
- or 18/8 stainless steel
These are premium, corrosion-resistant, food-safe materials that do not interact with water or food.
Why It Matters
Cheap steel can rust or transfer metallic flavors. Premium steel remains neutral and safe over decades of use.
Steel vs Plastic
Plastic can crack, discolor and leach microplastics under repeated freezing conditions.
Steel vs Silicone
Silicone absorbs odors and oils. Steel never does.
How Stainless Steel Elevates Daily Life
Morning
Ice-cold lemon water or iced coffee tastes cleaner.
Afternoon
Smoothie cubes release easily and blend beautifully.
Evening
Cocktails look elegant with clear, slow-melting cubes.
Weekends
Meal prep becomes easier with portioned cubes of broth or sauces.
For Families
Baby food stays uncontaminated and odor-free.
For Wellness
You drink more water simply because it tastes better.
This is one of those small upgrades that improves many parts of your routine.
Cleaning and Care
Stainless steel trays are easy to clean:
- wash with warm water
- mild soap
- avoid steel wool
- dry fully
- occasionally use baking soda for a deep clean
They stay beautiful with minimal care.
Where to Buy Them
These trays are widely available:
- Amazon
- Onyx
- Ecozoi
- TigerChef
- W&P
- EU kitchen boutiques
- Sustainability shops
Choose sellers with good return policies and verified materials.
FAQ
Are stainless steel trays safe for babies?
Yes, they’re among the safest options.
Do they rust?
High-quality 304/18-8 steel does not rust with normal care.
Do they freeze faster?
Yes, steel freezes water faster than plastic or silicone.
Do they make ice taste better?
Yes — no odors, no silicone flavor, no plastic aftertaste.
Final Thoughts
Upgrading to stainless steel ice cube trays is one of the simplest, most satisfying changes you can make to your kitchen. Whether you want better-tasting iced coffee, healthier materials, clearer cocktail cubes or portioned meal prep, stainless steel makes everything easier, cleaner and more elegant. These trays last decades and transform something small into something surprisingly meaningful.
Once you switch to stainless steel, you never look back.
