Ice-making molds are a useful invention of American Lloyd Groff Kopman. Initially, water was frozen in them, so that it could then be used to cool drinks. Today this kitchen utensil is used for a variety of purposes.
To help cooks
The ice cube trays are convenient for freezing fresh herbs. Chop your favorite greens and divide into small portions. Place everything in ice cube trays, cover with olive oil and freeze. The cured cubes can be removed from the molds, folded into a plastic bag or food container, and stored in the freezer. Before using the herbs, heat the oil in which they were stored and add to the desired dish.
It is worth noting that this storage method is best suited for tough herbs such as oregano, sage, thyme, rosemary. Greens that do not require preliminary cooking (dill, parsley, green onions, mint) lose their properties and aroma when frozen.
Prepare real bouillon cubes for future use. Small portions of broth are often needed in sauces and certain dishes. Cook the thick broth as if it were jellied meat. Use the meat at your discretion, and pour the broth into ice molds. Cool it down and store it on the top shelf of your refrigerator. The fat accumulating on the surface of the broth will prevent air from entering the cube, thanks to which the product can be stored for up to 2 weeks.
You can freeze minced meat in ice cube trays. For example, for meatball soup. Knead the minced meat with onions and spices and tamp firmly into ice cube trays. It is also convenient to freeze minced meat in its pure form for meat dishes for young children.
For desserts
And how many desserts can you make with ice cube trays! For example, small servings of ice cream with fruits or berries. For such a treat, it is better to use silicone molds. Place a few of your favorite berries or a piece of fruit in each compartment. Pour in fatty, creamy yogurt, insert a skewer or toothpick in the middle and leave in the freezer for a couple of hours. Use the same principle to make popsicles. Juice your favorite fruits, pour into molds and freeze.
Another delicacy in ice cube trays is chocolate covered strawberries. Arrange ripe, medium-sized fresh berries in the cells and cover with melted milk chocolate. Place in the freezer for a couple of hours. Then enjoy a delicious dessert. You can also make other sweets in the same way - energy bars made from dried fruits, nuts and honey, glazed cheeses, burnt sugar, toffee with corn sticks, etc.
It is also convenient to make jelly figurines in ice molds. Mix a glass of natural fruit juice with a tablespoon of gelatin. Stir until the gelatin grains are completely dissolved. Wait 20 minutes, and then heat the future jelly in a water bath. Just do not bring to a boil, otherwise the mass will not solidify. Pour the juice into molds, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours. Dip the mold with the frozen jelly in hot water for a couple of seconds, then turn it upside down - the dessert will easily slip out of the cells.
For needlewomen
Appreciated by the ice molds and hand-made people. It is convenient to store various little things in small cells - buttons, pins, beads, paper clips, and more. You can mix gouache or acrylic paints in the molds. In figured forms, the needlewomen have adapted to prepare small candles and soap. Among other things, the molds can be used for seedling flowers from seeds, having previously made small holes in the bottom to drain excess moisture.
