Updated June 2026
When Biome first introduced the concept of a stainless steel ice cube tray to Australia in 2018, we had a huge response – as you can see from the Instagram post snapshot at the end of this blog, the post earned 599 likes and plenty of comments from people agreeing what a clever idea it is. Times have changed and it is much harder to get that kind of response on Instagram now! But that doesn't mean that this idea is any less popular.
Beyond the practicality, in 2026 there is much more awareness of the scourge of plastic and desire to switch to plastic free alternatives in our homes – particularly where plastic comes into contact with the food we eat.
Ice cube trays as one of the handiest tools for tackling food waste at home. Besides freezing water, you can use an ice cube tray to freeze small portions of food, helping you reduce waste, save money and increase efficiency in your kitchen. It's also a simple way to have recipe-ready ingredients waiting in the freezer whenever you need them.
Continue reading as we share 16 foods you can freeze in an ice cube tray to reduce food waste and save money.
1. Freeze tomato paste, passata or pasta sauce
Whether you buy tomato paste in a jar or tube, have half a bottle of passata left over, or make your own pizza or pasta sauce from scratch, don't let it develop mould and go to waste.
Freeze excess tomato paste, passata, pizza sauce or pasta sauce in an ice cube tray and simply pop out a cube whenever you need it. It's much easier than scraping mould off the top of the jar or opening a fresh one.
2. Freeze minced garlic, ginger and chilli
Increase efficiency in the kitchen by preparing garlic, ginger and fresh chilli in advance and freezing.
Simply mince, grate or finely chop the ingredients (you can freeze them separately or combine them), place them in an ice cube tray and cover with extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil. Add a cube straight to the pan when cooking curries, stir-fries, soups and sauces.
3. Freeze fresh herbs in olive oil
Whether you have an abundance of homegrown herbs or aren't going to get through all of the fresh herbs you picked up at the supermarket or farmers market, don't let them wilt beyond use.
Chop herbs such as parsley, basil, coriander, rosemary or thyme, place them in your ice cube tray and cover with extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil or just plain water. Add the cubes straight to the dish you are cooking as needed.
4. Freeze lemon juice (and zest)
Lemon juice is so useful to have on hand. Use it in DIY cleaning recipes, in cooking, to flavour water, make salad dressings, combat food odours and much more.
If you have too many lemons to get through, freeze the juice in ice cube trays. Don't forget to freeze the zest too. Store grated zest in an airtight container in the freezer and use it in baking, marinades and desserts.
5. Freeze homemade pesto
Whether you've picked a mountain of basil from the garden or have herbs that need using up, pesto is one of the best things to freeze.
Spoon homemade pesto into an ice cube tray and freeze. Individual portions are perfect for stirring through pasta, spreading on sandwiches, adding to pizza or tossing through roasted vegetables.
6. Freeze pureed fruit and vegetables
Don't let fruit and vegetables go off in your crisper or fruit bowl.
Puree them up (you may need to cook some fruit and vegetables first) and freeze them in an ice cube tray. Use the puree in smoothies, soups, sauces, baking, desserts or homemade baby food.
7. Freeze coconut milk or coconut cream
Many recipes only use part of a can of coconut milk or coconut cream, leaving the rest forgotten in the fridge.
Rather than wasting it, freeze the leftovers in an ice cube tray. The cubes can be added straight into curries, soups, smoothies, desserts or sauces whenever you need a little richness.
8. Freeze hummus
Homemade hummus freezes surprisingly well.
Freeze individual portions in an ice cube tray, then transfer the cubes to an airtight container once frozen. Simply thaw what you need for lunches, snacks or sandwiches.
9. Freeze homemade stock
Did you know you can create a delicious and nutritious homemade vegetable stock from vegetable peelings and end bits?
Wash and save the roots, stalks, leaves, ends and peelings from vegetables such as leeks, onions, garlic, fennel, chard, lettuce, potatoes, parsnips, beans, pumpkin, capsicum, eggplant, mushrooms and asparagus. You can also use corn cobs, beetroot leaves and herbs (stalks and all). Save your vegetable bits in a glass jar and keep them in the freezer until you are ready to make your stock.
Cool the stock and freeze it in an ice cube tray until you're ready to use it. A cube or two adds wonderful flavour to soups, sauces, casseroles and risottos.
10. Freeze leftover coffee or chai
Instead of pouring excess brewed coffee down the sink, freeze it in an ice cube tray and use it in your next iced coffee. Not only will this save waste, it will prevent your iced coffee from being watered down by regular ice cubes.
You can also do the same with homemade chai for delicious iced chai drinks.
11. Freeze smoothie cubes
If bananas, berries, mango or other fruit are becoming overripe, blend them into a smoothie mixture before they spoil.
Freeze the mixture in an ice cube tray and simply blend a few cubes with your favourite milk whenever you want a quick smoothie. It's a great way to reduce food waste while making busy mornings easier.
12. Freeze flavour booster cubes
Meal preppers often call these "flavour bombs"—little cubes packed with ingredients that instantly start a meal.
Combine ingredients such as garlic, ginger, herbs, chilli and olive oil, or make your favourite herb blends, then freeze them in an ice cube tray. Drop a cube straight into a hot pan and you've already done half the prep work.
13. Freeze curry paste
Whether it's homemade or from a jar, curry paste freezes beautifully.
If you only need a spoonful for a recipe, freeze the remaining paste in an ice cube tray instead of leaving it in the fridge where it may spoil before you use it again.
14. Freeze caramelised onions
Caramelising onions takes time, so it's worth making a large batch.
Freeze portions in an ice cube tray so you can easily add rich, sweet onion flavour to burgers, pizzas, toasties, pasta, soups or savoury tarts.
15. Freeze herb butter
Mix chopped herbs such as parsley, rosemary, thyme or dill with butter or vegan butter and freeze in small cubes.
They're delicious melted over vegetables, mushrooms, baked potatoes, corn on the cob or fresh bread, and they're a great way to use up herbs before they wilt.
16. Freeze decorative fruit and herb ice cubes
If berries, citrus slices, mint or edible flowers are looking a little past their best, don't throw them away.
Freeze them in an ice cube tray with water to make beautiful ice cubes for sparkling water, iced tea, cocktails and mocktails. Cucumber slices, rosemary sprigs and citrus wheels also make stunning ice cubes for entertaining and are a lovely way to use up fresh ingredients before they spoil.
Tips for freezing food in ice cube trays
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Freeze foods in recipe-sized portions so you only thaw what you need.
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Once frozen, transfer the cubes to an airtight container or reusable freezer bag to free up your ice cube tray.
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Label your containers with the contents and date.
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Most frozen foods are best used within three months for optimum flavour and quality.
What ice cube tray is best to use?
We recommend using stainless steel ice cube trays. They're BPA-free, very strong, durable, easy to clean and won't absorb colours or flavours from whatever you freeze.
A high-quality stainless steel ice cube tray can last a lifetime, making it a simple plastic-free swap that saves money in the long run. If you're looking for a durable alternative to plastic, take a look at our stainless steel ice cube trays.
Feature image thanks to @realitybites.zerowastefood on Instagram.
