For a straightforward whiskey ice tray, start with OXO’s Covered Silicone Large-Cube Tray: its six 1¾-inch cubes are a useful option when larger ice feels crowded in your glass. Compare Tovolo’s King Cube for six 2-inch cubes, True Cubes for four clear-style cubes, or Wintersmiths’ Ice Chest with the sphere mold when you specifically want round clear ice.
These are specification-based buying picks. We have not measured melting time, tested taste or compared clarity in identical freezers. The recommendations focus on the shape you want, the space you have and the work involved in making each batch.
Four options at a glance
| Ice mold | Ice per batch | Published freezer footprint | Reason to compare it |
|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Covered Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Large Cube | 6 cubes, 1¾ inches square | 5.125 × 7.25 × 2.5 inches | Covered tray and slightly smaller large cubes |
| Tovolo King Cube | 6 cubes per tray, 2 inches | 4.5 L × 6.5 W × 2.0 H inches | Simple tray for larger square ice |
| True Cubes Tray | 4 clear cubes, 2 × 2 × 2 inches | 7 × 7 × 6 inches | Directional freezing for square clear ice |
| Wintersmiths Ice Chest with Clear Spheres mold | 4 spheres, 2.36 inches / 60 mm diameter | Approximately 8 L × 7½ W × 7 H inches | Directional freezing for large round ice |
Measure both your glass and the usable space in your freezer before choosing. Allow room to fill, carry and remove the mold. The listed dimensions describe the molds; they are not interchangeable with the size of the ice.
1. OXO Covered Silicone Large-Cube Tray: practical everyday choice
The OXO Covered Silicone Ice Cube Tray, Large Cube makes six 1¾-inch square cubes. A supporting frame surrounds the flexible silicone tray, and the cover allows multiple trays to stack. Those details make it the first option to compare if you want a conventional tray with a lid.
The smaller cube size is the main reason to choose it over a 2-inch mold when glass fit is tight. OXO lists the tray as dishwasher safe. This is the Large Cube model, SKU 11154200; do not confuse it with the separate Cocktail Cubes or No-Spill trays.
2. Tovolo King Cube: six larger cubes in a shallow tray
The Tovolo King Cube in Oyster Gray makes six 2-inch cubes. Its published dimensions are 4.5 by 6.5 by 2 inches. Compare it when you prefer a larger square cube and want a shallow tray instead of an insulated clear-ice box.
Tovolo lists silicone and BPA-free nylon in the materials section and dishwasher-safe care. Confirm the number of physical trays in the offer before ordering; the documented six-cube figure is the output of each tray. A large cube shape alone does not establish that the finished ice will be clear.
3. True Cubes: square clear ice with a timed workflow
The True Cubes Tray is designed to produce four 2-inch cubes. Its silicone trays sit in an insulated outer box. The lower chamber supports directional freezing; the maker explicitly says the extra ice below is not part of the clear-cube yield.
Allow a 7-by-7-by-6-inch footprint. The detailed instructions recommend a level freezer position and an 18–20-hour freeze, when the lower section remains slushy enough to release. Treat that as the maker’s operating guidance, not a guaranteed timing result in every freezer.
Choose it if appearance matters enough to plan around the batch. It is less convenient if you want to leave a tray indefinitely and wash everything in the dishwasher: True Cubes specifies hand washing and says not to fully submerge the outer box. If the lower chamber freezes solid, follow the thaw-and-release instructions rather than prying with a knife.
4. Wintersmiths Ice Chest: clear spheres for a roomy glass
The Wintersmiths Ice Chest with Clear Spheres mold is designed for four 60 mm spheres, approximately 2.36 inches across. It uses directional freezing and combines plastic, silicone and EPE foam. This is the sphere configuration; do not assume a cube mold is included with it.
Its roughly 8-by-7½-by-7-inch footprint calls for more freezer room than the simple trays here. Compare it only after checking that a 60 mm ball can pass through the rim and sit comfortably inside your glass. The maker listed this Clear Spheres configuration as sold out when checked, so treat it as an option to revisit rather than a purchase to plan on immediately. Check the exact configuration and availability again before ordering.
Choose around the glass, batch and cleanup
- Glass fit comes first. Measure the rim opening and usable interior width and height. A tapered tumbler can have room at the top but become too narrow below. Leave room for the drink and comfortable handling; do not force oversized ice into glassware.
- Count usable pieces. The ordinary OXO and Tovolo trays each make six cubes. True Cubes and the selected Wintersmiths system each yield four presentation pieces. For guests, plan batches in advance rather than comparing only the number of molds in a box.
- Choose clarity deliberately. A large-cube tray and a directional clear-ice system solve different shopping needs. The latter adds an insulated container and a release workflow. Do not interpret a transparent cube in a product photograph as a result guaranteed in your freezer.
- Check cleaning instructions. OXO and Tovolo list dishwasher-safe care; True Cubes specifies hand washing. Follow the selected model’s directions instead of applying one tray’s cleaning method to every mold.
Frequently asked questions
Are spheres always better than cubes for whiskey?
Choose the shape that fits your glass and the presentation you enjoy. This guide has no controlled melting comparison that would justify calling every sphere better than every cube. A large ball can be inconvenient in a narrow tumbler.
Does clear ice mean a regular tray will work the same way?
No. True Cubes uses an insulated assembly and a lower chamber for directional freezing; the selected Wintersmiths system also uses directional freezing. Compare the actual mold design and instructions rather than assuming all large-ice trays use the same process.
How many clear cubes does True Cubes make?
Four, each 2 inches on a side. Do not count the cloudy lower-chamber ice as four extra clear serving cubes.
Can I put every silicone ice mold in the dishwasher?
Follow the product’s own care directions. These OXO and Tovolo trays are listed as dishwasher safe, while True Cubes says no part of its assembly should go in the dishwasher. Silicone material alone is not enough to decide.
Which should I buy first?
Start with OXO if you want covered 1¾-inch cubes, or Tovolo if 2-inch cubes better suit your glass. Move to True Cubes for a four-cube clear-ice workflow, or the Wintersmiths sphere configuration for four larger round pieces. Check glass fit, freezer dimensions and current availability before ordering.
