Silicone Ice Tray SLUDGE

[@Mark-rd1it]

I threw all my silicone ice trays out. When I put the cubes in a drink I had powder floating around in my drink. 😢😢😢

[@StevesStrayStuff]

Me too, that was really nasty to see that debris floating around in my Gin & Tonic!

[@QAsession]

If you let it dry on the sides of the glass its like a plastic of sorts.... im returning mine. Piece of cr@p and it has to be harmful to ingest. I came here looking to see if it was only me. Now I see its the tray.

[@sportsgt]

Thanks for the video 🙏🙏🙏 My craft ice maker keeps getting ice stuck from the mineral buildup over the years...going to have to take it out and give it a cleaning and a scrub

[@StevesStrayStuff]

You're welcome. Have an icy cold beverage for me when you get it all fixed up!

[@QAsession]

Thanks for validating me. I thought it was just me that this was happening to.

[@StevesStrayStuff]

Haha, validating you! Good one, you are very welcome!

[@007gunlogo]

Nice video, Steve. The frustrating thing with these silicone trays is that I can find no definitive answer on the net that explains why silicon trays form the nasty scum on ice cubes. Everyone keeps talking about perhaps "filtering the water" as a potential solution...which completely ignores the fact that, using the EXACT SAME WATER SOURCE, plastic trays don't produce the residue while silicon types do. So here is the main question that perhaps someone smarter than I can kindly answer... Are there chemicals added to silicon trays during manufacturing that directly cause a reaction with the minerals in water to go from liquid to solid during the freezing process? If so, what are those chemicals?

[@StevesStrayStuff]

Thank you. Here is something that just happened last week. We purchased some round silicone ice trays for making round ice balls. When we made the round ones, there was absolutely no residue. I think you are correct about what substances are used to make the silicone ice trays. All silicone ice trays must not be created equal.

[@007gunlogo]

@@StevesStrayStuff Appreciate the reply, Steve. It seems everything is made in China these days, and I would not put it past the Chinese government to allow its manufacturers to use subgrade/dangerous chemicals in its production processes. Perhaps we'll eventually come to the truth. I'm sure everyone remembers that breast implants used to contain liquid silicone, and when they leaked, women experienced significant health issues. Hence, my apprehension with scum that shows up in drinks chilled with silicon tray ice...plus it's just plain nasty looking. The medical community has since migrated to saline as an implant filler, and the illness issue went away. Hmmmmm...

[@ShannonMarie-ex9id]

My question that has me exasperated is, I have multiple different silicone ice molds and I only use bottled water for ice, so what causes ONLY the molds that are squishy soft to create the slimy sludge on the ice while the firmer silicone molds don't have any problems at all? Everything says it is a reaction from the calcium carbonate in the TAP WATER but that would mean my BOTTLED water would react in both types of molds, right? I've worked with silicone for 30 years. From fondant and cake/cookie artistry to clay, candles and now plastics. I've made my own molds for years in between, as well. I know for certain these are all 100% silicone without fillers but I am wondering if there is a problem with the curing process from the different manufacturers that causes some to be so soft compared to the others. Could that directly affect the water as it freezes?! Anyone have any real knowledge of this since google only has the one cause which obviously isn't always applicable.

[@StevesStrayStuff]

Wow Shannon, you have way more experience with silicone than I ever will, silicone caulking is all I am familiar with. Hopefully somebody out there has the answer and will let us know. I saw flexible silicone Christmas tree and snowman molds at the thrift store this weekend and thought of you, haha!

[@ShannonMarie-ex9id]

You have no idea how much I needed a giggle today! You rock!

[@TrueColorsss808]

I haven't tried them before. Good to know if I do.

[@StevesStrayStuff]

Hi Holly. If I wasn't trying to make clear ice cubes, I probably would not have given it a second thought. Things that make you go, hmmmm.

[@FelixtheMetalcat]

Have you tried filtered water? Aka, Brita or similar? I have always attributed the white crap to water, not the trays.

[@StevesStrayStuff]

Thanks for the tip Felix, I just cleaned all the white crap out of an ice tray and filled it with purified water. I'll see what happens.

[@UnitedStates.]

I did try with a brita and it’s still white crap on the ice.

[@FelixtheMetalcat]

Yeahhhh...👍

[@davidsalsberry5748]

It has to be the trays. I’ve tried RO water and distilled and get the same white residue

[@caramelldansen2204]

​@@StevesStrayStuff what happened?

[@TheoWorkman]

That's the same with me and a 5 gallon water jug. I know it should be cleaned, but the cleaning sounds like it'll mess it up and the water more than just using as is.

[@StevesStrayStuff]

That's a huge water jug, you are definitely staying hydrated 👍

[@curtislambert8752]

Its not just silicone the plastic trays get a rough or corse feel to the inside of the tray I think its Calcium build up ! How to remove Calcium build up ? My vinegar? Bty if you use hot water the ice will be clear

[@StevesStrayStuff]

Wow, I never would have known that because all of my plastic ice trays are white. Thanks for the information!

[@husher5142]

What reference do we have that says its not harmful?

[@StevesStrayStuff]

That is a great question and that is the same question I have!

[@dawnwood4203]

Never had this issue have this same brand they do smell like silicone I have them in the oven right now

[@StevesStrayStuff]

Hi Dawn, do you use filtered water? My water is not filtered, maybe that is my problem? I do like the big ice cubes! What are cooking in them?

[@carolscabinas]

I bought some silicone ones like that and they smell like toxic paint. And the ice smells like that too. They will become seed starter pots.

[@StevesStrayStuff]

That is a great idea! My are just shoved to the back of the pantry.

[@stevehenderson8330]

Supposed to be from the minerals in hard water. Mine are the same way, unfortunately.

[@StevesStrayStuff]

I still use them on occasion, but they are not very pleasing to the eye!

[@skinnylong2023]

It's just the South Florida water, I hate it too.

[@StevesStrayStuff]

Thanks Skinny. A comment suggested I try purified bottled water and it was much better. I am going to try to make the block of ice in a cooler method next.

[@sdqsdq6274]

@@StevesStrayStuff could be the tap water is hard , test it with a ph meter

[@StevesStrayStuff]

@@sdqsdq6274 Thanks for the suggestion, I will try that just out of curiosity.

[@michielvincent3988]

Calcium from the water. The slow freezing process removes it from the water.

[@StevesStrayStuff]

Thank you Michiel, I did not know it was calcium. I am old, I probably need the calcium, haha!

[@curtislambert8752]

Freezing water is not going to remove Calcium trace minerals or anything ! It only changes the liquid to a solid. Turning the liquid into a steam will remove Calcium and minerals

[@bossalinarock7711]

You R🫶🏾ck 👏🏾👏🏾🥰

[@StevesStrayStuff]

@bossalinarock7711 Thank you! I do have to say that I did purchase more silicone ice trays, and they do not have any residue. All silicone trays are not created equal.