Can You Put ice cube trays in the dishwasher?
So, can you put ice cube trays in the dishwasher? Usually yes, with two conditions: the tray is food-grade silicone or labeled dishwasher safe, and it rides on the top rack away from the heating element. Hand washing is safer for cheap plastic trays, which warp under dishwasher heat.
Silicone trays
Food-grade silicone handles dishwasher temperatures without warping or releasing anything into the wash water. That is one of the material's quiet advantages: it comes out clean, dry, and ready for the next batch. If the label says dishwasher safe, put it on the top rack and move on.
Plastic trays: read the label
Plastic is where the answer gets complicated. Thick, food-grade plastic marked dishwasher safe usually survives, but thin budget trays warp even on the top rack. The heated dry cycle is the usual culprit, because it pushes temperatures past what cheap plastic tolerates.
If your plastic tray does not say dishwasher safe, hand wash it with warm soapy water. That takes thirty seconds and removes the risk of a warped tray that no longer sits level.
The drying trap
Turning off the heated dry cycle helps every tray. Air dry leaves silicone clean and plastic flat, and it also stops the dishwasher from baking odors into food-contact surfaces. Most modern dishwashers have an air-dry or eco setting that does exactly that.
What about lids, bins, and scoops?
Lids and scoops follow the same rule as trays: silicone goes on the top rack, plastic goes on the top rack only if labeled. Storage bins with tight seals can trap water in the corners, so tilt them upside down on the rack and let them drain completely.
Common questions
Will the dishwasher make my ice taste like detergent?
It can, if rinse aid pools in the cells. Rinse the tray under plain water after the cycle and let it dry before filling.
How often should I wash an ice tray?
Every few batches is enough for water. Wash it sooner if you used juice, coffee, or puree, since residue affects both release and taste.
Can I boil a silicone tray to clean it?
Food-grade silicone can handle boiling water, but the dishwasher is easier and just as effective. Skip boiling for plastic entirely.
Why the bottom rack is off limits
The bottom rack sits closest to the heating element, where temperatures climb highest during the dry cycle. Thin plastic warps there, and even silicone picks up more heat than it needs. The top rack keeps trays away from the worst of it, which is why every tray label that mentions dishwashers points there.
Detergent residue and ice taste
Rinse aid and detergent can pool inside the cells and leave a film that makes the next batch taste off. Rinse the tray under plain water after the dishwasher finishes and let it dry completely before filling. That thirty-second rinse prevents the most common dishwasher-related ice complaint.
A routine that keeps trays clean longer
Alternate between the dishwasher and hand washing. A dishwasher deep-cleans every few batches, while a quick soapy rinse handles the everyday residue without exposing the tray to heat. Trays that get both treatments last longer and release ice more reliably.
What to do if a tray warps
A warped tray no longer sits level, so water pools in low cells and overflows the high ones. Test a suspect tray by setting it on the counter and filling it; if the water level looks uneven, the tray is finished. Warping is not fixable, and forcing it back into shape only cracks it.
Reading the label twice
Dishwasher safe printed in tiny letters on the package is a claim, not a guarantee. Look for the words dishwasher safe and top rack together, and check whether the lid and bin share the same rating. When the label is silent, treat the tray as hand wash only.
When in doubt, hand wash. A tray costs a few dollars and a minute of soapy water keeps it flat, clean, and ready, which is a better deal than replacing a warped one.