Ouddy Silicone Molds, 14 Can Make 56, Stackable Durable 4 Pack Ice Cube Trays with Lid, large, White

I was offered the opportunity to try these out, and, being a sucker for kitchen gadgets, I jumped at the chance. I received a set from the manufacturer, and couldn't wait to try them out.In a nutshell -- they're great fun, well made, work as advertised, and offer a lot of versatility. The mold has fairly thick walls and a flat bottom (the ball comes out totally round), so no problem with it spilling once placed in the freezer. Freezing time depends on the temperature in your freezer, so you might have to test them a bit to determine the appropriate time (I'd say at least 4 hrs). DO NOT fill them full -- leave a little space at the top if you want a round spherical ball. The ball is easy to remove from the mold, and that's where the fun begins.MY TESTS: I spend most Christmas holidays with my brother & sis-in-law in the midwest, and we proceed to eat and drink our way through 14-18 days encompassing a few days before Christmas and a few days after New Years. We have a ball, I get to cook a lot, and we try out all kinds of new concoctions, both food and drink.So, with my upcoming holiday trip in mind, I decided to try these out with the idea of using them for our always-adventurous mixed drink trials.First test: filled the molds with strong coffee. It took a little over 4 hours to freeze in a 0-degree freezer. Popped one into a old-fashioned-size glass and added Bailey's Irish Cream -- a fairly "standard" combination. YUM! The ice ball doesn't melt that fast, so I could easily refill the glass with more Bailey's. Yes, indeed, that one's a keeper. With the second ball, I tried a variation: equal parts Kahlua and Baileys, a splash of Frangelico for a hint of hazelnut, poured over the coffee ice ball. Again, YUM!Second test: filled the molds with orange juice. It took a little longer to freeze -- just under 5 hrs. Popped one into a glass, added equal parts vodka and cranberry juice (not sure what this one is called "officially"; we call this combination "Red Dragon"). Perfection! The other ball went into a variation on a Brass Monkey: equal parts Dark Rum and Vodka poured over the orange juice ice ball. Another keeper.Third test: filled the molds with apple juice. Freeze time was about 4.5 hrs. Popped one into a glass with vodka and ginger-ale (2 pts ginger-ale to 1 pt vodka). Good results. Second ball went into a glass with cranberry juice and vodka, similar to the "Red Dragon" above. Oh my. Yes, another keeper. I love that combination of apple and cranberry, and there it was in a drink.OK, you get the drift -- just about any mixer could be frozen in these, and used with any number of spirits/liqueurs to create an infinite number of holiday cocktails.OK, I'm sold on these. The possibilities are endless, and of course they're perfectly fine for more pedestrian drinks like iced tea, soda, or iced coffee. Definitely would be a good Christmas gift. Well designed, well made, fun!UPDATE 12/29/2013: I purchased two sets of these for my brother's family, and we've been using them almost non-stop since I arrived on 12/21. Here's one of our favorite creations: freeze pineapple juice in a ball. In a tall glass, add the frozen ball, two jiggers each of dragon fruit vodka and Malibu rum, fill almost to the top with 7-up or sprite, and add a splash of grenadine. We call it a Dragon Tail. We've also done frozen apple juice with cinnamon vodka and ginger ale, and my favorite frozen coffee with Bailey's and a splash of Frangelico. If you're not into alcoholic drinks, think about different combinations of fruit juices and soda: frozen pineapple juice with orange juice; frozen cranberry juice and apple juice. The possibilities are endless! We've been freezing the balls, removing them from the molds, and then storing them in a fraeezer bag while we reuse the molds for different juices and coffee. Really a super idea!

I purchased the Ice Ball Mold Deluxe after being somewhat disenchanted with a similar product that uses one mold to make two ice balls. The problem with the other product is you had to freeze and use two ice balls at a time. Both products make round 2.5 inch ice balls with a silicone mold, but this product uses individual molds so you can freeze and remove one ice ball at a time. This mold is also noticeably thicker which I believe will result in longer service life. Like my other mold you simply fill this mold with water through a hole in the top. I use a small measuring cup to pour filtered water into the mold, which makes it easy to fill, and the filtered water makes clearer ice. The mold has a flattened surface on the bottom so it will not tip over in your freezer. Once frozen the ice balls are easy to remove from the mold.My only criticism with the set I purchased (they come in sets of two molds) is the molds were not marked with a fill line. If you fill the mold too full, ice will expand, rise up out of the mold, and you will end up with an ice ball looking more appropriate for an adult-themed party. I find you have to leave about a quarter-sized gap of air at the top of the mold for it to freeze into a perfect sphere. I'm told the newer version of this product, which is available now, has a marking to tell you where to stop filling the mold.What really sets this product apart from others, however, is the customer service. Shortly after I received my order I also received an email directly from the co-founder of this product. He was solely interested in making sure I got my order and was happy with it. When I mentioned it would be better with a fill marking he pointed out the new product has that very feature and offered to send the newer set to me free of charge. He did not ask me to return the other item, he simply wanted me to be happy with my ice molds. Folks, you cannot ask for better customer service than that.This type of ice mold is perfect for drinks that you do not want to get quickly watered down by melting ice. The individual molds allow you to use one ice ball at a time, and they are built well. The manufacturer offers a lifetime replacement warranty. They are inexpensive and would make a great gift. This is an ideal gift for the man or woman "who has everything." Best of all, the manufacturer wants to make sure you love the product. If you are looking for a large ice ball mold you will be very happy with the Ice Ball Mold Deluxe.Update 11/6/13:I received the new ice ball molds with fill markings as promised. The molds are well-marked so you can see exactly how far to fill the mold with water. If you want a large ice ball mold that works well, Ice Ball Mold Deluxe is the one to buy.

I have four molds and have used one or the other almost every day since I received them 11/2016. Without fail, I ALWAYS get a vertical crack through the ice. I've filled them to the designed fill line, overfilled, under filled, tried hot water, cold water and water at room temperature. I've put them on an open rack in the freezer and on a solid surface. Used filtered and unfiltered water. Nothing works. And, the vertical crack usually splits the ball into two halves after a few minutes. Would definitely not recommend.

I've been using these for a while now.I developed an appreciation for whiskey but found regular ice melts too fast and waters down the alcohol.It really does cool my drink to a maximum with a lot less ice melt.These are also far superior to whiskey stones which I found barely cools whiskey at all.Someone told me a while back ice ball makers were too fancy and expensive.That may have been true at one time but not anymore.This set is an excellent quality set at an affordable price.I keep a gallon zip lock bag of a few pre-made.I find if I let the mold sit for a few minutes or even warm it a bit with my hands, the mold will part rather easily.Just use a little caution if you intend to store a few in a zip lock.While checking out the ice, my wife sort of dropped one back in the bag and it broke in two.I've read a number of comments about ice cracking and water quality.I distill my own water so the ice does appear fairly clear.I found the ice ball cracks often if the ice flows out of the top and you attempt to pick it off the mold.I heard one crack rather loudly while I was picking ice off the outside of the mold.The best method I found so far is to underfill slightly below the line to ensure there is no overflow.