SMART&COOL Clear Ice Cube Mold - 2 Square Ice Cube Trays for Refrigerators | Perfect for Cocktails, Whiskey & Iced Drinks

It's a near fool-proof system once you figure out the sweet spot for how long it needs in the freezer. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes on the counter before you try to harvest. Just give the handle a gentle tug every 5 minutes and you'll feel when it's ready. A little patience pays off and it will slide out without putting stress on the silicone. The cubes won't melt while it's just sitting out for a bit. To find the sweet spot for freeze time takes some trial and error. Remove it from the freezer it too early and you get perfectly clear but not perfectly shaped cubes. Remove it too late and the reservoir under the mold will freeze solid. It's not a big deal because the cubes still come out perfect. It just takes more patience waiting for the layer of water between the mold and the cooler to thaw enough you can pull it out. It's more like 30-35 minutes. Keep in mind that water expands when it freezes and the mold will get pushed up slightly as the water reservoir below it freezes. Pushed up about 1/8" seems to be the sweet spot between the cubes being frozen solid but not taking forever before you can pull them out. You want to catch it after the holes on the bottom of the mold are frozen over but before the water in the reservoir freezes completely in the middle. I've found that the water in the reservoir will be ~75% frozen.The cubes are remarkably clear and long lasting. It's hard to see it in the glass when viewed from the side. I've tried the DIY techniques with non-insulated molds and this is product is much more compact and consistent and easier to harvest. 2 cubes at a time are not a major limiting factor. For my situation, they are ready in about 20 hours so a quick daily chore allows me to stock up a dozen or so in a week before I have more than I know what to do with.The base is insulated which facilitates the directional freezing so the whole system is very effective and doesn't take up much space. I've only had a couple cubes crack when hit with liquid. It's only a hairline fracture and doesn't impact melting time.