Ever had those days when you're in the middle of meal prep, only to find your Anytime Freezer Tray smells like last week’s chili? Or maybe you're putting away leftovers and find your tray has been hiding some stubborn food residue inside the compartments?
 
Silicone is one of our favorite materials for flexibility and heat tolerance, but it has a reputation for retaining lingering odors and food stains. The good news is, by using your microwave, you can easily clean and deodorize your trays in just a few minutes! And it’s a lot easier than you think. Using a clean, fresh-smelling Anytime Freezer Tray means that your frozen food will taste just as amazing as when you first put it in the tray. Want to learn how? Let’s dive in:

More about Anytime Freezer Trays

Before we get to the cleaning, let's talk about the Anytime Freezer Trays. These handy kitchen tools are made of high-quality silicone and reinforced with stainless steel wire (meaning fewer spills!). Each cup features measurement lines in both 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoon servings for perfect portions of sauces, soups, meal-prep, or rice and grains. Simply fill the trays, cover with the flexible silicone lids, stack for efficient storage, and pop everything into the freezer for later use.
 
The key to the ultimate efficient kitchen? Embrace your freezer and microwave, especially in combination with each other. The freezer stops time and stores food (especially leftovers!) at its peak freshness, while the microwave reheats it in a flash. Anytime Freezer Trays are the perfect tool for freezing food in convenient, easy-to-defrost portions that make meals healthier, tastier, and (of course) faster.

Why silicone is safe for the microwave

Anytime Freezer Trays are made out of high-quality, food-grade silicone silicone, a slightly porous material that we chose for its sturdiness, flexibility and high heat tolerance. Because of the silicone’s porosity, odors have a tendency to cling to it, especially if the tray is used to store or heat pungent ingredients like garlic or spices.

But have no fear! Silicone is naturally heat resistant, making it safe to use them the microwave without leaching harmful chemicals (unlike plastic). The durability and flexibility of this material holds up well even under high temperatures, so you can heat, cook, and clean it in the microwave (or oven!) with confidence.

The best way to clean and de-odorize Anytime Freezer Trays

Anyday cookware and accessories are designed not only to save you time cooking in the microwave, but also to make cleaning a breeze. While Anytime Freezer Trays are dishwasher safe, we’ve discovered a hack that makes cleaning silicone even faster and easier:

To clean a silicone freezer tray, all you have to do is wash the tray with soap and water, pop it in the microwave, and microwave on high for 2 minutes. This method will completely sanitize the tray, dry it completely, and get it ready for the next round of batch cooking.

Why this hack works

This cleaning method is effective because:

• Steam: Steam created after rinsing the tray helps loosen and remove food particles.
• Heat: The heat produced by the microwave releases trapped odors.
• Quick: It’s a fast method, taking only a few minutes.
• Chemical-free: This method uses just heat and steam, keeping your tray safe for food storage.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

You’ll need:

• Your Anytime Freezer Tray
• A microwave

Step 2: Rinse the Freezer Tray

Wash the tray with soap under warm running water. Use a gentle sponge or dishcloth to remove any food particles. For remaining food residue, use a small brush to remove stubborn bits.

Step 3: Heat in the microwave

Place the tray in the microwave. Set your microwave to high (default) power and heat the tray for 2 minutes. This will dry the tray and help get rid of any trapped odors. Do not exceed 2 minutes; allow the tray to come to room temperature before adding any more time.

Step 4: Cool down

Carefully remove the tray from the microwave using oven mitts or a towel – it will be hot! Allow it to cool for a few minutes.

Step 5: Rinse again — if needed

Once it’s cooled down, smell the tray. If there’s any remaining odor, repeat the process or pop the tray in the dishwasher for another round of cleaning.

More about cleaning Anyday cookware and accessories

Taking proper care of your Anytime Freezer Trays will make sure that they’re always ready to keep your meals fresh and flavorful. With this simple microwave hack, you can clean and deodorize them in no time, making meal prep even easier. If you’re looking for more tips on keeping your Anyday dishes and microwave in top shape, check out these helpful links: How to Clean Anyday Cookware and How to Clean Your Microwave.