I Never Toss Wilted Herbs That Are About to Go Bad — I Always Do This Brilliant Trick Instead

I’m an iced drink girl year-round. Iced coffee, iced lemon water, mocktails, sparkling water — I pretty much always have something chilled nearby. So a while back, I was making a minty mocktail mojito and had an idea: Why don’t I freeze the extra mint right into the ice cubes? It seemed like a tiny change, but it completely shifted how I prep drinks at home.

Now I’m always freezing something into my cubes: lemon slices, mint leaves, berries — whatever I have on hand. I toss them in a tray, fill it with water, and freeze. Then the next time I pour myself a drink (even if it’s just a seltzer), I drop one or two in for an instant infused water. It takes no effort in the moment but makes things immediately feel a little more fun — and fancy!

Lemon and mint are my current go-to combo, but berries are great for adding to homemade lemonade or sparkling water. And if I’m hosting or just want something a little extra, I’ll freeze edible flowers. They melt slowly and add the perfect visual moment to any drink!

I use this 3-pack of silicone ice cube trays from Amazon. Each tray makes 14 large cubes, they stack in the freezer, and the spill-resistant lids keep things tidy. The cubes pop out with no effort thanks to the easy-release silicone bottoms, and they’re dishwasher-safe. At just over $6 for all three, they’re well worth adding to your kitchen. But any ice cube tray works for this trick!

What started as a way to make mojitos cuter quickly turned into a shortcut for the easiest-ever lemon water. I wanted to drink more of it, but I didn’t always have the energy to wash and slice a lemon, or wonder if the one in the fridge had gone bad. Freezing them made it effortless to stick to the habit, and it’s a great way to extend their life (and keep them out of my compost). It’s like an instant fruit-infused water.

I also use this trick beyond water. I like to freeze coconut water for smoothies, make coffee cubes for cold brew, and occasionally layer juice or fruit for fun, colorful cubes. You really can’t mess it up! (Of course, if you want to freeze your herbs in olive oil, that’s a great way to preserve them, too.) If you want to elevate your daily drinks without actually doing more work — this is the easiest way to start.