Key takeaways
- Measuring the freezer’s total capacity instead of the shelf. A freezer may hold many cubic feet overall but still lack a flat area for a tray.
- Ignoring the lid. Measure with the lid attached if you plan to freeze food covered. The lid also needs enough clearance to sit flat.
- Filling to the rim. Leave a little headspace for expansion, particularly with liquid soups, stocks, and sauces. Overfilling can distort the lid and increase the chance of leaks.
- Forgetting the support surface. A full silicone tray is flexible and can sag. A sheet pan may add an inch or more to the required width or depth.
- Planning to stack without a divider. Filled trays should remain level. Use a rigid freezer-safe divider instead of placing one soft tray directly on another.
- Comparing portion size with outside size. Two trays can have similar exterior dimensions while offering different compartment capacities and serving flexibility.
What's inside
The Short Answer
So, how much freezer storage space do Souper Cubes need? Plan on roughly 10.5 inches wide by 7.5 inches deep by 2.5 inches tall for one filled tray, or about 26.7 by 19.1 by 6.4 centimeters. That is the approximate outside footprint for the standard 1-cup and 2-cup Souper Cubes trays.
A two-pack needs more than twice the tray’s height because the trays usually cannot be stacked securely while filled. For practical freezer planning, reserve approximately 10.5 by 15 inches of shelf area for two trays placed side by side front-to-back, plus at least 3 inches of vertical clearance. In metric terms, that is about 26.7 by 38.1 centimeters with 7.6 centimeters of height.
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The trays themselves are only part of the calculation. Once food is frozen, many households remove the individual portions and transfer them to freezer bags or containers. That frees the silicone tray for another batch and changes the long-term storage requirement from “one tray per recipe” to the space needed for the frozen cubes themselves.
For 2026 shopping, standard Souper Cubes products generally cost about $35 to $40 for a two-pack, while comparable one-cup silicone trays may cost around $16 to $25 for a two-pack. Price does not necessarily indicate a different storage footprint, so check the listed tray dimensions before buying.
Standard Sizes
Souper Cubes are sold by portion capacity rather than by the total outside dimensions. The most useful sizes for soups, sauces, stock, casseroles, and meal prep are 1-cup and 2-cup portions.
| Tray type | Portions per tray | Capacity per portion | Approximate outside dimensions | Approximate metric dimensions | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-cup Souper Cubes tray | 4 portions | 8 fl oz | 10.5 x 7.5 x 2.5 in | 26.7 x 19.1 x 6.4 cm | Individual soup servings, sauces, baby food, cooked grains |
| 2-cup Souper Cubes tray | 2 portions | 16 fl oz | 10.5 x 7.5 x 2.5 in | 26.7 x 19.1 x 6.4 cm | Two-person meals, family portions, chili, stock, and casseroles |
| Comparable 1-cup silicone tray | 8 portions per two-pack listing | 8 fl oz | About 10.5 x 7.5 x 2.5 in per tray | About 26.7 x 19.1 x 6.4 cm per tray | Budget meal prep and bulk portioning |
Exterior dimensions can vary slightly by production run, lid design, and brand. The dimensions above are useful planning measurements, but measure the actual tray if your freezer shelf is unusually tight. A lid can also add a small amount to the effective height, especially if it sits over a raised rim rather than inside the tray walls.
A filled 1-cup tray holds approximately 32 fluid ounces in total. A filled 2-cup tray holds approximately the same total volume when it has two compartments, but each frozen block is twice as large. That distinction matters when estimating how many portions will fit in bags or bins later.
How to Measure Your Space
- Empty the intended shelf. Remove baskets, loose packages, and shelves that could interfere with the tray. Measure the actual usable area rather than the freezer’s advertised capacity.
- Measure width. Measure from the left interior wall to the right interior wall at the shelf level where the tray will sit. Allow clearance for the lid and for your hand to lift the tray.
- Measure depth. Measure from the back wall to the front edge of the shelf. A tray that technically fits may be difficult to remove if it sits flush against the door or a drawer front.
- Measure height. Allow at least 3 inches, or 7.6 centimeters, for a tray with a lid. Measure between shelves, the top of a drawer, or the bottom of the freezer compartment above it.
- Account for level placement. Silicone trays are flexible. If the tray must be carried while full, place it on a flat sheet pan or rigid board. The support needs to fit inside the same width and depth limits.
- Plan for removal. Leave about 1 inch of extra space at the front or side when possible. This gives you room to grip the tray without pushing neighboring food out of the way.
- Check the door opening. Upright freezers may have wide shelves but narrow doors, while drawer freezers may have limited vertical openings. Measure the narrowest point the tray must pass through.
For two trays, do not assume that a two-pack needs only one tray’s footprint. If you place them side by side, reserve about 21 by 7.5 inches. If you stack them, use a rigid shelf or tray between levels and reserve approximately 10.5 by 7.5 by 5 to 6 inches. Stacking flexible, filled silicone trays directly on top of one another can cause spills, warped portions, or lids that do not seal evenly.
By Room or Use Case
Small Top-Freezer Refrigerator
A compact top-freezer refrigerator usually has enough room for one filled tray, but the available shelf may be narrow or interrupted by a cooling vent. Measure carefully before choosing a two-pack. A 1-cup tray is usually more versatile because its portions can be used individually for lunch, a side dish, or a single serving of soup. Freeze one tray at a time and transfer the cubes once solid.
Bottom-Freezer Drawer
Bottom drawers often offer good width and depth but limited vertical clearance. One standard tray with its lid generally needs about 2.5 to 3 inches of height. Use a flat shelf insert, cutting board, or freezer-safe sheet pan underneath when filling the tray. This prevents the flexible mold from tipping as you carry it from the counter to the drawer.
Upright Freezer
An upright freezer is the easiest setup for multiple trays because shelves make horizontal organization simple. Reserve one shelf section measuring at least 21 inches wide by 8 inches deep for two trays placed end to end or side by side, depending on the shelf orientation. A shallow plastic bin can keep loose frozen cubes organized after they are removed from the molds.
Chest Freezer
Chest freezers have plenty of volume but are less convenient for shallow trays. Keep the trays near the top in a removable basket so they do not become buried under heavier packages. A rigid sheet pan is especially helpful here. Once the cubes are frozen, transfer them to labeled bags and return the empty trays to the basket.
Meal Prep for One or Two People
For one person, 1-cup portions are usually the most space-efficient choice because they reduce thawing waste. For two people, 2-cup portions can simplify dinner prep, but each cube occupies more room in a storage bag and may take longer to thaw. If you cook large batches of soup, two 1-cup trays provide more serving flexibility than one 2-cup tray.
Common Sizing Mistakes
- Measuring the freezer’s total capacity instead of the shelf. A freezer may hold many cubic feet overall but still lack a flat area for a tray.
- Ignoring the lid. Measure with the lid attached if you plan to freeze food covered. The lid also needs enough clearance to sit flat.
- Filling to the rim. Leave a little headspace for expansion, particularly with liquid soups, stocks, and sauces. Overfilling can distort the lid and increase the chance of leaks.
- Forgetting the support surface. A full silicone tray is flexible and can sag. A sheet pan may add an inch or more to the required width or depth.
- Planning to stack without a divider. Filled trays should remain level. Use a rigid freezer-safe divider instead of placing one soft tray directly on another.
- Comparing portion size with outside size. Two trays can have similar exterior dimensions while offering different compartment capacities and serving flexibility.
FAQ
Can Souper Cubes trays be stacked in the freezer?
They can be stacked more safely after the food is frozen and the trays are supported by a flat shelf or rigid divider. Avoid stacking full, flexible trays directly on top of each other. The weight can deform the lower tray and make the lid uneven.
How much freezer space do two 1-cup trays need?
Plan for about 21 by 7.5 by 3 inches when two trays are placed side by side, or approximately 53.3 by 19.1 by 7.6 centimeters. If your freezer is narrow, place the trays end to end and allow roughly 10.5 by 15 inches of shelf area.
Is a 1-cup or 2-cup tray better for freezer storage?
Choose 1-cup portions for individual servings, sauces, and flexible meal planning. Choose 2-cup portions for two-person dinners or recipes normally served in larger amounts. The outside tray footprint may be similar, so the main difference is portion size rather than the shelf area required.
Should I remove frozen cubes from the tray for long-term storage?
Yes, if you want to reuse the tray and keep the freezer organized. Once the portions are solid, transfer them to labeled freezer bags or airtight containers, remove excess air, and record the date and contents. Keep the cubes flat until fully frozen, then arrange them vertically or in bins to use space efficiently.
