Best way to make huge slab of ice?

[1jan2020]

I want to make a big block of ice with some animal figures frozen inside, for my DC’s upcoming birthday party. What’s the best way to do this? I know you get those silicon trays for large ice cubes for drinks, but those aren’t big enough. What do you use?

A roasting tray or large deep pyrex dish.
If you had an old ice cream tub or similar that would do.

How big?
empty ice cream container big or takeaway /ready meal container big?
Deep roasting tray?

for big ones you might need to just half fill and wait for it to freeze then add more animals and water to freeze so the animals aren’t all just at the very bottom.

Thanks! How easy would it be to get the ice out of a tub or dish? The good thing about silicon obviously is that you can just pop the ice out. Could those silver foil trays for food work?

It really does depend on how big and what it's to be used for.
I've got some ideas but I suspect plastic animal figures might float: do they need to be evenly distributed through the ice?

warming the tray slightly so that the edges aren’t frozen to it should let the big ice cube come out in one piece when you need it.

I've done this - used an old Roses tub. Put the animals in and fill half way, then freeze. Once the first half is frozen fill it up to the top. Stops the animals just rising and being too easy.

Great tips, thanks! I’d say about 15cm tall by about 25cm wide and deep?

This sounds intriguing! Is it a table decoration?

Line whatever you use, with parchment paper coming out of the edges, so that it just pops out.

Sounds like fun!

Also, using cooled boiled water will mean the water is crystal clear, and with no internal icicles.

I'd just use a washing up bowl.

Oh @SprinkleOfInsanity Yes to using cool boiled water.

Thinking I'll also do this but for our next grown up Bbq.

Haven't measured up, but would that be roughly the size of a freezer drawer?
If so, I'd empty that drawer (easier said than done, I know), line it with a bin bag and then add layers of water and animals as required.
Using boiled water as above sounds sensible.

@SprinkleOfInsanity very helpful post, thank you!

A silicon cake pan like this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silicone-Square-Cake-Pan-Non-Stick/dp/B09KBXHTH4/ref=sr1120sspa?crid=2TEIJSJU5Y2IL&keywords=Silicon+cake+pan&qid=1655764755&sprefix=silicon+cake+pan%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-20-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExRTFMUkdSTkNIMDJWJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTE1ODA2MlVIWFlEOEhaRjM4MyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTg2NjI3T0o2RFNONFk2RlMwJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfbXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==