5 Tips for Making Block Ice Work in Your Cooler

Use block ice instead of cubes Block ice melts much slower than cube ice because of its lower surface area. It acts as a cold battery that keeps things wet as it melts.

Pre-chill your cooler before loading Store the cooler in a cool garage overnight, or toss in bagged ice for an hour and dump it before loading. A warm cooler wastes ice fast.

Pre-chill everything you pack Warm drinks and food are the enemy of ice retention. Cold contents help the ice last longer.

Fill empty space to reduce air movement Stuff towels or newspaper into gaps in the cooler. Less air circulation means slower melting.

Open the cooler as little as possible Every time you open the lid, cold air escapes. Plan ahead to grab what you need in one go.