How to Store Ice Without a Freezer

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References Tested

Drinks are in the fridge, burgers are on the BBQ, and your party’s about to start—but the ice doesn’t fit in the freezer! This might feel like a disaster, but you don’t have to go without ice-cold drinks or food. You can try a few different ways to keep your ice from melting so you can enjoy your time with friends and family.

Here are 12 different ways you can store ice when you don’t have access to a freezer.

1

Store your ice in the fridge if you’re in a pinch.^{[1]
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If you don’t have a cooler, a bucket, or a freezer, a fridge can work. Wrap your ice in aluminum foil to trap in the cold, then keep the ice in the fridge.
- The fridge is too warm to keep your ice frozen for long, but it can work for a few hours until you find a cooler or a bucket.
- If you bought ice in a package from the store, don’t unwrap it! Leave it in the package so it stays colder longer.

2

Put your ice in a plastic cooler or bucket.^{[2]
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This is the perfect solution if you’re on the go. Grab a cooler or a bucket from your local grocery store, then dump your ice in to keep it cold.
- Most coolers are lined with insulating material so your ice will stay chilly for hours on end.
- A bucket can work in a pinch, but it’s not as good as a cooler.
- Depending on the size and material of your cooler, your ice could stay frozen for up to 8 hours.
- If you have the choice between plastic or metal, always go for plastic. Metal transfers energy faster, so it will melt your ice quicker.

3

Line your container with aluminum foil.^{[3]
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It’s all about keeping the heat out! Before you pour your ice into a bucket or cooler, line it with a few sheets of aluminum foil.
- The shiny foil will reflect the heat and light that could melt your ice.
- You can do this in conjunction with wrapping a towel around your container. The more insulation the better!

4

Wrap the container in a kitchen towel.^{[4]
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More insulation means more cooling power. Once your ice is in a bucket or a cooler, wrap it up in a few layers of towels.
- If you have any packaging materials, like bubble wrap, you could put that in between the towel and your ice for even more insulation.
- The air trapped between the layers will help the ice stay frozen for longer.

5

Add salt to your ice to lower the freezing temperature.^{[5]
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If the freezing temperature is lower, the ice will take longer to melt. Pour your ice into a container, then shake a liberal amount of sea salt all over to make it a little bit colder.
- You might even start to see new ice form as the old ice melts.

6

Use a lot of ice so it keeps itself frozen.^{[6]
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The more ice you have, the longer it will take to melt. While it sounds like a no-brainer, you should always make sure you’re filling your entire container with ice so it can keep itself cold.
- It’s always better to have too much ice than not enough!
- If your cooler lid isn’t fitting on properly, siphon some ice out to use in drinks instead.

7

Drain the water as the ice melts.^{[7]
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Water is warmer than frozen ice, so it can melt your frozen cubes. As your ice starts to melt, try to drain your container to keep your ice cold.
- Some coolers have a drainage plug on the side that you can use to pour out your water. Otherwise, just tip your container to the side and let the water drain out.
- Try to check on your water content every hour or so.

8

Bury your container in the ground if you can.^{[8]
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The cold soil can help lower the temperature of your container. Use a shovel to dig out a divet in the earth, then place your cooler or your bucket inside.
- If you’ve wrapped your container in a towel and lined it with foil, you probably don’t need to bury it.
- This is a great method for camping or outdoor parties.
- If the air outside is already pretty cold (say, below freezing), you don’t need to worry about burying your container.

9

Put your ice near a fan or AC unit if you’re inside.^{[9]
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The colder the air around the ice is, the longer it will stay frozen. Keep your ice out of the sunlight, and put it next to a fan or a chilly air conditioning unit, if you can.
- If the fan or the AC is in a small room, it’s even better. Small rooms stay cold for longer, so they’ll keep your ice chilly.
- If you’re outside, keep your container of ice in the shade.
- Move your ice away from any warm objects, like heaters, stoves, or sunny windows.

10

Store your ice in the backseat, not the trunk.^{[10]
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The trunk of your car can turn into an oven during hot summer months. If you’re traveling with your bucket or cooler of ice, keep it in the backseat, not the trunk.
- You can also blast the AC to keep your ice cold if you have a long drive ahead of you.

11

Try larger ice cubes.^{[11]
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The bigger your cubes are, the longer they’ll take to melt. If you really want to keep ice around for a long time, buy it in chunks or blocks instead of cubes.
- Crushed ice melts the fastest since it’s so small.

12

Make ice with boiled water to it melts slowly.^{[12]
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Boiling water removes the air bubbles from the ice, leading to denser cubes. The denser your cubes are, the longer they’ll take to melt.
- Boil your water in a kettle or a pot, then pour it into your ice trays before freezing.
- You can also use this method to make clear ice for fancy cocktails.