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.

2

Put your ice in a plastic cooler or bucket.[2]

  1. 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]

  1. 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!
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4

Wrap the container in a kitchen towel.[4]

  1. 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]

  1. 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.
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7

Drain the water as the ice melts.[7]

  1. 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.
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About This Article

Hannah Madden
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Hannah Madden is a writer, editor, and artist currently living in Portland, Oregon. In 2018, she graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Hannah enjoys writing articles about conservation, sustainability, and eco-friendly products. When she isn’t writing, you can find Hannah working on hand embroidery projects and listening to music. This article has been viewed 35,117 times.
17 votes - 53%
Co-authors: 8
Updated: August 25, 2021
Views: 35,117
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