A solid ice block is the best thing you can put in a cooler box, but how long it lasts depends on a few things you can control. Get them right and a 14 kg block can keep your cooler cold for a long day out and often well beyond.
What decides how long ice lasts
- The cooler box: thick, well-sealed coolers hold cold far longer than thin ones.
- Sun and heat: a cooler in the shade lasts much longer than one in direct Highveld sun.
- How often it opens: every time the lid opens, warm air gets in.
- What goes in: warm drinks and food take a lot of cold out of the ice.
- How much empty space: air warms up fast, so a full cooler stays cold longer.
How to make it last longer
- Chill drinks and food in the fridge before they go into the cooler.
- Put the block at the bottom and pack everything around and on top of it.
- Fill gaps with a bag of cubes, a towel or more drinks.
- Keep the cooler in the shade and cover it with a towel or blanket.
- Use a separate cooler for drinks so the food cooler stays shut.
- Leave melt water in the cooler while the block is still there. Cold water helps keep things cold.
Blocks vs cubes in a cooler
Cubes chill things faster, but a block lasts much longer because less of it is exposed to warm air. The best combination is a block at the bottom for staying power, with cubes on top for quick chilling and for drinks.
Mad Ice delivers 14 kg ice blocks and bagged cubes in Sandton, Randburg, Lanseria and surrounds. Order on WhatsApp at 078 497 0191.