Reach For This Kind Of Ice If You Need Extended Cooling Power For Hours

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Packing up your cooler for a trip, only to open it hours later and find everything swimming in cold water is a major inconvenience. Sure, the drinks might still be sort of cold, but all the ice is long gone. This is where block ice makes all the difference. While everyday ice cubes are more common, they simply don't last as long, and the reason comes down to surface area. Cube ice has a larger area exposed to warm air, leading to faster melting. On the other hand, block ice is denser than cube ice and will break down more slowly.

It's the same principle behind why a snowball takes longer to melt than a handful of crushed ice. It holds its shape for much longer, buying you precious time. This change is not only about convenience, but food quality and waste reduction. Cold drinks stay cold, but more importantly, perishable items like dairy, deli meats, and produce remain in a safer cool zone for several hours. This kind of ice is also beneficial when the cooler being opened and closed is unavoidable. Every time warm air sneaks in, cube ice gets hit hard and melts faster. But block ice is more resilient in that kind of environment. This isn't exclusive to coolers, either. Even your pitcher at home will benefit from some block ice to keep your drinks ice-cold, all without compromising flavor.

Behind block ice's longer cooling power is a little science that's easy to understand. Big pieces of ice take longer to warm up because heat travels slowly through solids. With less exposed edges, there is less area where warm air can infiltrate and speed up melting. Block ice promotes a more distributed cooling effect as opposed to the sudden drops and rapid warm-ups of crushed or cubed ice. That's why lining the bottom of your cooler with block ice is an easy hack to keep the overall temperature of the cooler down. This is particularly vital for things like soft cheeses and leftovers, which are more sensitive to temperature swings.

Also, block ice tends to stay intact even after long travel, so you can freeze your popsicles ahead of a sunny, beach day, or keep your drinks cold before an event. It's an easy way to make your cooler more reliable without buying specialty gear. Some coolers can accommodate very large blocks of ice. There are also block ice packs, like the BelowZero packs, that are optimized to maximize efficiency without causing a liquid mess. It effectively transforms your compartments into a slow-release refrigerator that operates without electricity or your attention. It can also lengthen the shelf life of your food in situations where refrigeration isn't assured. Overall, block ice does some serious heavy lifting quietly and slowly, and lets you get on with your adventure without worrying about spoiled meals or drinks.