Our Search for the Best Ice Packs

Equipment expert Adam Ried reviews ice packs.

ABOUT US: Located in Boston’s Seaport District in the historic Innovation and Design Building, America's Test Kitchen features 15,000 square feet of kitchen space including multiple photography and video studios. It is the home of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and Cook’s Country magazine and is the workday destination for more than 60 test cooks, editors, and cookware specialists. Our mission is to test recipes over and over again until we understand how and why they work and until we arrive at the best version.

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[lightdark]

The *best* thing to add to a cooler in the summer is frozen water bottles. The frozen bottles can be taken out to thaw when in need of more water. No water mess, and everything you carry in the cooler can be used.

[US_Joe]

I love ATK more for Adam's and Jack's segments rather than cooking. They both do a great job and are very informative. Thanks guys!

[kilimar]

So the result of the test was, the more 'cold' you put in the longer it lasts. The ice won because it filled the most gaps. The largest product won well, because it was the largest. I think the test could of been designed better. The test doesn't really tell you which proprietary material 'holds' cold longer. Maybe if they took the stuff out of it's container, froze equivalent volume (say 16 oz), put that in a cooler with a bunch of cans with 16oz ice as a control and see the temperature raise over time.

[jss]

I love these niche reviews please keep making more ❤️

[dudehere]

I've been rotating the same 2 Rubbermaid ice packs in my lunch bag every day for the past 20 years.

[gadget]

Manufacturers, at least some of them, recommend a combination of ice and ice packs. They tell you that the ice packs should go on the bottom and the ice on top for best results.
My limited testing seems to support this as a great way to keep the food and drinks in your cooler cold for days. The longest I’ve tried is 3 days and still had ice remaining.

[peppermintp]

I love this channel! Glad you tested good ol' fashioned ice in this mix.

[fridayjoefriday]

We use those Freez Pak's, works wonders for the bottled sodas and her insulin, as well as those store bought sandwiches. Of course these are five years old and paid for their service over and over. Longer trips then ice is the go to item, dump water and refill.

[jesusjones]

Ice packs on the bottom and regular ice in between and on top. It's best to use both bc ice packs have chemicals inside that freeze colder & last longer than plain ice. Then your ice melts goes to the bottom and the ice packs on bottom are so cold that they will refreeze they melted water = combo lasts a lot longer than just ice packs or ice only. Also frozen water bottles that you drink as they melt are cheap way to keep things cooler with less or little to no ice.

[joanhall]

The ice blankets are helpful when used in addition to the ice packs (or frozen water bottles). You lay them over the top of your food so the cold air sinks down.

[williamc.]

this might be a dumb question but, can you buy a big ice bag and use that? keep the ice in the bag and after it melts in the bag, refreeze it and reuse it?

[northyubaguideservice]

Cooler Shock packs- they keep a cooler cold for two days and don't make a mess. They need a couple of days to get back down to temp in the freezer. I have three for keeping items cold for my guests

[ftincyclist]

If going on a long trip camping hunting etc. Pack your yeti cooler full of bagged ice as much as you can fit, 24 to 36 hours before your trip to really cool your cooler internal temp before you pack it.

[outbackwack]

I use double-wall collapsible bags (2/$9) filled partially with water, then drink/use the water when it thaws. No waste! and MUCH MUCH cheaper than a single $20 pack or buying ice just to throw away!

[duncanearley]

This matches my own experience when going for short camps. Ice wins. Cool everything before driving there and then buy a bag of ice or two at the closest place or stop off to the camp. Yes your stuff gets wet but thats what zip lock bags are for. And beer cans taste just as good when wet ;-)

[leahli-mm]

Merry Christmas dear, blessings from INTCO！😍

[rachray]

Can u guys test kitchen drain strainers/stoppers. I loved an OXO strainer/stopper, untill it broke not even a month later

[BBBYpsi]

I have had a cooler pack approx 10 inches square for 15 plus years & use it mostly to pre cool my coolers & it will extend ice retention. But it leaked today after all these years. Was a great ice pack. Paid like $5 for it. Probably used it several hundred times & would stay cool well over 24 hours. I think that works out way cheaper then buying a bag of ice. But I mostly used it to pre cool my bigger cooler night before I would go fishing a great lake throw it back in freezer. Then throw in a $1 7lb bags of ice for the fish. It will be missed so now looking for a replacement.

[cassandralesh]

The problem with ice packs is people don't use enough of them to equal the bag of ice. I use a frozen gallon jug in my 25 quart roto molded ( yeti style) cooler and it stays cold for three and a half days.
I want to invest in ice packs that will give me the equivalent of a gallon but will fit into the cooler better allowing me more room for the food and drinks. I have the measurements of the cooler and I found a few ice packs that will line the bottom and the sides and equal the same mass

[pranays]

Freeze water bottles and juice then as they thaw you have only condensation and the food stays cold for 2 or 3 days if you do it right. And you have drinks.