The Simple Way To Keep The Ice In Your Cooler From Melting Too Fast

You've just finished your grilling duties and are ready to relax with an ice-cold beverage, but when you reach your hand into the cooler, you're met with a pool of warm water and less than chilly bevies. It's a disappointing, yet very common reality — but it doesn't have to be. You can put an end to warm slush with one simple trick that'll help keep the ice in your cooler from melting too fast.

The science behind the coolers, formerly known as ice boxes, is quite simple. As Wired explains, a cooler is usually insulated with either foam or plastic, which helps slow down warm air from circulating inside. Interestingly, coolers can also work without ice if you pre-chill them or add cold foods. However, adding ice to a cooler ensures that your items stay chilly for longer.

While the principles are the same, remember that not all coolers are, in fact, created equal. Food & Wine suggests a more durable, hard-sided cooler for extended periods of outdoor adventures, whereas a soft-sided cooler proves more efficient for shorter activities in the sun. Once you've found your ideal cooler, the next challenge is keeping things frosty.

It might be obvious to say, but the best way to keep your cooler cold is to make sure that heat stays out. Although it can be especially challenging during park picnics or backyard barbecues where people are constantly reaching inside for drinks, this isn't a totally impossible feat.

According to Real Simple, the best way to keep your cooler cold is to line the inside with aluminum foil. What this does is it reflects rays from the sun (and consequently, heat), in an effort to slow the melting of ice. Make sure to line all sides, including the top of your cooler to reflect any additional rays.

While starting with a good base is important, you can also keep your cooler at a glacial temperature with a few other tips. Epicurious recommends using larger ice blocks to slow the melting of ice because less surface area is exposed to hot air. Alternatively, you can prevent quick melting from the outside of your cooler by taking measures to keep your the ice box out of the sun — you can even partially bury your cooler, reports The Kitchn.