Ice is a simple, yet extremely useful part of your everyday life, as well as for special occasions. Ice does have one inherent and undeniable flaw that needs to be attended to in order to maintain its usability – it melts! That’s right, one moment it’s there, the next it’s a cool little puddle on your table top. If you are hosting a party, the last thing you want to worry about is melting ice. You have guests to attend to, after all! So what can you do to beat ice at its own game and help it stay cool as a cube for the maximum amount of time? We at Crystal Ice want to share with you some of the tips and tricks of our trade to make sure your ice stays cool as long as possible.

Tip # 1 – Use Tin Foil to Line Your Ice Cooler or Bucket

If you are storing a copious amount of ice for a party or special event, odds are you have a large cooler or ice bucket in which to store the ice. That’s a great start, but we have a trick that takes things a step further. Before you place the ice in the container, line it with a single layer of aluminum foil. This is a very simple trick to keep ice cool and intact, as it works to reflect heat and light away from the bucket or cooler each time you have to open the ice container, which you will no doubt have to do fairly constantly throughout the event. Wrap the outside of the container in aluminum foil for the same reason. First wrap the sides horizontally, and then use another large piece to wrap the opposite sides vertically, with the center of the large piece of foil along the bottom of the ice bucket or cooler, so that you can fold over the ends of the foil pieces along the top and allow for easy access to the opening. Your ice will stay intact much longer thanks to tin foil.

Tip # 2 – Consider the Size of the Ice Before Ordering

This may not always be on the forefront of your mind when you are purchasing ice for a gathering, but it’s best to purchase large sized ice cubes, or even slabs of ice, as they will melt slower. Ice shavings are popular with many customers, particularly for those interested in making flavored shaved ice treats and drinks. Despite this trend, we urge you to keep in mind that shavings melt rapidly, no matter what the conditions are. If you are interested in purchasing ice for a party, consider ordering large chunks and cubes. No matter what sized ice you desire, we at Crystal Ice can make it happen for you. But we do recommend larger cubes if you are concerned about preventing the ice from melting prematurely.

Tip # 3 – Store Your Ice in a Cool, Shaded Area

So you have an ice cooler, and you have it wrapped inside and out with reflective aluminum foil. Great! That’s a good start, but it is also important to store your ice chest in a proper area. Whether you are having an indoor or outdoor party, it is best to keep the ice container stored indoors, in a room that is shaded from direct sunshine. No sense in adding to the risk of melt by keeping the ice in a warm and/or sunny area. If you feel compelled to keep the ice outdoors for the ease of your guests, make sure the ice is placed in a shaded area – under an awning, table umbrella, or tree. Also, the lower to the ground the better since heat rises, so even under a buffet table is a suitable place to keep ice shaded from the sun and heat.

Tip # 4 – Keep That Ice Box Stuffed!

Making sure you keep your prepared ice box filled to the brim with ice will keep the container colder, longer, ensuring that the ice doesn’t melt too quickly. It probably goes without saying that excess ice should be kept in your freezer. Each time the ice in your ice cooler or bucket runs low, fetch a new batch from the freezer to refill the serving container. This helps keep the ice itself cool and intact, serving as its own self-cooling mechanism. There is definitely a “the more, the merrier” mentality when keeping ice cubes cold.

For more than 60 years, we at Crystal Ice have been proudly serving the greater Los Angeles area for all of your ice needs. We have multiple ice docks throughout Southern California, so we’re never far away. We can promise you that the ice we deliver is per your specifications, and completely intact. We will not only deliver your ice, but help you set it up. These tips and tricks listed above are meant to help you maintain the lifespan of the ice we deliver to you, as an extension of our customer service. To learn more about our ice services and deliveries, please call us at 323-753-2579.