February 10, 2026

ICE Retention Guide

PACK YOUR COOLER
LIKE A PRO

MAXIMIZE ICE RETENTION WITH THESE
EASY-TO-FOLLOW STEPS.

1 COOL DOWN YOUR COOLER

A few hours prior to use, either preload your cooler with a sacrificial bag of ice or store it in a cool place before filling it up.

2 COVER THE BASE WITH YETI® ICE BLOCKS

This will help extend the life of your regular ice.

3 TIME FOR ICE

Add either large ice cubes or blocks of ice on top of your base of YETI® Ice Blocks.

4 PACK IN YOUR PROVISIONS

Ideally, your contents should be pre-chilled before you put them in, but don’t sweat it if not – our coolers outperform for a reason.

5 TIME TO ADD MORE ICE

To maximize your cooler’s cold-holding power, you’ll want a 2:1 ratio of ice to chilled contents. Remember, the more ice you use, the longer your provisions will last.

6 FILL ANY LEFTOVER SPACE

Finally, don’t forget that empty pockets house warm air which will melt your ice more quickly. If you see any open spaces, use towels, rags, or even more ice to fill them in.

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SOME ADDITIONAL HANDY TIPS

LIMIT COOLER ACCESS

Avoid opening and closing your cooler too often – this lets warm air get in and cold air get out, causing your ice to melt faster.

KEEP IT COVERED

Ice lasts up to twice as long in the shade so try to keep your cooler out of direct sunlight. When the sun is unavoidable, cover it with tarps or towels to keep its cool.

DON’T DRAIN YOUR MELTED ICE

Cold water is better than warm air and will help your ice last longer. However, exposed food and meat should be kept out of the water.

BONUS ICE INFORMATION

DRY ICE

Dry ice can keep food and drinks cold and frozen longer than regular ice. The Tundra® and Roadie® Hard Coolers and YETI® TANK® Ice Buckets are all dry ice compatible, however, Hopper® Soft Coolers are not. Here are some tips for using dry ice in a YETI® Cooler.

ROCK SALT

Using rock salt will super-chill your contents. Here’s how:

  • Properly fill your hard or soft cooler with cans or bottles and plenty of ice.
  • Generously sprinkle rock salt on top of the ice.
  • Close or zip your cooler.
  • Wait 30 minutes and then crack open a cold one.