6 Easy DIY Ways to Make Ice Packs for Coolers

Are you tired of buying store-bought ice packs that can be expensive and unreliable?

Making homemade ice packs for coolers is easy, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. By learning how to make ice packs for coolers at home, you can save money and reduce waste.

Not only will these DIY ice pack solutions save you money, but they’re also perfect for keeping your cooler cold or your lunch box fresh during your favorite outdoor activities. Some of these methods can also be used as a cold press ice pack substitute in a pinch.

Here are six easy methods to make your own ice pack alternatives at home.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase after clicking on one of the links on this page. Learn more.

1. Sponge Ice Pack

Materials needed:

• Large, clean sponges
• Resealable plastic bags (e.g., Ziploc bags)
• Water

Instructions on how to make ice packs for coolers from a sponge:

1. Fully saturate the sponges with water.
2. Place each wet sponge into a resealable plastic bag.
3. Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bags.
4. Place the sealed bags in the freezer for several hours or overnight.
5. Once frozen, add the sponge ice packs to your cooler or as a DIY ice pack for lunch boxes.

Tip: Two standard sized kitchen sponges fit almost perfectly in a sandwich sized resealable bag. You’ll definitely want two inside a quart sized bag and either of these options is almost a perfect size for a kid’s lunch box.

2. Saltwater Ice Pack

Materials needed:

• 2 cups of water
• 1/3 cup of table salt
• Resealable plastic bags

Instructions on how to make this ice pack substitute that stays cold for a long time:

1. Mix the water and table salt until the salt is dissolved.
2. Pour the saltwater mixture into a resealable plastic bag.
3. Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bag.
4. Place the sealed bag in the freezer for several hours or overnight.
5. Once frozen, add the homemade saltwater ice packs to your cooler.

Tip: The more salt you add, the lower the freezing point and, therefore, the colder your freezer needs to get. It can also take longer to freeze. So if you find ⅓ cup of salt to 2 cups of water is too much, use less salt. You can even start with just a couple tablespoons and add more too it if that works fine for you.

3. Dish Soap Ice Pack

Materials needed:

• Liquid dish soap
• Resealable plastic bags

Instructions on how to make homemade ice packs for your cooler that last a long time:

1. Fill a resealable plastic bag with dish soap (about 3/4 full).
2. Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bag.
3. Place the sealed bag in the freezer for several hours or overnight.
4. Once frozen, add the dish soap ice packs to your cooler or lunch box.

Tip: You can also use dishwasher detergent for this. Be sure and double bag it so it doesn’t make a mess.

4. Corn Syrup Ice Pack

Materials needed:

• Corn syrup
• Resealable plastic bags

Instructions on making DIY ice pack alternatives for coolers using stuff from your kitchen:

1. Fill a resealable plastic bag with corn syrup (about 3/4 full).
2. Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bag.
3. Place the sealed bag in the freezer for several hours or overnight.
4. Once frozen, add the homemade corn syrup ice packs to your cooler or lunch box.

Tip: Remember to double-bag or use heavy-duty plastic bags on this one to avoid sticky leaks that could attract bears or bugs.

5. Rice or Dried Beans Ice Pack

Materials needed:

• Uncooked rice or dried beans
• Cloth or fabric (e.g., a clean sock or a small pillowcase)
• Needle and thread (optional, may just tie knot to seal a sock)

Instructions on how to make ice packs for coolers that are dry, but not as cold as alternatives:

1. Fill a cloth or fabric pouch with uncooked rice or dried beans.
2. If using a sock, tie a knot at the open end. If using a pillowcase or fabric, fold and sew the open end shut.
3. Place the rice or bean-filled pouch in the freezer for several hours or overnight.
4. Once frozen, add the rice or bean ice packs to your cooler.

Tip: This ice pack option works well for keeping food items cold without making them wet, as the cloth absorbs condensation.

6. Gel Ice Pack

Materials needed:

• 1 cup of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)
• 2 cups of water
• Resealable plastic bags

Instructions on making a soft ice pack that doesn’t freeze solid:

1. Mix the rubbing alcohol and water together.
2. Pour the mixture into a resealable plastic bag.
3. Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bag.
4. Place the sealed bag in the freezer for several hours or overnight.
5. Once frozen, add the gel ice packs to your cooler or lunch box.

Tip: The alcohol prevents the mixture from freezing solid, resulting in a flexible, slushy consistency that can be molded around items in the cooler. If you’re looking for an ice pack substitute that doesn’t freeze solid, this is an excellent choice. It can take longer, or a colder freezer, to gel up nicely though. You can add less alcohol if that’s a problem for you.

Tips and Tricks for Using Homemade Ice Packs

1. Pre-chill or freeze items before placing them in the cooler. This will help reduce the amount of work the ice packs need to do to keep everything cold.

2. Layer the ice packs in your cooler. Place a layer at the bottom, then add items, followed by another layer of ice packs on top. This will help distribute the cold evenly and keep everything cool longer.

3. Fill empty spaces with extra ice packs or crumpled newspaper to minimize air circulation, which can cause your cooler to lose its chill faster.

4. Keep your cooler out of direct sunlight and limit the number of times you open it. Both of these factors can cause the internal temperature to rise more quickly.

5. Use larger ice packs for longer trips, as they will retain their coldness longer than smaller ones.

6. When making homemade ice packs, double-bag them or use heavy-duty plastic bags to avoid leaks. You can also wrap them in a cloth or towel to help absorb any condensation.

7. Label your homemade ice packs with their contents (e.g., dish soap, saltwater) to avoid confusion and ensure they are not accidentally used for other purposes.

8. If you need to keep items extra cold, consider combining different types of homemade ice packs in your cooler. For example, you could use saltwater ice packs to lower the overall temperature, and then supplement with gel ice packs that can be molded around specific items.

Why Make Your Own Ice Packs at Home

By following these instructions and tips, you’ll be able to create effective and reusable homemade ice packs that will keep your cooler contents cold and fresh for an extended period.

These homemade ice pack alternatives are not only perfect for everyday use but are also great for various outdoor activities. Whether you’re going camping, hunting, spending a day at the beach, enjoying a BBQ, fishing, boating, or simply exploring the great outdoors, these DIY ice packs will keep your food and drinks cold and fresh.

These six easy ice pack substitutes are perfect for creating cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally friendly ice packs for coolers and lunch boxes. Try one or a combination of these homemade ice pack options to keep your food and drinks cold during your favorite outdoor activities.