Buzz
I had only one lonely blue ice pack in my freezer. Brilliant me, I organized a park day with friends, and on the day itself, I realized I had just that one ice pack. With only a few hours left, I searched online for a quick DIY solution. Fortunately, I had dish sponges on hand.
Sure, I could freeze a water-filled container for a giant ice cube or even a few bottles of water that would turn into a refreshing drink—but these are better suited for other times. With limited time and a walk of about a mile and a half to the park, I needed something lightweight.
The reasons sponges make perfect DIY ice packs
Sponges are inexpensive, so you can easily buy several. They're compact and retain most of the water even after they've warmed up, making them ideal for lunch boxes and tight spaces. Lightweight and versatile, they can serve a second purpose. If you're like me and use a cooler occasionally, you can return from a day at the park, squeeze out the sponges, and repurpose them for dishwashing. This way, you free up space in your freezer. Plus, if there's an unexpected spill at the picnic, you’ll be the hero.
How to create sponge ice packs
Begin with clean sponges. They don’t necessarily need to be brand new, but freezing old, used sponges feels a bit off to me. I believe it’s better to use new sponges as ice packs and, once they’ve served that purpose, repurpose them as dish sponges rather than the other way around.
Start by running each sponge under water to fully saturate it. Then gently squeeze out just a little bit of excess. The goal is to have the sponge fully expanded, but not dripping too much. If you hold it by one side, you'll notice a slow drip at the other end. That's perfectly fine.
Place the sponge inside a Ziploc or any other small plastic bag, press out the air, and seal it tightly. Let it freeze for about two hours, or until it is completely solid. You can do this with as many sponges as you like.
Store them in the same plastic bag they were frozen in and pack them with your cold drinks and snacks. These sponges serve as effective ice packs to keep food and beverages cool when paired with a thermal lunch box or cooler bag. Just be sure that the items you're packing are already chilled before you load them in. On a sunny day at 80°F+, we spent four hours at the park and the cooler bag stayed cool until we finished.
