MAXIMISING ICE RETENTION

10 TIPS FOR MAXIMISING YOUR YETI® COOLER’S PERFORMANCE

YETI coolers are very strong and tough, but durability is just one of the benefits of a YETI. Outstanding thermal properties set YETI apart.
YETI coolers are among the best insulated coolers on the market today (up to 2 inches or more of polyurethane insulation in the walls and lid of most sizes). This insulation, combined with a freezer-quality sealing gasket and durable one-piece construction, gives YETI industry-leading ice retention. Use the information below to maximise your YETI cooler’s performance.

1.START WITH A COOL COOLER

If stored in warm places, a significant amount of ice will be wasted cooling the cooler itself. Preload your cooler a few hours prior to use with a sacrificial bag of ice to cool it down.

2.USE TWICE THE ICE AS YOUR CONTENTS

Making sure you use enough ice in your cooler is key. We recommend following a 2:1 ice-to-contents ratio. This means that one-third of your cooler can hold your cold drinks and food while the other two-thirds should be filled with ice if you fill the cooler completely. The more ice you use, the longer it will last.

3.ICE TEMPERATURES VARY SIGNIFICANTLY

Warm ice (around 0°C) is typically wet or dripping, and won’t last long. Ice that is colder than the freezing point is relatively dry and will last substantially longer.

4.BLOCK ICE VS. CUBED ICE

Smaller, cubed ice will chill a cooler and the contents more quickly, but block ice melts at a much slower rate. Most pros use a mix of both to chill contents and achieve long-term ice retention.

5.AIR IS THE ENEMY

Large areas of air inside your cooler will accelerate ice-melt as the ice is consumed cooling the air. These spaces are best filled with extra ice, towels, or crumpled newspaper if weight is a concern.

6.DON'T DRAIN THE WATER

Once your cooler is in use, DO NOT empty the cold water. The water helps to insulate the remaining ice. However, exposed food and meat should be kept out of the water.

7.SUNLIGHT IS A HEAT SOURCE

Keep your cooler out of direct sunlight when possible. Ice can last up to twice as long in the shade. Some pros even use tarps or towels to cover their coolers when they can’t find a shaded spot.

8.LIMIT COOLER ACCESS

Every time you open the cooler, you are exchanging the cold air inside for warm air outside that must then be cooled, causing faster ice-melt.

9.DRY ICE IS BEST

The YETI Tundra®, Roadie®, and TANK® are dry ice compatible. When used in conjunction with a YETI hard cooler, dry ice can keep food and drinks cold and frozen longer than regular ice.

10.YETI ICE SUPPLEMENT

Extend your regular ice with YETI ICE. YETI ICE is dialed in to a temperature just below that of regular ice. That fine-tuning allows YETI ICE to do all the cooling work before your ice melts.