block ice · Click to enlarge
block ice · Click to enlarge
Block ice is a solid, dense mass of ice rather than loose cubes or crushed pieces. Ours is made by running tube ice through a hydraulic press that compresses it into a single solid block. Rather than water frozen in a mould, it starts as ice and gets pressed into one dense mass. That density is the key to why it lasts.
Why block ice lasts longer
The reason a block outlasts loose ice comes down to surface area. Ice melts wherever it's exposed to warmer air, so the more surface that's exposed, the faster it goes. Loose cubes are hundreds of small pieces, each with its whole surface open to the air. This adds up to a huge total area. Press that same ice into a single block and almost all of it is locked inside, with only the outer surface exposed. Heat can only work on the outside and has to melt its way in slowly. Same amount of ice, a fraction of the exposed surface. A block can last several times longer than the equivalent in cubes.
What it's good for
Block ice suits anything that needs to stay cold for longer. Anglers rely on it to keep a catch fresh from the water to home. Seafood and meat handling use it for the same reason, it lasts through transport and doesn't water everything down. Coolrooms and cold storage use it to hold temperature, and campers and travellers heading bush use it for multi-day trips where a servo isn't around the corner. Plenty of businesses use it wherever a slow, steady melt matters more than fast chilling.
Block ice vs party ice
Party ice, the loose cubed bags, is made for quick cooling: drinks, an esky for the day, filling a tub for a party. It chills fast because there's more surface area, but it melts fast for the same reason. Block ice is the opposite, slower to cool but it holds far longer. If you're keeping something cold for an afternoon, party ice does the job. If you need it cold for a weekend, on a fishing trip, or for storing product, block ice is what you want.
How long block ice lasts
It depends on conditions, but a block can last two to three times longer than the same volume of cubed ice. In a good esky kept out of the sun, a decent block will hold for a couple of days or more. Keeping it out of direct heat and draining as little meltwater as possible helps it go further.
Where to buy block ice
Smith's Ice makes and supplies 5kg block ice across the Riverina and north-east Victoria. You'll find it at stockists throughout the region, service stations, stores and outlets, and we deliver to businesses on regular runs.
Use our stockist locator to find block ice near you, or get in touch if you need regular or bulk supply for your business.
