On icemakergeeks.com we are always talking about making ice, and using it to benefit your life. We provide you with the latest information about which portable ice cream maker or ice maker you should invest in, and we give you the top products on the market today.
What if you need ice now? I’m talking about right now. Instantly.
This is why I wanted to review Instant Ice packs and investigate if they actually work.
After a lot of research and testing the product myself, this is what I found out.
WHAT ARE INSTANT COLD PACKS USED FOR?
Injuries can happen anywhere. This is why it’s always important to be prepared. One item that most first-aid kits often leave off their list is ice. I know what you’re thinking, how in the world are you going to pack ice into a first-aid kit? It’s possible now, thanks to instant ice packs.
Instant Ice packs are great for helping the swelling go down, and relieve pain caused by an injury. It’s an item that you don’t often think about; it’s a great product to have in a pinch.
Instant ice packs are also great to use in a cooler to preserving meats and dairy. Four Instant Ice Packs provide you with the same chilling power as 10-20 pounds of ice.
HOW LONG DO INSTANT ICE PACKS LAST?
Instant Ice packs are great for decreasing swelling and relieving pain caused by an injury. It’s an item that you don’t think you need, until you do.
Purchase some Instant Iced Packs on Amazon and throw them in your first aid kit right away. If you are going away on a trip, camping, fishing or hiking – it’s important to have an instant cold pack with you.
Just in case you are not familiar with instant cold packs, let me give you a quick introduction.
An Instant ice pack is a small plastic bag filled with a gel that can instantly get cold, and stay that way for many hours. In fact, some instant ice packs can stay cold for over 5 hours. Instant Ice packs do not need to be stored in a freezer, but use a chemical reaction to freeze instantly.
HOW IT WORKS
When you first purchase an instant pack it looks just like a small bag of water. Don’t be fooled by it’s appearance because inside there is much more to it than what you may think.
Before it is used, an instant ice pack has both water and ammonium nitrate in separate compartments. When the bag is squeezed, the water and the ammonium come together, creating an endothermic reaction resulting in the water freezing.
IS IT SAFE TO USE?
If the chemicals found in an instant pack are ingested in large amounts it could cause serious illness. It’s always important to follow the directions and safety precautions listed on the back of each package.
Normally, food items are placed in containers and instant packs are placed around the food. This means that no chemical ever comes in contact with the instant ice pack. Therefore, it’s completely safe and practical to use.
DO INSTANT ICE PACKS WORK
They absolutely do. Instant ice packs are great to use on a camping trip, your RV, a fishing trip, or your boat. Whenever you need use ice, an instant pack is every useful.
We have put together a list of pro and cons to help you consider the benefits of an instant ice pack.
PROS
- It gets cold instantly, no need to put it in the freezer
- You only need four packs to do the work of 20 pounds of ice
- Don’t have to worry about it melting, they can last for 5-8 hours
- You can bring as many as you need with you and they won’t freeze until you activate them
- It’s safe to use
CONS
- Can cost a lot more than the price of making ice with a portable ice maker
Instant ice packs are sold in different quantities, and you can purchase them in bulk.
I grabbed a box of these instant ice packs on Amazon, and paid under $50 for 24 instant packs. They were great quality and worked very well.
In some scenarios, it only makes sense to purchase an instant ice pack.
