Tips and Techniques For Your DIY Ice Pack

Need to make your own DIY ice pack? Put some ice into a freezer. Boy, did we ever say that we wanted a nickel for each time we have said that! If you only have children, you already know how much gel ice packs are a must. But the really high-quality ones…they can be awfully pricy!

 

You can make a dry ice pack by placing a block of ice in a two cup measuring cup and pouring in about a half a cup of salt. The salt will kill the bacteria in the block of ice making it safer to place in the freezer. You will want to stir this mixture constantly as it freezes. Once the ice has melted completely, pour it into a quart-size Ziploc bag.

 

Fill up the zip lock bag with about two tablespoons of salt and shake well. Secure the top of the bag with a twist tie or some rubber bands so that the salt can’t spill out. Attach the top of the bag with another twist tie or rubber band and freeze the mixture until it is solid again. Now you can use the salt and place this in your freezer for about five minutes to liquefy the pack.

 

These packs can be used for anything from a bridal shower to a baby shower, graduation, house warming, wedding or rehearsal dinner. It can also be used for baking, cooking, or for taking along to a friend’s house for a party or picnic. Homemade packets are easy to make if you use a combination of ingredients that are relatively common. For instance, one tablespoon of packed sand and a quarter teaspoon of rock salt make a good combination. This homemade product can be found in craft stores and at many supermarkets.

 

The final part to making your own pack is putting together all the ingredients in a saucepan. If there are any liquids that will be used for the sealing process such as hot oil, then dissolve the liquid first. Once the sand and the rock salt are dissolved, pour them in the pan along with about two cups of hot water. Once the water comes to a boil, turn the burner off and allow the mixture to boil for about three minutes. Once the mixture has cooled, remove it from the heat and pour it into its special zip lock bag.

 

Using a Ziplock bag, label the bag containing the homemade ice packs and keep the tamper evident so that you can return it to the freezer as soon as you are finished. Seal and store the bags and allow them to cool. While the homemade packs are still at room temperature, you can begin to store them for up to two weeks by placing them in a freezer in a dark spot. However, this should not be done for more than a week because the alcohol may begin to transform into hard ice as it starts to freeze.

 

After the homemade ice packs have been stored for two weeks, pull out the Ziplock bags and shake the sacs until they are mixed thoroughly. Then empty into a large bowl and add about one tablespoon of each rock salt, cornstarch, and the squishy sauce. Stir to mix well and enjoy your homemade ice packs. Be sure to keep them in a cool, dry place and use a straw to drink them up.

 

To seal the second bag, cut strips of freezer paper to fit over both bag homemade ice packs and spray the opening with hot water. Place the first bag inside the second and seal it using the hot water and the plastic strip. Use the strip to hold the opening for an entire day to ensure that the adhesive is completely secure. Finally, use the freezer bag sealing kit to fill the second bag and snap the sealing shut.

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