Break Up A Bag Of Ice With A Lot Less Mess With This Simple Hack

Ahead of a party, it's always crucial to make that ice run. Whether it's bulk ice for a cooler or fancy ice for cocktails, grabbing those 5 to 20-pound bags of ice ensures that you won't run out well into the night, no matter how many drinks you're slinging. As you prep to fill up the ice tray, stop for a moment. You shouldn't open the newly purchased bag of ice immediately after returning from the store.

For starters, it can get incredibly messy when you try to dump melting ice into the freezer tray. One simple hack posted on TikTok reveals that it's best to keep the ice in its original bag at first. Put the entire bag in the freezer for about an hour. Moments before your guests arrive, remove the bag, then break up the ice within the bag. It will save you a mega-mess, and here's why.

When you're bringing a bag of ice home, it's bound to melt a little. If you dump the whole bag into the ice tray in your freezer, the water from the melted ice will cause it to morph together. This will lead you to break apart the ice later, which is much harder to do when it's already loose in your cooler or ice tray.

Instead, when you first put the entire unopened bag in the freezer, the ice will immediately refreeze. Then, you can break it up while it is still in the bag, and then pour it in the freezer tray or cooler. This ensures that any shards will remain in the bag, rather than flying around your kitchen. If you're afraid of the bag ripping while you punch down on it, put it in a pillowcase. This will also help contain the mess. 

Since the ice will be fully frozen again with this trick, it shouldn't stick together after being broken apart. So, whether you're getting a bag of ice to make a smooth old-fashioned or blending it up for a classic frozen margarita, be sure to stick it in the freezer first. It will save you an icy mess later.