keeping things cold

ADK Camper wrote:
If you want to make a block of ice for your fridge or cooler here's a technique I sucessfully use. A large bottle or bread pan, etc may get distorted or even split when the watter expands as it freezes. Furthermore a large volume of water takes a long time to freeze solid. To solve these problems I start by filling the container with ice cubes and then add water. The volume will freeze much more quickly with a minimum of expansion.