The Mystery Blue Goo Mini Freezer Pack - A Summer Essential!
Written: May 18 '03 (Updated Aug 04 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use, safe, reusable, inexpensive, a must have for coolers.
Cons: Needs at least three hours to completely freeze.
The Bottom Line: No cooler should be without at least few Blue Ice Mini freezer packs.
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| Freak369's Full Review: Rubbermaid Blue Ice Mini Freezer Pack |
With summer fast approaching I started to drag out the coolers, sand toys and sunscreen knowing full and well that this summer would be different from others. In the past my boys have never been big fans of the beach even though it is a hop, skip and jump from our house. This year it’s a little different, my oldest son has a girlfriend and the younger ones are slowly learning that science experiments don’t have to always take place in the basement or kitchen. We have a few small coolers and one large one that we pack with food and drinks when we are going to be out all day or visiting one of the parks or Legoland. For the all day trips I use the larger Rubbermaid Blue Ice packs but when that seems to be overkill, a few of the Blue Ice Mini Freezer Packs are a better option. They take up less space, allow you to keep items cooler by fitting them in to tighter spots and require less ‘freeze’ time before you use them.
While these are available in several sizes, I find that the mini ones are the best ones to have in the freezer because they can be used when transporting deviled eggs, coleslaw, potato salad or any food that needs to be kept cool without having to drag out the larger sized freezer packs. I own several Rubbermaid freezer packs but use the mini ones most of the time. They are the perfect size for the boys coolers and lunch packs when they go on field trips and are light enough that they don’t dread having to carry them around with them. Since they are inexpensive I don’t have to worry if they get lost since they are easily replaced – the lunch boxes however are another story.
Blue Ice Mini
Made up of the same non-toxic blue mystery liquid as the larger freezer packs, this mini is nothing to laugh at. It will keep soda cans, food and desserts cold for at least a few hours providing that you freeze them overnight, keep the cooler out of direct sunlight and keep the opening and closing of the cooler to a minimum. The obvious advantage of using this over ice is that there is literally no mess involved. Some of the packs may ‘sweat’ a little but other than that, it is a pretty clean and dry event. The down side is that if you like your drinks ice cold, this might not be the best pick. Don’t get me wrong, it will keep them cold – but not as cold as it would if the cans or food were surrounded with ice. Since this is a little smaller than the standard sized freezer pack, you can position it along side cans of soda or food containers so you get the most from it. For the curious, this ice pack is 5 x 3 x 1.5.
Care & Cleaning
Although these are practically care free freezer packs, there will come a time when they will need to be cleaned off. Usually we end up with soda splashed on them or some type of food getting shoved back in the cooler without the container lids back in place correctly. I don’t recommend putting these in the dishwasher since I don’t know how the plastic would do under extreme heat so hand washing is your only real alternative. For small spills I just wipe them off with a wet sponge and allow them to air dry. Larger spills or food caked on them might require a little elbow grease to get them completely clean. Make sure they are totally dry before you pop them back in the freezer or you might have a touch time getting them out. I had a few that I placed back in when they weren’t completely dried and they froze themselves to the bottom of the freezer. I pried them out using a butter knife but it wasn’t exactly easy.
Things To Know
I searched high and low to try and find out what the blue mystery liquid is and it seems that it is a trademarked secret. It is non-toxic so if somehow the cap comes loose and it leaks out, you won’t have to panic. That’s not to say that I’d eat anything that the blue goo came in contact with, but you won’t need to call the hazardous material team for a clean up.
The mini size is also great for first aid uses and comes in great when you are on the road and someone gets a minor injury. If this is still completely frozen I suggest wrapping it in a towel to prevent the skin from getting too cold or becoming totally numb. You want to relieve the pain, not make the area completely desensitized. If worse comes to worse and you can’t find something to wrap it in, use a sock. I know that sounds bizarre but it’s better than the alternative of having a child being in more discomfort from the sting of an ice-cold freezer pack.
The Bottom Line
I have had these Rubbermaid Mini Freezer Packs for several years and they are holding up great and when I consider how much use they get during the summer months I consider them a great value. You can pick these up at most retail stores like Wal-Mart and Target for about $1.00 - $1.50, but they are usually on sale right before the summer sales kick off. You can also get these on clearance at the end of the season and pack them away for the next season. Make sure you allow the freezer packs to thaw completely before you pack them away for the winter [if you do pack them away] so that you can make sure they are clean, free of sweat and don’t have a funky smell to them. For the price, these are well worth it when you consider that they are reusable and last more than a few years with a little tender loving care.
As always, thanks for the visit!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2003 Freak369
Other Rubbermaid product reviews…
• Rubbermaid Laundry Basket • Rubbermaid Blue Ice Mini Freezer Pack • Rubbermaid Take-Alongs 9 Ounce Sip Cup • Rubbermaid Servin’ Saver Egg Keeper • Rubbermaid Take-Alongs Rectangle • Rubbermaid Ice Cube Bin • Rubbermaid Take-Alongs Chug Bottle 17 Ounce • Rubbermaid Take-Alongs Deep Square • Rubbermaid Snap Case Series •
Recommended:
Yes
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