You might go with ice blocks instead of ice cubes if you need to keep a lot of ice, especially if you're enjoying time outside. As large blocks of ice have less surface area than smaller cubes, blocks are less prone to melting. Because smaller blocks of ice don't last that long, ice blocks offer a great alternative to have ready to add to drinks. Ice blocks are also useful to keep other items cool when you don't want to use dry ice. You can use ice blocks to: Preserve food and drinks when you have limited refrigeration space. Keep large bowls of punch cool when you don't want small ice pieces to melt and water down the punch. Cool down your pool when the water gets too warm. Cool yourself down if your air conditioner breaks. And more!