Lunch Box Ice Packs

Still cold at noon.

Slim, flat packs sized for a lunch box or bag, so they do not steal the space you need for lunch. Freeze overnight, drop one in, rinse it at the end of the day.

Which one for a lunch box?

POP Ice Mat 8"x12"
The one that tells you its temperature. A visual indicator shows whether it is still cold, which settles the "is this still fine to eat" question.
Penguin Ice Mat
Kid-sized, and a good deal more fun than a plain white slab.
IcePak Hard Gel Pack (Lunch size)
A rigid pack for bags with room for it, part of a five-size range.

Packing a lunch that is still cold at lunchtime

  1. Freeze the pack overnightPut it in the night before, not the morning of. It needs a full freeze to last until noon.
  2. Chill the food firstA sandwich made from cold ingredients starts cold. The pack holds temperature rather than creating it.
  3. Use an insulated bagA fabric lunch bag with a foil lining does most of the work; the pack keeps it going.
  4. Put the pack on topCold sinks, so a flat mat laid over the food works better than one underneath it.
  5. Fill the empty spaceA half-empty bag warms faster. Tuck a napkin or a second small pack into the gaps.
  6. Rinse it at the end of the dayWipe it down and put it straight back in the freezer, ready for tomorrow.

Common questions

How long will a lunch stay cold?

In an insulated bag with a fully frozen pack, food generally holds a safe temperature through a normal school or work morning. Warm cars and long outdoor waits shorten that considerably.

Are they safe for kids?

Yes. Every pack is BPA-free and non-toxic. They are not food themselves, so as with anything else, small children should not be left to chew on them.

Will it fit in a standard lunch box?

The POP Ice Mat is 8"x12" and the Penguin is smaller again, both designed to lie flat in a lunch box or bag. The IcePak Lunch size is rigid and needs a little more room.

What does the POP indicator actually do?

It gives you a visual read on whether the pack is still cold, so you are not guessing at the end of the day.

How do I clean it?

Wipe with soapy water and dry before refreezing. Do not put it in the dishwasher or microwave.

BPA-free, non-toxic and made in the USA by Cryopak, whose cold-chain packaging is used across pharmaceutical, food and industrial shipping.

Buying for a whole classroom or team?

Ask about bulk