Last summer block ice here went to $7. To combat it I purchased an ice mold from Amazon $20. It makes a 12 lb block and is easy to de-mold. I made 1 a day for almost 3 weeks, well, until the wife complained about not enough room for food. ::) Make 3 block and it pays for itself.
https://www.amazon.com/Ice-Block-Form-12-Lb/dp/B0CKDCZ7RN/ref=sr_1_14_sspa?crid=2EV6EZIMCWAT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.c0DdyW7LR1YlMTNp6KecuEkJPEVsUyM3lUF_9ePt0727toCT83M_sE2nwSLZeexoa9QssBSQ9R-XrCu99kyjAOSozNODzbVNbt65xdO7oAUFM1vAPGdfBSgREmbmjLvzeuKa7qmAJDK3mBY22aRKWS3Blaimv9vR2dWUkHKZba_JNs3kmjfmHnYUqQy3kB7QgSuoQwaPMRXgoKYMQ-90WnOoj-vqRr7H0gHQW_UXiyMbyaJ64z_0FzrcXztp_lQNWUwA0Kzz1kkgOm0q4w0GrLzd8UYcnsDdUUz4L7CSo2Y.orp7diSJhaOBzR72en3id4_nbEAeiMnwevCz-jLE7kk&dib_tag=se&keywords=ice%2Bmolds&qid=1738629494&sprefix=ice%2Bmolds%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-14-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&th=1 (https://www.amazon.com/Ice-Block-Form-12-Lb/dp/B0CKDCZ7RN/ref=sr_1_14_sspa?crid=2EV6EZIMCWAT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.c0DdyW7LR1YlMTNp6KecuEkJPEVsUyM3lUF_9ePt0727toCT83M_sE2nwSLZeexoa9QssBSQ9R-XrCu99kyjAOSozNODzbVNbt65xdO7oAUFM1vAPGdfBSgREmbmjLvzeuKa7qmAJDK3mBY22aRKWS3Blaimv9vR2dWUkHKZba_JNs3kmjfmHnYUqQy3kB7QgSuoQwaPMRXgoKYMQ-90WnOoj-vqRr7H0gHQW_UXiyMbyaJ64z_0FzrcXztp_lQNWUwA0Kzz1kkgOm0q4w0GrLzd8UYcnsDdUUz4L7CSo2Y.orp7diSJhaOBzR72en3id4_nbEAeiMnwevCz-jLE7kk&dib_tag=se&keywords=ice%2Bmolds&qid=1738629494&sprefix=ice%2Bmolds%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-14-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&th=1)
I bought a set of Lock'n'Lock containers for my cooler that I use for the same purpose: just ice blocks. They hold shape for me to move things around and don't leave a mess after melting, other that condensation. Great idea on the molds!
I bought a heavy Tupperware container slightly larger than a quart milk carton and used it for a while but then switched to Cooler Shocks and have never gone back to ice. No mess, last longer than ice, take up less room in the cooler.
Wolverine, the only place we could GET block ice was the ice house in Pascagoula. There is a spring there and the ice was very clear. Back in high school we ran snowball trucks and would get ice every morning in the summer. And the commercial fishing boats would buy in quantity. Sadly the place closed down after over a century of business and even more sadly, nobody wanted to preserve the unique building. They recently bulldozed it but left the huge ancient compressor. I guess that's going to be a lawn ornament. Thanks for the tip!
Here's a tip. Some marinas will supply you with free ice when you purchase fuel. I stopped at a marina in Marathon, topped off the tank and got over 30lbs of ice for free.