Healthy Food Delivery : Why You Should Never Leave Too Much Empty Space in Your Freezer

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Why You Should Never Leave Too Much Empty Space in Your Freezer

Last week, a Reddit user posted an image of their freezer on a LifeHacks forum, and it quickly got the internet buzzing. The image shows the inside of the Redditor’s freezer, where nearly every inch of space is filled with gallon jugs of ice.

The image is eye-catching, as one may wonder why someone would fill the empty space in their freezer with jugs of ice if they don’t know the simple idea behind the practice. Filling up empty space in your freezer with ice has several potential benefits, including:

Extending the life of your refrigerator’s compressor.
Cutting down on your electricity bill.
Keeping the freezer cold longer during a power outage.
Maintaining an on-hand supply of potable water.

Let’s take a look at the science behind the benefits of stuffing your freezer with jugs of ice.

Fill Empty Space in Your Freezer With Jugs of Water
by
u/Mi_Ki_Ii_Zaru in
lifehacks

Why It Works

Appliance companies typically recommend keeping freezers 75-80 percent full. The reason is simple thermodynamics. Water is what is known as a “thermal battery,” meaning it can absorb, store, and release large amounts of thermal energy. Adding large blocks of ice to the empty spaces in your freezer essentially supercharges its cooling capability.

Be careful not to overdo it, though. An overstuffed freezer is even more of a problem than an empty one. Your freezer still needs to circulate air, and blocking the vents and fans will greatly reduce its ability to do so.

“Don’t put too much food in the freezer,” recommends the Department of Energy. “Chilled air must be able to move evenly around the food to keep it frozen.”

So if you want to try this milk jug hack, just be sure you leave enough room in the freezer for things to flow. Otherwise, you may be doing more harm than good.

How Long Do Refrigerator Compressors Last?

Another purported benefit of filling your freezers with gallons of ice is that it reduces strain on your refrigerator compressor. While we can’t find any solid evidence to back this up, it makes sense: mostly full freezers are more efficient, and more efficient cooling would put less strain on the freezer’s mechanics.

It’s important to note, however, that refrigerator compressors typically last around a decade. While this milk jug hack may squeeze a little more life out of your machine, there’s no evidence it would significantly extend its lifespan.

Backup Cooling During Power Outages

Of course, one situation where this milk jug hack could really help your freezer is during a power outage. In an emergency situation, having drinkable water and rations can make all the difference. Having jugs of ice on hand gives you an immediate source of potable water.

But there’s more to it than just a water supply. Turns out, the amount of space in your freezer has a massive impact on how quickly your food stays frozen when the power goes out.

“Foods stay frozen longer if the freezer remains unopened, is full, is in a cool place and is well insulated,” says Whirlpool. “Usually, food in a loaded freezer will stay frozen for two to four days, depending on its size. A half-filled freezer will keep food frozen only about 24 hours.”

Getting an extra 2 or 3 days of food could be a game-changer during an emergency. To keep food frozen as long as possible, Whirlpool also recommends covering your freezer with blankets. Considering this, you may consider forgoing the massive water jugs and just fill the empty space in your freezer with more frozen foods to achieve the same benefits!