Can You Put a Yeti Cup in the Freezer? Learn Why It’s Not Wise

Yeti advises very clearly in the care instructions for your Yeti Rambler to not put it in the freezer. 

While they do not directly provide a definitive reason for not putting it in the freezer, a bit of research brings up the reasoning of potential damage being caused to your Yeti during the freezing process. 

This damage can happen as a result of the expansion that occurs in liquid as it freezes. If a Yeti cup is placed in the freezer and the liquid inside it freezes and expands, this can cause damage to the stainless steel walls of the cup. 

Damage to the walls can lead to deformities and lead to a break in the vacuum seal. All of this adds up to an ineffective and ultimately broken Yeti cup. 
As a Yeti Rambler is not particularly cheap, it’s always a good idea to follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly. Yeti knows its products better than anyone, so if they say do not put it in the freezer – then the best idea is to not put it in the freezer! 

As with most topics, if you spend enough time on the internet, you will find compelling arguments both for and against putting your Yeti cups in the freezer. 

Some people argue that you can put your Yeti cup in the freezer without the lid on, as this then allows room for the liquid inside to expand. 

However, you will find that the majority of individuals and businesses say the same as Yeti in that you should not put Yeti cups in the freezer at all.  

Regardless of what you read elsewhere, the most sensible thing to do is to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines, and Yeti clearly states not to put your Yeti in the freezer. 

People have various reasons for wanting to freeze Yeti cups.
One reason might be that they want to freeze a drink overnight, ready to take it out with them on their adventures the next morning, that will slowly defrost and provide an ice-cold drink for the whole day. 

The most common reason for wanting to put your Yeti Tumbler in the freezer is to pre-chill it before pouring your drink into it. 

While this might appear to make sense, the vacuum that creates the cooling effect in your Yeti Rambler is actually between the inner and outer wall of the tumbler (which, of course, comes in a range of colors). This means that all you are doing by pre-chilling your Yeti cup is cooling down the stainless steel interior of the cup. 

Doing this may result in a small increase in the time your drink stays cool, but it won’t really be noticeable. 

If you do want to pre-chill your Yeti tumbler cup, the most effective way is to fill it with water and ice for a couple of minutes before emptying and putting your drink inside. This pre-chilling method will help keep your drink cold for longer while out in the wild. 

This is a tricky question to answer as, logically, the answer should be yes, although Yeti simply advise not to put Yeti cups in the freezer at all. 

If the reasoning behind not putting your Yeti cup in the freezer is due to liquid expansion as it freezes, causing damage, then an empty Yeti tumbler should be absolutely fine as there is nothing to expand while inside. 

As Yeti cups are designed to be used in extreme situations, the exterior should be able to cope with freezer temperatures comfortably. 

Yeti cups are also used to hold iced water or cold beverages, which often cause below-freezing temperatures inside the tumbler. 

Taking all of this into account, it makes sense that your Yeti cup should be fine if you place it in the freezer while empty. 

It is worth pointing out again, though, that Yeti advises customers not to put their Yeti cups in the freezer, so it is ultimately a personal choice whether you choose to follow Yeti’s guidance or not. 

The simple answer to this question is yes – your warranty is void if you put your Yeti cup in the freezer. 

Yeti offers a five-year warranty on the Rambler product range, but the wording of the warranty page makes it very clear that you must have used the product only as intended and in accordance with the provided care instructions. 

The care instructions say, “Do not put Yeti cups in the freezer,” so this is a very clear instruction that needs to be followed. 

Most stainless steel water bottles are not freezer-safe.
Stainless steel is vulnerable to damage as fluids expand when they freeze inside it. This expansion (as mentioned earlier) can cause deformities and warping of the steel. 

There are lots of other brands (CamelBak, for example) that agree with Yeti and tell users not to freeze their products. 

A good rule to follow is that if you have any stainless steel products – keep them out of the freezer – that includes Corkcicle, Hydro Flask, and RTIC products.

Yeti tumblers are perfectly fine to put in the fridge. 
Yeti drinkware is designed to withstand cold temperatures (and hot temperatures, too), so the coolness of the fridge creates no issues. 

As Yeti advise customers not to put their stainless steel water bottle in the freezer, it seems to generate some confusion about putting them in the fridge too.

However, you shouldn’t worry about putting Yeti Ramblers in the fridge – they will be completely fine and will provide you with a cold drink when you need it most. 

Yeti cups and tumblers lock in heat, so care should always be taken when using them to avoid any burns or other heat-related injuries. 

The Rambler products that are designed for use with hot liquids can withstand temperatures up to 185F (85C). 

On Yeti’s Rambler FAQ page, there is lots of information regarding the care, cleaning, and safe use of Yeti cups. There is also a list of which products should and shouldn’t be used for hot beverages. Check out this post for detail on why you can put Yeti Cups in the dishwasher.