If you've ever walked into a backyard picnic and looked for the ice chest, you already know that you're taking your life into your hands. Not only has everyone used their hands to dig into the already melting chips of ice, but the family dog has decided that its bowl is much too far away to bother. Yes, that ice chest is a bucket of germs -- but there is another way. While this party might be doomed, you can do better. By using ice scoops, you're not only saving the ice, but you're also saving your guests.

When Alcohol is on Hand

Even if you're not mixing drinks, a lot of people want to have ice in their wine or their beer to help cool things down -- especially on hot days. To help your guests help themselves, you can fill up a number of (clean) containers with the ice they need and place them at various spots in the drink area. Colorful plastic tubs work great and they look bright and inviting, but when you put ice scoops into the tubs, it appears you've spared no expense. Have a number of scoops in the tubs so that no one has to wait around and either have a place for them to sit when they're not in use, or you can have guests put them directly back into the ice.

Other Ways You Can Scoop Up Fun

But even ice scoops can be used for different kinds of parties -- especially when the temperature outside starts to plummet. You might want to use these scoops to help serve various side dishes. These scoops will help everyone get a healthy sized portion, but without spilling a drop onto your freshly cleaned tablecloth. Sides like pastas, rice, and even potato salad are easy to put onto a plate when you scoop them up.

And those tiny ice cream scoops that you find at the store don't really do the job when your ice cream is a bit too hard. With an ice scoop, you can push right into the creamy mix and get a serving without a sweat. Even a child can use this scoop to quickly serve up a sundae for themselves -- no help needed from you.

When the party is over, ice scoops can be used in your baking tasks to scoop up flour and sugar into the correct measuring cups. Instead of pouring from the bags, you can scoop up what you need and then put the rest away for another tray of brownies to be made another day.