Store it dry and upside down.

Water expands when it freezes. That’s what cracks your cooler. So the fix is simple: don’t let water sit in it.

Open the drain plug. Tip it upside down. Leave it that way all winter. If you’re storing it outside, keep it under a porch or in a shed to avoid snow getting in. A little cold air won’t hurt it—trapped moisture will.

Also: don’t use it as a seat in freezing weather. That’s how you crack the lid. Just dry storage, drain open, no weight on top.

You don’t need special sprays or covers. Just common sense and gravity.