There’s nothing better than sitting by a campfire with the incredible smells of a meal cooking. Yet many avid campers wonder how to keep food cold while on a camping trip. Besides that, the thought of getting food poisoning while being stuck in the back of beyond is enough to put anyone off. In this article, we will show you step by step the surefire way to keep your food chill on camping trips and some essential tips to keep in mind. How to keep coolers cold while camping? Read on for more interesting details on this matter!
Make sure to pre-chill your cooler and properly pack the food inside. Load your cooler tightly and open it as little as attainable. Always hold the cooler out of the sun.
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Freeze The Food Before Leaving
Whether you desire to remove much of the stress, cook your meals before you go on your camping trip. This can save you a lot of worries, especially whether your food contains meat.
Food, as well as drinks, should either be frozen or refrigerated before departing as this will keep the cooler cool for much longer. What’s more, to save some time you can always pick up some already frozen meals from your local grocery shop or gas station. This absolutely goes without saying!
You’ll want to pack all your food in freezer bags. You wouldn’t want the meals to defrost and degrade everything that is left in the cooler. Additional care should be handled in sealing raw meat as any taint can be hazardous.
Pick Up Some Ice Packs
It’s significant to use the right type of ice for camping. It’s perfectly fine to use a bag of loose ice cubes that you’ve picked up at the store for chilling your cooler before you leave. Nevertheless, this kind of ice is away from perfect for storing and protecting food cold once you leave. The little cubes indicate that an abundance of air gets in and the ice will melt fast. On top of that, a ripped bag or loose ice can indicate water gets everyplace.
Rather than cubes, you should employ a considerable ice block. Block ice remains cold for a long time and is a much better alternative. A thermal ice pack is perfect for this and you can freeze and reuse it as much as feasible. The reality that the ice is packed also assists keeps food from getting moist in the cooler. Surely, non-harmful packs should be employed just in case of tumbles and leakage.
Wish to make your individual ice blocks? Simply toss some cold water in a freezer pack and count a pinch of salt. When the water combines with the salt it lowers the melting pinpoint of water and quickens up the approach. Ultimately, squeeze out all the air and adhere the bag to the freezer. Some individuals have also had the sensation of counting a bit of dish soap into the mixture which can make the ice packs more easygoing.
It is advisable utilizing freezer bags for this. The last thing you want to see is a cooler full of ice water. Yet, if you would pick another receptacle you can reuse a milk jug too. Milk jugs can also deliver a truly big block of ice.
Should I Use Dry Ice?
Dry ice is made from carbon dioxide rather than water and it is very, very cold. Some campers like to use dry ice packs to keep their cooler ultracold. However, it is not advisable that you utilize dry ice packages as a measure because particular maintenance needs to be carried with them. If you do decide to utilize it, wear gloves.
Likewise, be mindful that when dry ice melts, it shifts into carbon dioxide instead of water. It should thus be kept well away from people and pets. Ultimately, as the dry ice melts and frees the gas, the tension in the cooler boosts. If you’re using a significant quantity of dry ice then you will require to open the cover once every while to confirm that it doesn’t snap open. Typically, 10 pounds of dry ice survive 24 hours.
Pre-Chill The Cooler
Whether you’re looking to take perishable meals with you then packing a cooler is a must. Yet you wouldn’t want your room temperature cooler to warm up all your chilled and frozen feasts.
Also, whether you’re wondering how to maintain a cooler cold then merely toss in some ice a few hours before loading the food. The plain ice cubes that you pick up at your local gas station work flawlessly well for this, even though they shouldn’t be utilized when packing the food. Still, if you’re fortunate enough to have an extensive chest freezer then one of the best forms to get it extra cold is by placing the whole cooler in.
Adequately Pack Food Into Your Cooler
Packing a cooler for a camping journey should obey one easy rule. The meals that need to remain the coldest should go nearest to the base of the cooler. This suggests any meat or frozen food things should go at the base with the leash perishable food objects (and more light) going at the lid of the cooler.
For meats or other meals where there is a deep worry over cross-contamination, make certain to fold pack these in freezer packs (what if a freezer pack rips?) and wrap them in aluminum foil. Require to defrost meat? Sift it up to the top coating! Layering the meals items with ice cubes or an ice pack will assist in maintaining your food cold. Attach a layer of ice at the base, an extra layer of ice beyond the meats, and a cover of ice on top.
Tip: Wat’s more important, make sure that you pack your cooler tightly for additional chilling!
Open The Cooler As Little As Viable
This is a significant step to keeping the food cold! Keeping the cold surroundings inside the cooler undisturbed is fundamental to keeping food cold. Every time the lid is pulled back, warm air pours in to substitute the cold. You should maintain your cooler closed as much as attainable. This absolutely goes without saying!
Keep Your Cooler Out Of The Sun
The one short tip to guarantee the ice will soften and the food will entirely spoil? Leave it to sit in the sun!
Try as much as attainable to hold the cooler in the shadow to keep the meals chilly when camping. Some of the best methods to uncover shade include:
- Trees
- Stones
- Vehicles
- Tents
- Put up your own tarp
- Repository spaces in campsites
Be mindful about the shadow moving to different parts as the day goes on and the sun shifts in the sky.
Tips For The Cooler
#1 Pick The Right Cooler
What about those individuals who like a pleasing cook-up while camping? Then, a cooler is definitely a paramount part of your essential camping equipment. Quality coolers have more viscous walls, more acceptable insulation, and better latches to hold the cold air in and the hot air out. This is the reason a high-end cooler can hold everything frozen for days.
Typically, you should always inspect to see how many days the cooler is warranted for ice retention (i.e. how long it will remain cold). It is also advisable to avoid styrofoam coolers as they have a rather poor undertaking by today’s standards. A more contemporary cooler will keep items colder for much longer.
#2 Bring Two Coolers
An essential part of maintaining the cooler chilled is to detour opening it as much as likely. The main issue? Beverages. Each time you open it up to grab another drink the cool air flights and is replaced by a rush of warm air. This is mainly complex for those who are more energetic and need a big amount of drinking water.
Whether you have space then you should consider bringing two coolers, one for the food things and one as a drink cooler. This should help make the food last longer. This goes without saying!
Tip: Make sure the two coolers can be readily identifiable. That way, you don’t keep dropping into the wrong cooler. Tying a bit of colored tape or line can help specify which cooler is for drinks and which is for cold food.
Keeping Food Without a Cooler?
While a cooler is undoubtedly the most practical way to keep your meals cold when camping, there are alternatives that can be utilized in a pinch. Thermal sacks can help hold your food cooler when sealed with ice.
What’s more, whether you’re wondering how to hold your food cold while on a backpacking trip but don’t want to have to carry a cooler around then the Ice Mule is an innovative answer. It’s essentially an insulated sack that supplies many of the advantages of a cooler but provides the versatility required for getting out and about.
Last but not certainly not least, whether you are car camping you can think about obtaining a car fridge. A car fridge can run off the car battery and accordingly overlook the demand for ice.
