How To Keep Your Cooler Cold While Camping
If you’re using a YETI cooler on your adventures, you know you’ve got a quality gear item that’ll do its job—and do it well. Still, there are several ways to help your cooler keep things cool and maximize ice retention. No amount of insulation, innovative design or impressive technology that YETI brings to the (camping) table can undo the natural trajectory of ice melt. This is where your knowledge and skillset can improve your outdoor experience.
Besides deciding what mouth-watering meal ingredients to pack in your hard or soft cooler, you need to properly prepare, pack and use your cooler: it can be the difference between wilted lettuce and the satisfying crunch of a perfect BLT bite.
Here are five simple tips for prepping and using your cooler so everything stays fresh as long as possible.
Pre-chill Your Cooler and Food
Pre-chilling is one of the easiest ways to make sure your cooler stays cold for as long as possible. If you store your cooler outdoors, bring it inside the day before so the sun can’t heat it up. Ensure everything you intend to pack is in the fridge or freezer the night before your trip. Fill your Roadie Hard Cooler with ice at least 30 minutes before your departure. Then, dump it out and replenish with a fresh batch of ice cubes and line the cooler walls with ice packs. Alternatively, you can toss your tote cooler directly into the freezer for an hour or two.
Choose Your Ice Wisely
Not all ice is the same temperature. Fill your cooler with ice that is dry and cold, not hovering around zero degrees Celsius and drippy. YETI Ice packs are even colder than regular ice, so pack a couple of these with real ice to keep everything colder longer.
Additionally, larger blocks of ice have less surface area and thus melt slower than ice cubes. However, cubes chill the cooler and contents more quickly and surround everything snugly, reducing air pockets. Use a combination for the best results.
Limit Air Space
A chock-full cooler means there is less air to cool and keep cool. Fill any air pockets with extra ice cubes. Once you’re out there using your cooler and the inevitable meltdown begins, don’t drain out the cold water as this will create empty space.
Pack Strategically
Pack your food and beverages thoughtfully to minimize the amount of time you’re rummaging through the cooler to find what you need. If you’re camping for a few days, meal plan so everything you need for night one’s feast is at the top. Layer ice between everything.
Pack drinks and food in separate spots (or even different coolers), using baskets or dividers to section off areas so you can keep your chow organized while allowing easy access to an ice-cold beverage.
Keep It Closed and Shaded
Guard your cooler’s lid like a hawk (especially if you have kids) to limit access and make sure it stays securely shut when not in use.
The less time the ice and contents are exposed to outside air, the better your cooler will be at keeping everything chilled. And the less time your cooler itself is exposed to sunlight—even the weakest of rays—the less time your ice will spend weeping and the more it’ll spend chilling your cheese. So, store it in the shade!
For the ultimate experience, make a cooler lid map to guide everyone in their cooler digs, reducing time spent with the lid yawning.
The next time you’re heading to the campground or on an outdoorsy picnic, try these prep and packing tips to optimize your cooler’s functionality and keep your food fresh for days.
This article was sponsored by YETI
Roy and Ryan Seiders founded YETI in 2006 based on a deep love for the outdoors and the belief that if something doesn’t work, fix it. And if it doesn’t exist, build it. Since then, we’ve been designing products that last for generations, get you out into the Wild, and keep you there longer.
A cooler works fairly well when winter camping, too…keeping things FROM freezing!