After years and years of weekend camping trips I honestly can’t believe I am just now figuring out there is a proper way to pack a cooler to ensure food safety (and avoid food poisoning).
So today I want to share these newfound, valuable tips because, when the precautions are so easy, why not be safe instead of sorry? Surely I’m not the only one that has been living in the dark on this topic.
It all started on our camping trip this past weekend when I opened our cooler to find that ice had melted and leaked (potentially contaminated cooler water) into the container holding our caprese pasta salad. That salad took me a long time to make from scratch…and I wanted to eat it! Melted ice has leaked into containers on us before, but it only seemed to happen with a few questionable leftovers that were still in the cooler after returning home – not a brand new dish we hadn’t even eaten yet!
So I turned to my facebook community for some important advice – eat it or toss it? And after sifting through more than 1K responses to this question, and using my brain a little, I realized we need to make some serious, yet simple, changes before ever packing up the cooler with a weekend’s worth of food again! And just for the record – we tossed the [what would have been delicious] pasta salad so we learned our lesson for sure.
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Cooler Packing Tips
- Start With A Good Quality Hard Cooler.
High quality, thick-sided, hard coolers are better at insulating and keeping your food cold than the soft-sided alternative. So when it comes to packing perishables for an extended period of time (or when it’s extra hot outside) skip the light-weight insulated bags and go for something sturdier instead. For example, my daughters’ school lunches are fine in an insulated bag with several ice packs sitting in the air conditioned school building until lunchtime, but when I recently sent my 6-year-old to an outdoor camp in the middle of our hot Carolina summer they recommended a personal-sized hard cooler to ensure the food stayed cool enough in the heat.
– - Wash Your Cooler Before Packing It.
I am sure we’ve washed our coolers at some point in their decade+ lifetime, but, admittedly, not that much. And like most people we store our coolers in our garage, which is steaming hot in the summer and therefore a breeding ground for bacteria. So rather than taking any chances, it’s always best to start your trip off with a cooler that has been given a nice little bath with some warm, soapy water. (I would also recommend washing it after you get home from a trip as well – especially if you were transporting raw meat.)
– - Pack Raw Meat [And Beverages] Separately.
After the first facebook commenter shared the advice to pack raw meat in a separate, smaller cooler my first thought was – duh. So if our big cooler with the pasta salad would have been clean AND was not sharing space with any raw meat (which – for the record – it was) then that cooler water wouldn’t have been so terribly frightening after all, although I am still not sure if I would have eaten it. :) Also, if you are able to pack beverages in another separate cooler this will reduce the frequency of opening the food cooler, therefore keeping it…cooler!
– - Store Food In Leak-Proof Containers.
If you still don’t like the possibility of cooler water seeping into your food (like me) you can always just pack your food in containers that won’t take on water no matter what. Taking this precaution will relieve me of my constant (self-imposed) duty to ask my husband if he’s drained the melted ice out of the bottom of the cooler before adding new ice. So for that reason alone – I am sold. After doing a decent amount of research (including testing some other supposedly “leak proof” containers that weren’t) I just purchased some leak-proof “Lock & Lock” containers from Amazon and can’t wait to try them out on our next trip. Also, don’t forget that if canning jars are sealed tightly they are leak-proof as well so depending on what you need to pack (and how you feel about bringing glass) those would be another great storage option. Have you found a good, reliable leak-proof food storage container for your camping foods? I’d love to hear what brand containers you have tried in the comments.
– - Don’t Pack Room Temperature (or Warm) Items.
When packing items like bottled water or freshly made – and still warm – slow cooker baked beans make sure everything is cold (or in the case of raw meat, it could even be frozen) before adding it to the cooler. Room temperature or warm items will only make the ice in the cooler melt faster.
– - Monitor The Cooler Temp With A Thermometer.
A recommendation on the government’s food safety website states, “an appliance thermometer takes the guesswork out of knowing your food is safe to eat. So put one in your cooler, and make sure it reads 40 °F or below.” So if you really want to be certain you aren’t screwing anything up this would be something to consider.
So the moral of the story is this – it’s better to be safe than sorry. And funny enough, I was really sick on a camping trip once and now I will forever wonder if it was due to some food mishandling in the cooler! Never again now that we are going to change our ways. But before I let you go I thought this would be a good time to share my current top 5 favorite foods to bring with us camping…while it’s on my mind and all.
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My Top 5 Favorite Foods To Pack In The Cooler for Camping
- Grill Packets.
Spend time preparing these meat and veggie packets in advance for a super easy dinner. Plus these tasty packets have the added bonus of being able to cook right in the campfire (preferably on prepared charcoal) if your campground doesn’t come equipped with a grill.
– - Appetizer Trays.
I love to repurpose our divided, BPA-free, leak-proof lunch containers (by Ziploc) as little camping “snack trays” as well! The possibilities are endless including fresh sliced veggies, dips like hummus or homemade ranch, whole-grain pretzels, roasted nuts, diced cheese cubes, grapes or apple slices, and olives. Once you go through all the effort of setting up camp you’ll appreciate this ready-to-go snack before having to start the fire or grill for dinner.
– - Scrambled Eggs and Organic Bacon.
The trick here is to break open and scramble (and season) the eggs in the advance so they’ll go right from a (leak-proof) tupperware container to the pan with no mess. We also have a little camping tradition of cooking the bacon first so we can scramble the eggs in the bacon grease for added flavor. We now call these “camping eggs” and look forward it. Trust me, you won’t want to be stuck with boring bowls of cereal when you suddenly smell your campsite neighbor frying up bacon and eggs. :)
– - Slow Cooker Baked Beans.
Few things “taste” like camping more than homemade baked beans. Make these in advance and heat them up on your camp stove for a delicious addition to your lunch or dinner.
– - Burgers and Dogs.
What is a camping trip without traditional fare of grass-fed hamburgers and organic hot dogs (with whole-wheat buns and organic ketchup of course!)? Just because you are avoiding highly processed food doesn’t mean you have to miss out on any of the fun. :) We like to “prepare” our burger patties in advance so we can mix in seasonings, diced onion, and sometimes grated cheddar cheese – yum. Or you can always just melt some homemade pimento cheese on top while they are cooking. No matter what you can’t go wrong with this option!
We’d love to hear your cooler stories and favorite camping foods in the comments below…please share.
Curious about opinions on cooking in aluminum foil packets… I have heard that this is not a safe/ healthy choice?
Hi there. Lisa does not use foil for cooking very often. There is research that has concluded that foil is safer for storage.
But her grill packet recipe specifically says to use foil…
I freeze our hamburgers, hotdogs and sausages in food saver bags, and then put those bags in ziploc as back up. I also pre-wash and prep lettuce, peppers and onions and put them in the vacuum seal bags. they lay nicely at the top of the ice chest and take up less space.
I found zip lock bags or food save bags work the best. Freeze everything in them nights before departure….they aid in keeping each other frozen / cold.
Best leakproof containers are good old fashioned Tupperware. They are indestructible also!
We freeze water bottles to use as ice. When it melts, we have water…and no mess in the bottom of the cooler. We also use plenty of containers / bags to separate foods.
A dayear ahead of time you can put ice, that you have at home, in the cooler, and cool it down. Like you said a lot of people have their coolers in the garage or basement. After washing it, put lots of ice in it, jam pack it with ice, then on the day of departure from home, your cooler will already be cold. Put frozen cooked and raw meat in bottom of cooler, top with ice and then top with cooling racks, the kind you put baked goods on. On top of the cooling racks you can place your butter, and other things that are not water tight or the containers are questionable. Try to freeze as much as possible at home before putting in the cooler. As it will stay frozen longer.
I would like to mention that cold water is colder than cold air. So it’s not a bad thing to leave the water in there. You can put leak proof containers down in the water. I like to use taller containers that stay down in the water but the tops are above the water line.
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1e2lao/keeping_drinks_cold_in_a_cooler_when_the_ice/
Hey Lisa – I linked to your page, hope it is ok – please take a look at my TailgaterBox when you have time – I think you would love it! Thanks for this article, great tips.
I agree with the Lock nLock, I love mine and I not only use them for camping. I have them in my cabinets for storage of all of my gluten-free items that I want to keep separate. My hubby has always complained about pineapple juice leaking out of whatever container he puts the pineapple in, until I gave him a small LNL and now he’s hooked too. He uses them in his bike bags and trail packs because he knows that they are sturdy and he’s not going to have a mess. I bought a couple sets off Groupon a few years ago and I’m realizing that I should have bought more when I had the chance :) Have a Blessed weekend all- Hug a Vet and take a moment to remember those that gave it all for our freedom.
That super cold water from melted ice is better than actual ice at keeping things cold. My husband scolds me if I dump it out – because I too hate everything wet, but he’s right. Everything stays much colder in that ice water,
Holy Wow. There are a LOT of camping tips out there!
My most tried and true method for packing coolers is super simple:
Use One Gallon Sized WATER jugs. Toss them in your freezer and freeze them solid for a couple days, then pack them into the bottom of your cooler. Toss one of those nifty “ice mats” on top of all the food, and you are all set. This way, your food won’t get wet/soggy (you can avoid the cross contamination concerns this way as well), and once they do melt, you have fresh, cool, clean drinking water! A Note about this method: DO NOT USE OLD MILK JUGS. The textured nature of these types of jugs leaves small pockets in which particles can become trapped, thus harboring bacteria and making them unsafe for reuse. And no, it doesn’t matter if you clean them out well with bleach.
As far as toting water for 5 for a weekend, I strongly recommend getting a 5 gallon collapsible water container. It’s plastic, BPA free, doesn’t take up a TON of space and likely won’t shatter if it falls off of a table ;).
Thumbs up on Tupperware.I love mine
“Real” Tupperware, purchased from a Tupperware consultant, is the best in terms of water-tight seals. When a Tupperware container advertises a water-tight, air-tight seal, it is guaranteed for life. You can purchase cheaper containers at Target or Amazon, but they are not guaranteed and real Tupperware is a better buy for the money. All Tupperware is also BPA-free and 100% dishwasher safe. I do sell it, but I wouldn’t if I didn’t love it and stand behind what I am saying. Don’t waste money trying gimmicky containers, get tried-and-true Tupperware.
We use a 5 day Extreme cooler for 5-8 days of camping. I freeze water in 5-6 of the 64 oz plastic juice bottles and put these on all 4 corners and 1 or 2 in the middle. I freeze or cool everything that can be frozen ahead of time, even butter. The left side of the cooler has the meat in between ice jugs; milk, eggs and cheese is in the middle; and condiments stay on the right with fruit and veggies. If we have more than 6 people, I have a soft-sided cooler for the fresh fruit and veggies with just 1 jug of ice since they only need to be kept cool if it is real warm outside. By the time the ice has melted we have eaten the perishable food. I am the only one who opens the cooler. The organization helps find food faster to keep the lid closed longer. We use something and I put it back in the cooler ASAP so nothing “warms up.” I try to keep everything in glass or zipper seal bags, sometimes even double bagged. We still had good, cold milk on day 8 of our trip last week. I was skeptical of the 5 day cooler, but along with these tips, it really makes a difference. Beverages, except for milk, are in another cooler and kids can open that cooler all they want!
Freezing water in 1/2 gallon milk containers works great for a longer camping trip. Usually still cold after 5 days.
Do you have a specific cooler brand you recommend? Thanks!
Hi Jessica. Lisa recommends a hard sided version but no particular brand.
I love camping, but one thing that really irritates me is wet stuff– think cheese floating in melted ice. Ugh! We had some plastic flooring from a “critter cage” that we never used. We cut that to fit inside the bottom of the cooler. The new floor of the cooler is raised about inch from the real cooler floor, but the melted ice collects at the bottom… UNDER all our food. Oh, happy day!
Great article! On the subject of camping, has anyone solved the problem of what type of container to store water in for a family of four on a camping trip? Glass seems to be the safest, but it’s super heavy (not to mention breakable). All the bad press on plastic (even BPA-free isn’t necessarily safe) is making the task of preparing for a camping trip a little daunting. Many thanks!!!
If you look at the real scientific facts about BPA, you would have to eat something like 400 lbs of food each day heated in BPA-leaching containers to see any effects of it after many years’ time. Most plastic containers made today do not contain any BPA at all, and those that do will probably be okay to use for a weekend camping trip. Live on the edge for one weekend and don’t worry!
Bravo Renee. I think of all my senior relatives and friends who have eaten grilled dogs and burgers without a thought to organics and lived into their 90’s. As you suggested, always buy the cleanest food, but camping trips are measured in days, not carcinogens. Go crazy.
Hi! We are going on our first camping trip this weekend and I was wondering how long the grill packets will keep before you cook them.
Hi Sarah. Sorry, we can rarely answer questions in real time. How was your trip? The packets are fine for a weekend trip as long as they are kept cold. ~Amy
I have always been camping since I was about 3 years old. The most handy and safest way to guard your food from contamination either from dirty ice water or other sources. I vacuum seal everything!! I got a car adaptor for our trips and it has become the best thing I have ever taken camping. It is the type that has 2 electrical sockets and plug-ins for cell phones, tablets and so on. I started vacuum sealing everything that goes in the ice chests, freezing whatever I could. The only bad thing about doing that was you had to open the package at some point, making it hard to keep safe. One day while packing for our trip it hit me, why not take the sealer with us. It is small enough to not be a hassel and then we could reseal any packages we needed to. It turned out to be fantastic!!! Not only did everything stay fresh and dry, but it also made every part of cleaning up and keeping things organized a breeze. The rest of the family and friends even used it for sealing up fish bait, electronics that they were taking in the boats and many more things. It even helped to keep the bugs out of our camp. I found out that if you use the vacuum bags to freeze water for your ice chests, the bags are thicker and the ice lasts longer with no air inside. It has been such a better experience camping that I will never go camping again without taking a vacuum sealer.
Dawn, what vacuum sealer do you use? Could you post a link to it? I’ve been considering buying one but was unsure which one to get. Thanks!
Do you know where the lock and lock containers are made? I can’t seem to find the info but they do sound great. I am having a hard time finding containers made in the USA.
Hi Kari. Here is their website: http://www.locknlock-usa.com/html_v2/index2.html#aboutus. ~Amy
use half gallon milk jugs frozen nothing leaking and can use water later after it melts’
I always buy dry ice for camping. Put 2 large chunks in the bottom of the cooler & lay an old towel on top. Then put a bag of ice on top of that. My milk stays so cold it is almost icy!
We are serious BEACH campers. we use the 2 liter bottles with frozen water, on the bottom of the ice chest, at the end of the trip, we use the melted fresh water to rinse with before we leave. All meat, is packed in vacuum sealed bags. we only use the LOCK & LOCK containers for everything else. We also have a separate chest for drinks “ONLY” because it is opened a lot more than the food chest. We also freeze all of our bottled water before hand, which also helps. We also save those brown paper bags from the grocery store, (the ones you get to keep you cold stuff cold till you get home) we lay these out flat across the top of our food and drinks for extra insulation, they really do help!
I just started reading some of your blog posts, so forgive me if someone has given you this idea before. When we pack a cooler, instead of ice, we use old OJ containers or two liter bottles filled with water that have been frozen in our deep freezer. They stay frozen a long time vs. regular ice. When we return home, I wash them off and stick them back in the deep freeze for another time.
How long do pre-scrambled eggs stay good before you need to cook them up? It sounds like a great way to save time and mess at the campsite!
Hi Meagan. Here is a reference chart: http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/eggstorage.html. ~Amy
Just had a thought, the mid-size Gatorade bottles would be great in a cooler after being washed out and frozen. The flat bottoms would keep them upright and the shape makes them easy to grab from above. Just inherited an Igloo Ultra Cold 50 from my in laws and can’t wait to give this a shot.
As for the type of waterproof containers to use…REAL Tuppeware (some people use the word “Tupperware” to describe any plastic container, however there is only one real Tupperware brand). All Tupperware is BPA-free, and most of the major product lines have air-tight and water-tight seals. They make several varieties of bento-box type containers, although most are not in the main catalog, several have come up in the monthly sales flyers in the past year. What’s more, they are guaranteed to last forever. If the seal becomes non-air-tight or water-tight they can be replaced for free, no matter how many years after purchase. No Tupperware should EVER be thrown away, lessening the burden on the environment compared to cheapo zip-loc containers. The seals on the zip-loc containers are not always that tight! Not intentionally to advertise here, but if you don’t know where to find Tupperware, it is still sold at parties hosted by people like you and run by consultants, or you an view a catalog or order online at websites like http://my2.tupperware.com/rhaugen.You can also find a local consultant online.
You can also simply fill water-tight Tupperware containers with water, freeze overnight, and use as ice-blocks in your cooler instead of bags of ice that leak.
I like using frozen water bottles instead of bagged ice. They fit nicely around the food and no worries about water at the bottom of the cooler. I also separate the food & drinks into separate coolers to keep down the need to open the food cooler. After 3 days at camp the bottles still have ice in them & make a great cold drink.
I am an advocate of dry ice. There is a learning curve. First time I used it I froze everything. Another time I put grapes in there and they became fizzy (carbonated). I now use a two ice chest system (freezer & refrigerator). As the insulating materials (water bottles)freeze I move them to the other chest to keep that stuff cold. If I get too many, we drink the ice cold drinks. I have not had a soggy chest for years. And even after 6 days, when I get home everything is still COLD. Best advice is to buy BEST ice chests. The cheaper ones just don’t insulate well. My experience says to buy IGLOO cold max. The wall are very think and they work better than Rubbermaid and other off brands. I will never go back to bags of ice or block ice to keep my cooler cold.
Something you might have overlooked in your step #5. Per-chill your cooler. Just like warm food isn’t good to add to the cooler, a warm cooler is going to use up some of your ice to get to 40 deg. So the night before a long camping trip, ice down your cooler so it is already cool in the morning when you pack it. But make sure you drain off any water that may have accumulated overnight. Most cooler manufactures recommend you do this to increase the length you ice will last.
Great idea. Must use
Our family throws a big party every year at a barn with no running water nor electricity. We put all of the cold food in ziploc bags so they are sealed but also fit nicely into the cooler. Bowls and trays are carried separately saving valuable cooler space. When it is time to serve, simply squeeze the salad into the bowl. We also freeze water in bags in a flat layer in the freezer, leaving room for expansion. These wedge snugly between other items. Have never had a leak issue plus everything fits in so much easier and stays colder longer.
I use Clip and close. They are top tested in Europe and very sanitary as well as leak proof. Sold by a company call Frieling USA. You can find them on Amazon made by Emsa.
I like to use Mason Jars to keep my food items in, as much as possible. I also started dehydrating some meals myself, so I don’t have to have so many meat items. I don’t like to cook much when I’m camping, so I like a pre-made meal or two to have along, and it saves cooler space.
I pack frozen meat and put a block of ice on top of the leak proof container that the meat is in (in the ice chest.) Also, instead of using ice pieces around every item, I use two big blocks of ice to create more of a refrigerator. I stand one block upright and place milk and mayo right next to it for added cooling.
I save the jars that Miracle Whip, peanut butter, etc come in to pack potato salad, mac salad, fruit salad, etc in. They do not leak, are free, and do not allow water in.
I like to freeze water bottles. ..Once they melt, you have drinking water.
Freeze your own ice blocks in plastic gallon milk jugs or juice bottles. Stand them upright in the cooler and as they thaw they won’t leak. Also if you’ve cleaned them out before making ice, you have spare ice cold drinking water.
I tried this last year with store bought jugs of water. And learned a very stupid science lesson. Ice Expands as it freezes. All of the jugs burst….so much for the extra water. This year I will dump a little of the water out before freezing. Sigh….Lesson learned!
We have been using Lock n’ Lock containers for camping for years. You will love them. Which reminds me I need to get some more…off to shop!
Dry ice is also FANTASTIC if you can get it where you live! Keeps food super cold (it’s actually frozen sandwiches before) and no melty ice to deal with. It’s my new go to!
Great tips! I actually have the very same Coleman cooler you show in your picture and can’t recommend it enough! The trick I find is making sure things are cooled or frozen before they go in. Plenty of ice blocks and not to leave it open too long when you go into it, press the lid down firmly to make sure it is properly sealed, and after 5 days camping, I still have a few tiny cubes of ice left when I get home.
I wash and save containers other food comes in, butter, fruit, cottage cheese etc …. most are leak proof and can be recycled at the campgrounds …
We had just gone camping when you posted about your experience with the leakage. I hate when the water leaks into the food. I used to put the ice in freezer bags but still the water leaks. So, I purchased the lock & lock containers as soon as we got home in preparation for our next trip….fast forward…we just got back from that trip and I used the lock and lock containers. LOVE them! I am a bit anal about organization and it made it so easy. I was able to keep the cooler organized and leak proof. And when we ate I was able to set out the grapes and carrots, serve them from the containers and then “lock and lock” for clean up and put away.
Thank you SO much for suggesting these!
I freeze gallon milk jugs of water and theres no mess when they defrost. And everything that can be frozen is, before going in cooler
I freeze reusable 1 liter water bags and use these in place of ice in my colors. Works great.
I love Foodsaver bags for things that need to stay sealed and not leak… especially for coolers. Prep your meals, freeze solid and vacuum seal. Then when it comes time to pack the cooler everything is frozen solid and airtight. No leaking and no air spoilage. For things that can’t be vacuum sealed, bread, anything in the brassica’s family, we love Snapware. (BPA-Free, dishwasher safe, made in the USA, hits all my must haves and truly leak proof!) I’ve used all these methods on a cross country (10 day) jaunt with a cooler full of food safe items. It worked. Foodsaver bags are also great for camping or emergency kits for bug and waterproofing. Want to make sure the kids have dry socks or pjs? Chuck ’em in a vacuum seal bag and they’re ready no matter if the backpacks get dunked or not. And you can roll up the bags to bring home and reuse later. Just don’t do that for ones that had raw meat in them. The rest can go through the dishwasher or a really hot hand washing.
I usually wash the plastic containers of orange juice (simply orange) a few weeks before we camp. Then I fill them and freeze them. They make nice ice packs and stay pretty much frozen the entire trip.
Tupperware….looks like the containers you found are a little less expensive but it took years for me to find something that worked and I was ecstatic to finally find something.
I’m lovin’ these tips. We’re planning a trip to CO so this post came at a great time. :-) I’ve actually never gone camping!!
This info is great! We are planning a camping trip next month and you gave me some great ideas so we can still eat healthy, delicious meals even though I won’t have the luxury of a kitchen. I wanted to let you know that I shared your Blog on my Blog’s Resources page. Check it out: http://bit.ly/1elNYbs I just love the food/recipes/tips you give on here. Feel free to browse the rest of my blog for health, fitness and nutrition info http://www.FitFadFan.com. Thanks for writing such great content!
Oh, they do have larger containers under “U Konserve” products :)
Kid Konserve has leak proof containers. http://store.kidskonserve.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=20 We use these…but they are smaller than what you’re probably looking for.
Another option is to use sealed ice packs instead of ice. Or freeze your water bottles and use them as the ice. Save your latest empty 2-liter bottle, or any plastic bottle with a screw-on lid, and fill with water, freeze, and pop it in the cooler. Then as the ice melts it will all stay contained. Yes, your food containers won’t be surrounded by icy water, but if you keep the cooler closed then everything should still stay cold.
I love the Lock & Lock containers! We use them in our pantry but I had no idea that they are completely leak proof. Yay!
To keep the cooler colder longer, put it in the shade. Seems like a no brainer, but it’s easy to overlook. Remember, a shady spot at 9 am may be in full sun by 3 pm.
Also, blankets help keep the cold in (or heat out), so if you’ve got an extra one around camp, fold it up and throw it over the cooler. This also acts as padding if one wants to use the cooler as a stool.
Finally, try filling empty plastic milk jugs with water and freezing those. I have a few that stay in my chest freezer because a full freezer runs more efficiently than on that’s half empty, so those are easy to grab.
After experiencing similar cooler problems in the past, I now keep large juice plastic containers for just these occasions. I fill them with water and keep them in the freezer ready for the next picnic or camping trip. Because they’re large size the ice lasts much longer and as it melts you now have water you can use in cooking. They are leak proof and I’ve never had a problem since with water in my cooler.
We are big campers!!! We actually have a 3 way fridge which means no ice… yay!!
But can I strongly recommend for those using coolers that the best way to keep your food cool is to freeze water in old drink bottle containers! Having blocks of solid ice, means the ice doesn’t melt as quick. It also means that when the ice melts you have bottled water!! A 2litre frozen water bottle normally lasts 2-3 days before melting, perfect for a weekend away!!
Great tip. I didn’t know that we sholdn’t pack Room Temperature (or Warm) Items. Will take care of this from future.
I found tall containers stacked in the high quality cooler are easier to deal with – cut up veggies- premade salads – chili – baked beans – etc can slide right out into a pan if they re warming. Keep the empty container back in place to keep the others stable. You can fill them with ice to weight them down. We also have a 12v cooler for traveling with frozen raw meat or premade scrambled eggs or potato salad. ( but don’t leave it on too long when you get there – it drains your battery fast) Fill with ice when you are not driving. Keeps foodsore likely to spoil fast cooler longer.
If at all possible, I freeze all food items before packing in the cooler. Also, cold air sinks, so put the colder items on top of the not as cold ones.
We do that! I freeze anything that can be frozen. Lunchmeat, cheese, etc.. Works great!
Typo in previous post – one “thing”, not one “think”.
Also, sealing any raw meats into vacuum bags (then washing the parts of them that might be contaminated) and keeping *those* in the large cereal-type containers is another tactic we’ve used.
It all depends on how much cooler space I have. Hubby likes to think it takes only one cooler – I prefer to take two. I may try to fool him this year and buy a huge one during fishing season ;-)
One think I’ve found helpful is to create a tray within our cooler using a plastic “dishpan”. It sits easily above other foods and floats (unless it gets tipped, which has only happened once). Anything that might be damaged by icewater goes into the tray.
We also have used large lock-n-lock cereal-type containers to hold lunchmeat and cheese and condiments. Again, they’re fine unless they get too light and tip – just keep them loaded and they’ll sit in the water without contaminating the items inside.
We pack a ton of freeze dried ingredients like beans, veggies, pasta, herbs, then we add water and have fantastic stews over the camp fire. We also bring potatoes for morning skillet dishes. And oatmeal with dried fruit and nuts. We’ve almost eliminated the need for a cooler by bringing mostly add water/oil ingredients for trips that require really light packing.
Where do you get the freeze-dried ingredients? Or do you make them yourself somehow? How do they taste compared to regular?
sometimes we dehydrate ourselves, other times ingredients can be purchased at the grocery store in the soup section. camping stores are great too
I freeze plastic bottles of water (about 3/4 full) to put in the cooler around the food. No mess! DON’T DRINK THIS WATER THAT HAS BEEN FROZEN — just wash the exterior and refreeze it when you get home and you’re ready to go again.
What a great idea! How many do you use?
As far as how many frozen bottles to use: it varies according to what I’m cooling and for how long. I put some in the bottom of the coolers and some around food that would be more perishable (like meat or dairy). Larger bottles will stay frozen longer, of course.
We do the same thing. Works great!
What is the reason for not drinking the water after? Due to the breaking down of plastic when it is frozen? Do chemicals leak into the water like when you leave bottled water in a hot car? I’ve just never heard of this problem with cold temperatures.
I’m not an expert, but I understand the leaching happens with either heat or cold?? So I choose to play it safe.
We do the same thing and it works great! I usually freeze 1-2 milk jugs per big cooler. I’ve used 2-liters in the past too. I do use the water that thaws for making coffee. After 3 nights of camping there is always ice in the milk jugs. I love not having the melty mess that bags of ice create!
As for leak-proof containers, I haven’t found many that reliably stay leak-proof after many uses/washings, but if I’m packing something I’m afraid might leak or be contaminated by something else, I put the whole container in a plastic bag (you can wash and re-use these) with a twist-tie.
When we took our 2 week road trip out west this summer we made up big batches of tuna salad, egg salad, pasta salad and potato salad and put them in the largest canning jars we could find. They stayed extra cold in the glass jars and never took on water. We ate them for at least 5 days as we traveled (it saved us a boat load of money, not to mention tummy issues by not having to stop at the Golden arches every day for lunch and/or dinner!!) We also packed up frozen hot dogs and polish kielbasa, hamburgers, chicken and bacon. When we got around to using those things almost a week later they were all still completely frozen!! Frozen food will keep cold in those coolers forever as long as you are keeping ice on it. Our cooler is one of those keeps food cold up to 7 days and we only have to add ice every few days. It was about $60 but it’s been worth it!!
I *always* bring precooked chili or something of the sort for the first night. I usually freeze it in a Food Saver boilable bag, so it can just be heated right in a big pot of water that doesn’t have to then be washed…
I’ve done this ever since the fiasco weekend when we got there late, the driver was exhausted, we had trouble setting up, and the place we’d planned to get dinner was closed… I’ll cook Saturday night, but I want something totally mindless for Friday, that can give us a good meal with almost no effort if things didn’t go smoothly. (And, if they did – that’s even better – we can start relaxing Right Now!)
I have camped my whole life-including while pregnant, with a newborn, while potty training and during epic storms. My entire menu for the trip is set up to make the most of thawing food. Everything that can be is packed frozen. I use a total of THREE coolers: one to hold frozen foods including raw meat and frozen dishes that will be heated through when thawed-all packaged to prevent leaking and contamination, one to hold condiments & cold foods that are not frozen, and a separate one just for drinks-including a bin for ice that doesn’t mix with the rest of the container. I also make use of storage food such as freeze-dried and dehydrated foods that I practice using in a primitive setting so that I will know how if the time comes when I have to do it for real.
Tupperware.
We do A LOT of camping. My husband in fact is camping for the next two weeks (hunting). But he has the motor home so that’s not a very good example because he has a fridge and freezer in it. When we do go on weekend trips we get a good use out of our food-saver. We grow our own Beefalo and Llama so we just take the frozen packages and seal them up either by themselves or we add a marinade while still frozen and as it thaws it soaks up the marinade. This also works for any type of soups/sides and takes up less room. So whether you use the frozen bottles, dry ice or bagged ice. It all works with the food-saver bags to keep everything germ free. Ziplock bags tend to break occasionally and if I am going to put in the work to make yummy food I want to make sure it isn’t going to get opened accidentally or break.
My suggestion is to not use ice at all…. make sure all (or at least most) the food you put in the cooler is frozen before you add it, and then use additional freezer packs (the blocks you can freeze, allow to thaw and re-freeze – I am sure you know what I mean!) to help keep it cold… then add some frozen bottles of water as well.
If you plan on the first meal of your trip being something that you can cook from frozen (a pre-cooked chilli or soup for example), you can defrost it in a pan over the camp-fire or on your camping stove – just keep it at a low heat and it will slowly defrost and reheat….
Then you can eat other stuff as it defrosts.
I do like the tip about keeping raw meat separate from the cooked food though… but even then, I would still take a lot of it frozen and packed around with the freezer-packs.
on my last camping trip, I managed to keep food frozen/very cold for at least 4 days by doing the above… and there was no need to drain out any water from the coolers.
If you have to add more frozen stuff on a longer camping trip, buy bagged ice from a gas-station and leave it in the bag – just put that in the bottom of the cooler and put the food on top.
The other thing is that beverages don’t have to be cold… it is OK to drink room-temperature/warm water. I would not waste valuable cooler space with bottled water (except for the frozen bottles that are keeping other food cold) or other beverages. Then again, I am British – I think it is ok to drink warm beer ;-)
I saw a good tip on pinterest recently – to pack the ice and drinks at the bottom and then use a cookie cooling rack to separate that section from the food. (http://voneinspired.com/2013/06/how-to-keep-your-food-dry-in-a-cooler-while-camping/)
I also bought a couple of small tubs at the dollar store so I can put all the meat in one and veggies, cheeses etc in the other and those tubs rest on the rack.
We freeze a case of bottled water and use that for ice. It helps keep everything cold, it really doesn’t leak (sometime we put them in Ziploc bags as they can sweat) and you have bottled water once it thaws, it’s a win-win.
We do a lot of camping, and I never use loose Ice. All meat is frozen solid and I use bottles of drinking water frozen in the deep freezer so that when it melts, it is contained and can be consumed. That eliminates water in the ice chest and food becoming contaminated. If you must add ice before the trip is over put it in large Zip Lock baggies so it doesn’t melt into the cooler.
Or, along with your ice, put in all the popsicles in your freezer (contained in handy ziplock bags of course). They stay cold and help keep the cooler cold and then, when they get melty, well, you just have to eat them!
We sometimes bring jugs of water to refill our water bottles, we freeze them first and they keep things cool but dry.
Don’t drain the melted ice before adding more!!! If it is still icey cold water keep a good amount of it in there. The ice and cold water slush is colder than ice alone.
Hi! We are a camping family too and I hate the battle of water getting into foods in the cooler. I remember one of my jobs as a kid was scrubbing the cooler after every camp out and leaving it in the sun to dry. Not sure how I got lazy about this as a grown up, but thanks for the reminder of the importance of this chore!
I can tell you about the Lock & Lock containers… The are definitely the best I have found, but they aren’t without fail. The only food I’ve had trouble with consistently is oil and vinegar dressing. Not sure if the little bit of oil that gets around the seal messes things up or what… But this is a regular problem I have when sending salads for lunch. I put everything (even stuff still packaged) inside of these containers though when we go because any water logged food grosses me out!
One more tip about Lock & Lock: be sure to pull the little silicone seal out when you wash them to clean the seal itself as well as the groove where it sits. Otherwise it can get grody up in there!
We pack a large cooler weekly since we spend the day away from home, and I agree – the gallon jugs frozen with water are great. But if packing for a longer period, I also include ziploc bags filled with ice I made at home. We have an icemaker, so I just keep running it and filling up the bags. The smaller ice melts quicker which makes things colder. Also, it’s very important to not only clean your cooler each time you use it, but BE SURE TO LET IT DRY. I wash it out when we get home and then leave the lid open until it’s perfectly dry, otherwise the moisture will grow bacteria.
two words….DRY ICE
get a block of it,put it in the bottom, cover with newspaper, fill cooler and use a few reusable ice blocks. It will hold at 40 degrees or below all weekend.
We fill gallon ziploc bags with ice to use in the cooler. The ice/water stays in the bag and clean, so it is useable for drinking or cleaning. They are flexible and can be packed around food that needs to stay particularly cold. No melted water in the bottom of the cooler to get into what sounds like a lovely salad.
We also freeze what can be frozen. Meat especially lasts longer in a cooler this way, and also serves as additional cooling for other foods that can’t be frozen.
Lock and Locks are THE greatest containers ever. I have probably 30 of them, and I use them for everything. LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!
I can definitely agree with the “you don’t want to be stuck with boring cereal when your someone starts frying up bacon on the next site over.” This may have been my hubby’s and my first big fight in our marriage. Lol (I brought the cereal, thinking it was a super easy idea, and he apparently was raised with BIG camping breakfasts. Oops!! :)
Best advice I ever got is to fill the cooler with a few frozen very large bottles of water the night before your trip. Because coolers work like thermoses (keep the temperature you start with) packing a COLD cooler the morning of your trip really helps! Also, the best leak-proof containers are at Kids Konserve. They are stainless steel (no plastic worry), super leak-proof, are square and easily stackable in a cooler, and now have clear lids so there’s no mystery about what’s inside!
We are about to head out for a 4 day camping adventure 450+ miles away, so this is perfect! We intend on freezing gallon jugs of spring water to use as ice, but also to waste less when needing water to drink. Thanks for the post!
We fill old milk jugs, or any other jugs, with water and freeze them ahead of time. Then you don’t have water all over the place and you have extra drinking water if you need it. We also had extra coolers for drinks so everyone wasn’t getting into the food.
When we go camping we freeze the gallon jugs of water either reused or not used that I get on sale for one dollar. Usually they crack if you do not let a small amount of water out to decrease the air pressure. They typically stay frozen for the entire weekend. We do not drink the water from the jugs. But the large protected blocks of ice prevent the need to drain frequently, the need for replacing ice frequently and it stays really cold for much longer. :) Happy Camping!
We go camping regularly and I can tell you that the Coleman Extreme cooler is by far the best. Another keeping stuff cool tip (right from the cooler instructions) is to pre-chill the cooler. The day before camping, we ice up the cooler. Our cooler’s instructions also said not to drain off the water – it helps keep everything cold. Who knew?
I have camped for many years and always found that blocks of ice are great for your food cooler b/c they stay cold a longer amount of time and you don’t have so much water in the cooler. Also, Ziploc bags that zip shut are great for food b/c they are leak proof and can just be molded to fit inside the bowl/container you want the food to be in. This is not the most environmentally friendly option but if you are bringing food I would rather be safe and wash and reuse the plastic bags than be out what sounds like a really good pasta dish. This would eliminate the need for glass hopefully which could break in the cooler or on the campsite.
We use quart and gallon size Ziplocs to hold the ICE and food during our trips. The melted water stays put inside the bags and when we get home we either water plants/garden or refreeze the washed ice bags depending on how much the ice had melted.
When I go to visit my folks I often bring leftovers home with me. I have to fly from Maryland to Texas so the time out of the fridge is usually 8-9 hours. I have several cooler bags that we purchased at the grocery store and I put the food in ziplocs in there, then I fill one or two gallon sized ziplocs with ice and put those in too then the whole bag goes in my suitcase. I haven’t had issues with TSA because the ice is still frozen when it goes through the screening.
Very important though – only use the ‘snappy’ ziplocs – the slider ones are not airtight and will leak everywhere!
Lisa,
Your blog just keeps getting better and better. I wish I had those food (and cooler) tips before our camping trip this summer but we’ll be sure to refer back to them when we camp again next year. Thanks!
Thank you so much Cathy :) And better late than never!
So….did you eat the salad?
No, I didn’t…went right in the garbage when we got home. It was a sad moment because it looked and smelled so good!
The coolers that plug into your car or outlet are awesome – you can keep things nice and cold before you get to camping :)
Never heard of that before…interesting!
http://www.amazon.com/Koolatron-P75-36-Quart-Electric-Cooler/dp/B0001MQ7E0/ref=sr_1_7?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1378225928&sr=1-7&keywords=coolers something like this one – they are worth the money!
Hmmm…it’s pricey, but my husband was just saying we spend $10+ on bags of ice each time we go. Thanks for sharing!