There is, perhaps, nothing quite worse than bringing along an insulated cooler on your camping trip, only to find out that the cooler has warmed, leaving the contents within the freezer warm or spoiled. That’s why it is so important to understand how to keep a cooler cold, so that it will last you the entirety of your trip.
Below, we are going to show you how to keep a cooler cold for 3 days. These tips and tricks will help you to avoid spoilage and ensure that you have a fun, successful, and enjoyable camping trip.
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Best Coolers for Camping
Igloo 70 Quart Insulated Ice Chest Cooler – the Igloo 70 Quart Insulated Ice Chest Cooler is our best pick for a camping cooler. Not only is this cooler extremely spacious, but it is built with durability in mind. With UV inhibitors built in, this cooler will keep your contents colder for longer. in fact, with Ultratherm technology, Igloo guarantees a 7-day ice retention, meaning both the inside of the cooler and your contents stay cold throughout your trip.
Yeti Tundra 65 Cooler – no list of the best coolers for camping is truly complete without mentioning the Yeti brand. Known for their durability and sleek design, the Yeti Tundra 65 Cooler is your best bet for keeping your food and drinks cold. With the Yeti Tundra 65 Cooler, ice stays ice thanks to the 3-inches of permafrost insulation and an extra thick fat wall design, which also happens to be bear-resistant.
Pre-Chill Your Cooler
Whichever cooler option you end up going with, it is extremely important to pre-chill the cooler before your trip. And if you are looking to keep your cooler cold for 3-days, then pre-chilling beforehand is a must. If you have access to a walk-in freezer, then that would be your best bet.
If not, simply place a couple of bags of ice in the cooler and securely close the cooler overnight. The following day, when you’re ready to pack the cooler, the inside will be cold and ready to use.
Cold Air Sinks
We’ve all learnt, back in our school days, that heat rises. Will, inversely, cold air sinks. This means that if you are looking to keep certain items cold for longer, then you should place them on the bottom of the cooler. This is particularly helpful for fruits, vegetables, and meats, which must remain cold for proper consumption.
Utilize Big Blocks of Ice
Bigger, larger pieces of ice retain their shape and cold better than smaller pieces of ice. That’s why it is important to place large pieces of ice on top of your contents in the cooler. In addition, bigger pieces of ice melt more slowly than smaller ones, so be sure to invest in those bigger pieces for a more enjoyable trip.
Cold Items Stay Cold for Longer
No surprise here, but cold items tend to stay cold for longer. if you’re looking for ways to keep your cooler cold for 3-days, then intersperse cold or frozen items throughout other items. This can be done easily br freezing water bottles and placing them in-between other items in the cooler.
Freeze as Many Items as Possible
Similarly, if you want to keep your food and drinks as cold as possible, and for as long as possible, then freezing them beforehand is ideal. Not only will this help to keep those items cold, for longer, but the cold from those items will help to keep other items cold.
As heat will attempt to infiltrate open spaces within the cooler, you can counteract that by having cold items placed in the cooler, helping to keep the open spaces within the cooler cold.
Keep Items Accessible
If there are items that are going to be used often, or items that you know will be selected first, then keep those items at the top of the cooler and quickly accessible. Rather than risk the order and placement of your other items, keep items which are going to be selected first at the top and easily accessible to all.
Limit How Often You Open the Cooler
As you open and close the top of the cooler, warm air rushes in, leading to an overall drop in temperature within the cooler. While you won’t be able to keep the lid of the cooler closed throughout your 3-day trip, you should try to limit how often you open and close the lid.
Utilize a Cold, Insulated Mat
On top of the larger blocks of ice, you should place a cold, insulated mat, or blanket. Ideally, this mat or blanket will fit neatly on top of the larger blocks of ice. Doing this, you will be able to help retain the internal temperature of the cooler and inhibit the rush of warm air into the cooler.
Ensure Proper Lid Closure and No Weak Points
Perhaps, above all else, to keep your cooler cold for 3-days, you will need to ensure that your cooler is properly closed and secured. This means that there should be no weak points or openings within the cooler that will allow warm air to flow in.
If you have an older cooler that doesn’t properly secure or close fully, then you may want to invest in a new one. Alternatively, you can tie down the lid of the cooler with rope or place a large, heavy rock or item on the top of the cooler to help retain the colder air within it.