With spring and summer comes travel to youth sporting events, family outings, the beach, 3D archery contests, maybe a NASCAR race or some hot but enjoyable work weekends at camp.
You’ll need a cooler and plenty of ice to keep your items cold. Without it you’ll have hot water and sodas, spoiled food and the co’ beers for nighttime relaxing won’t be too co’ anymore. Here are a few tips to help with your cooler prep to keep things icy cold:
— Freeze or cool down anything you can before leaving, so you’re not putting hot items on ice. Doing so will help melt the ice. Stick beverages, meats, eggs or whatever possible in a refrigerator before packing in the cooler, or buy them at the store before leaving and then put the cool items on ice. If anything can be frozen, do so and it will help keep other things cold.
— Cool down the cooler before packing it. Keep it in a cool area in your garage, for example, or maybe buy a bag or two of ice to put in it and get it cooled down.
— Keep cubed ice in the bag so it won’t melt as rapidly. Big solid blocks of ice are better and last longer, but may be tough to find. One possibility is to freeze water in cleaned gallon or half-gallon plastic milk jugs. It will stay frozen longer and you’ll also have water to drink once it starts thawing.
— Keep the lid closed unless absolutely necessary and try to remove several items at once, so you don’t have to keep opening the lid and letting cold air escape. If the kids want beverages and you can do it, have a second cooler just for those.
+++
Get This Great Cooler/Dry Box and You’ll Be Set!
Whether you’re going to the beach on vacation, relaxing at the fishin’ hole or sweating your butt off in summer at a deer camp work day, this Engel Cooler/Dry Box will be a great benefit.
Three sizes are available and they all come with these great features:
- Quality injection molding and high-grade molded polystyrene foam insulation keeps your food and drinks cold
- Air-tight EVA gasket seals the entire lid
- Carrying is comfortable with recessed ergonomic carry handles and an integrated shoulder strap
- Stays shut with stainless steel latches and fittings secured with stainless steel screws
- No foul smells, thanks to stain and odor resistant surfaces
- Easy to clean with a non-absorbent surface
- Compact and lightweight
- Self-stopping hinge
- Includes a convenient hanging accessory tray
These make fantastic Father’s Day gifts, too. Get one early and surprise someone!