Coolers are supposed to keep ice frozen, drinks icy cold, and food safe and ready to enjoy anytime, anywhere. But as you may have experienced, things don’t always go that way. Remember that time you opened the lid to find sodas, sandwiches, cheese, and disappointment floating in a mirky sea of disgust. That’s why it’s important to know the simple basics for how to pack a cooler.
As the weather heats up, even the most highly rated cooler may struggle to avoid a meltdown. You can put those fears to rest with these easy tips for how to keep ice, food and drinks cold in a cooler—even as temperatures rise.
Bring It
The first rule for how to pack a cooler: Bring the cooler with you to get ice—right to the ice machine or into the store—and put the bags inside right away. You don’t want to give the ice an opportunity to meet up with warm air.More Than You Think
Always buy more ice than you think you will need. Your goal is that when the cooler is packed and ready to go, there is as little air space as possible. You want it filled to the brim, and that means all of that dead air space filled with ice.Both Versions
You need both an ice block and cubes/chipped ice. The ice block will lay the foundation, and the cubes and/or chips will fill in the air gaps.At the Bottom
Make certain that the ice block is placed at the deepest part of the cooler, preferably at the bottom. This maximizes its effectiveness in maintaining a low temperature throughout the cooler. Placing other items on top of the ice block helps to insulate further and keep the contents cold.
