All around it - pop some round the edges to create a cold space and then stick some little ones between the food. I pack some extras round the milk cos im obsessive about dairy products in the cool box.
Also freeze any of the food - this helps keep the box cold and it will slowly defrost for when you need it.
------------- 2009
Easter b/h, Oulton park - done!
April 24th, delamere forest - done!
May b/h, snowdonia - done!
Other may b/h, Mallory Park - let down but trying to rebook!
June, Cornwall - booked.
Aug bank hol, Windermere - booked.
Sept, Leichestershire - booked.
Sept, France - getting sorted!
Also, get one of these thin insulated shopping bags that supermarkets sell at the checkout for carring frozen stuff home. Cut the rigid handles off and use to line the coolbox. As you use up food, roll the top closed over the food + icepacks. This eliminates a lot of the dead air space that otherwise the coolpacks would have to chill as well. Can honestly say this boosts the performance of any standard coolbox.
I take frozen milk and a couple of bottles of frozen made up orange squash as icepacks. And freeze any food that I won't use in the first 24 hours. I also have extra frozen ice packs which I use to prechill the coolbox before I pack it.
I might have to show off a little here - ive got my lovely new (2nd use) electric cool box pre cooling right now!
Easter weekend we pre cooled, packed it with lots of ice packs, froze every bit of food we could, stuck it in the boot whenever we went out in the car and the food was still perfectly cold on the monday. Felt like we had a fridge in the tent!
If it performs as well this weekend then I shall be recommending the extra costs to everyone - very loudly!
------------- 2009
Easter b/h, Oulton park - done!
April 24th, delamere forest - done!
May b/h, snowdonia - done!
Other may b/h, Mallory Park - let down but trying to rebook!
June, Cornwall - booked.
Aug bank hol, Windermere - booked.
Sept, Leichestershire - booked.
Sept, France - getting sorted!
I might have to show off a little here - ive got my lovely new (2nd use) electric cool box pre cooling right now!
Got one. Got a 3-way fridge as well. I don't bother with either for anything up to four days though...a coolbox works just as well in everything but high summer over that length of time and it saves me being restricted to eHU pitches.
Freeze the milk you're taking with you and use as an iceblock, also I usually make and freeze a chilli or spagbol a few days before leaving - this will usually stay frozen for at least 24hrs and acts the same way as icepack. A tin of ham put in the fridge to go cold is good to - and no worry of it going off until you use it. As with the beer/wine, inour case normally drunk before it gets time to warm up/chill down !!!Happy camping.
------------- Why yearn for tomorrow when you can have chocolate today.
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 01/5/2009
Top. Cold air falls, warm air rises.
Also, get one of these thin insulated shopping bags that supermarkets sell at the checkout for carring frozen stuff home. Cut the rigid handles off and use to line the coolbox. As you use up food, roll the top closed over the food + icepacks. This eliminates a lot of the dead air space that otherwise the coolpacks would have to chill as well. Can honestly say this boosts the performance of any standard coolbox.
I take frozen milk and a couple of bottles of frozen made up orange squash as icepacks. And freeze any food that I won't use in the first 24 hours. I also have extra frozen ice packs which I use to prechill the coolbox before I pack it.
When we go, we take as much frozen home cooked meals as we can manage. I cook quite a bit in advance then freeze in Asda lunch boxes at 30p a box and these act as ice blocks. Milk and water are both freezable and will act as ice blocks. As they defrost you have meals ready to heat up and serve. What a difference it makes when you have had a few beers and wines or get into heavy conversation lol
Quote: Originally posted by pitchNpuff on 01/5/2009
Hot air rises, cold air drops, so on top is good.
This is only true if you have room for the air to circulate. Far better to pack the cold food together tightly and scatter the ice packs throughout. If you have any spare space, fill with loosely screwed up newspaper or a towel.
Even on an overcast day a tent can get very warm inside so if possible keep coolbox outside in a shady spot and preferably in a breeze. Drape a soaking wet bathtowel over the top and the evaporating water from the towel will also help to keep the box cool (remember how cold you feel in wet clothes, especially in a breeze!?)
I've previously frozen bottles of water to take to keep things chilled, you can do the same with Milk and let it defrost. A big 4pt one may take over 24 hours, so make sure you have a bottle of fresh milk available.
------------- Hazi ate twenty??????
The plate to be, the plate to see!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Ice packs!
