Hi, any ideas, OH bought burgers + steaks from Donald Russel, came in vacumed individual frozen packs, everything packed inside a box inside a large polystyrene box cpld storage, which I'm going to use for my burgers, bacon, ect. as a cool box. I was going to freeze blocks of ice to go inside. would this work, or just freeze carton drinks, bottles of milk and water. Any thoughts.
I have been advised to freeze your milk (that you won't want for a couple of days), orange juice.
I have plenty of bottles at home, so I'm going to freeze a few of these (the small 500ml ones) with squash in them so they can be used as drinks when we get there too.
I've also been advised to put the frozen stuff toward the top as this will help keep it cooler for longer.
------------- April Bank Holiday - Woodlands Grove Leisure Park, Dartmouth.
Last year I used frozen milk, frozen bacon, sausages etc and also froze slabs of ice which I enclosed in reseal bags. Only me to cater for and only used a 15ltr standard CampingGaz coolbox. Didn't use any blue freezer blocks. I then kept it in shade outside tent with a thick wet towel covering it. Kept food frozen for 3 days.
Biggest problem is frequently opening coolbox warms it up. Fruit and salad I kept in a picnic style coolbag.
------------- Mavis
It is easier to smile than frown so share a smile every day
Hi Mavis and Amnesia, That's what I normally do is freeze milk and small bottles of juice and water, plus the bue blocks, as I tend to use cool bags and box, Like you Mavis, coolbag for salad and fruit. I was going to try slabs of ice along side the frozen milk ect.How did the slab of ice work was it ok
Hi Heather, What I did was freeze loads of blocks and ice cubes and put them in coolbox for several hours first, then threw them out, emptied and wiped out box. Put block of ice in reseal bag at base then food on top and more bags of slab ice. Worked very well and and being in reseal bags didn't leak everywhere. Also when partially thawed was cold enough to mix with squash. Think I'd need a bigger or better coolbox for anything longer than 3 days but ok for weekend
------------- Mavis
It is easier to smile than frown so share a smile every day
Quote: Originally posted by Fotogen on 19/4/2011
Last year I used frozen milk, frozen bacon, sausages etc and also froze slabs of ice which I enclosed in reseal bags. Only me to cater for and only used a 15ltr standard CampingGaz coolbox. Didn't use any blue freezer blocks. I then kept it in shade outside tent with a thick wet towel covering it. Kept food frozen for 3 days. Biggest problem is frequently opening coolbox warms it up. Fruit and salad I kept in a picnic style coolbag.
Have kept for a family of 6 frozen for 5 days using this method.
To avoid having to keep opening the coolbox, pack everything in 'meal packs' and in the reverse order that you will need it. That way you just open the box, take out the next meal and shut it quickly again. Take out one frozen milk/orange juice each day to use as the 'coolpack' for the picnic style coolbag. Use this also for things like butter/marg which you need access to several times a day.
Strange old world isnt it? There was me thinking that cold weather at Easter was going to be a problem and now I am thinking that our food is going to defrost quicker because its going to be 20 degrees!!
We are camping on a basic site that doesnt freeze ice packs and we dont have ehu. I will take something to heat up for the first night, freeze something to have second night (or have tins) and then have a BBQ 3rd night.
My priority is always having something ready thats quick and easy for the first night. By the time the tents up and the hard works done you just want something tasty that isnt complicated.
I remember once freezing the bacon and it worked so well that it was still frozen solid when I wanted to use it! If you are on a site that doesnt have a shop its worth taking a carton of UHT milk as well, just in case. Nothing worse than waking up and not being able to have a cuppa because the milk has gone off.
I also take a cool bag thats handy for things that dont need to be in the cool box but still need to be kept cool, ie veg, salad etc.
Make your own block ice if you have a freezer at home. Add a teaspoon of salt per litre of water. I have had ice last a week in 100 degree+ heat here in Australia using this method. Another tip to prolong ice life is to minimise opening times with the cool box and covering said box with a damp towel,in the shade. Cheers Phil.
Yes, that's what I use and 3/4 fill them. When frozen I removed them from container and put ice into a click close resealable freezer bag as stronger than sandwich bags. Spinyeel suggests putting salt in ice which does prolong it but unusable for drinks.
------------- Mavis
It is easier to smile than frown so share a smile every day
Taking as much stuff as possible frozen is a good idea.
For years and years I used to muck about freezing (or should I say forgetting to freeze) ice blocks until it finally dawned on me that there's a more effective and easier way.
Just wrap anything that needs keeping cool in a wet towel and let the latent heat as the water in the towel evaporates do the rest.
Than you can use the now redundant cool box as a useful storage box for keeping creepy-sout of the sugar and cereal.
Quote: Originally posted by Fotogen on 20/4/2011
Yes, that's what I use and 3/4 fill them. When frozen I removed them from container and put ice into a click close resealable freezer bag as stronger than sandwich bags. Spinyeel suggests putting salt in ice which does prolong it but unusable for drinks.
Thanks for the tip!
I'll certainly give that a go. We're only going for 3 nights so I think just one packed cool box trip should be enough for us. I'm just hoping the meat thaws out in time for our BBQ on the second night :-)
------------- April Bank Holiday - Woodlands Grove Leisure Park, Dartmouth.
Great suggestions, I am going to try the salt tip as well, suggested by spinyeel, I will mark the bag which has the salt in, So I don't use it Yuk. I will do the other suggestions as well, I will pre cool the ice box, and will use another cool back for my salads ect, I have frozen number of capri juices, milk, and water, and ice block just used a food container, but need to do another one with salt in. I will definetly split the food into portions, so I can just quickly take what I need.
Done a shop at Asda for the BBQ stuff, can't wait. The site does have a freezer so I can refreeze bottles of water
heath63 I've just realised you are on The Wirral. My parents live in Pensby, Heswall. Was there recently as my Dad's in hospital but can't seem to find a site that accepts tents unless on a meet with C&CC
------------- Mavis
It is easier to smile than frown so share a smile every day
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 blocks, food storage
