We have a coolbox that requires icepacks but was very disappointed with it on the trips we had last season. The icepacks never lasted long and our food was spoilt. We also found few places willing to refreeze the icepacks for us. This year we are thinking of using disposable ice cube bags frozen at home and placed in the bottom of the coolbox. Hopefully they will last for a 3 day weekend trip and replaced with ready frozen ice cubes from a supermarket for longer trips.
would appreciate other members views and feedback on this plan
Last year we did 24 consecutive nights with supermarket ice cubes. Worked a treat and no food was wasted. We bought a new bag on alternate days, occasionally on the thrid day. Much better than ice packs in fact the milk was so cold our son refused to drink it
1/ Decent, well insulated box.
2/ Ice cold even before you set off (Pre freeze the box at home... for 3/4 days if need be. Each time you replace the freezer blocks or whatever, the longer they will last, as you are putting the new one in a cooler box).
3/ Keep box as full as possible.
4/ The colder the goods, the better. So fill with frozen drinks/meals/ice cold beers etc, rather than off the supermarket shelf.
5/ Whilst ice cubes are, of course, better than nothing, the bigger the ice, the better, so 1L bottles of frozen water (if not even bigger, if you can get them to fit. We've even seen a full frozen block, right next to the bags of normal ice cubes (can't remember where), at the same price. If it don't fit whole, smash the bugger into big chunks with your peg hammer!!
6/ Whatever you use, replace/top up whilst it's still cold in there. Do not let it warm up!
As an aside, for a while, last year in France, we were struggling to find ice cubes, but did find those frozen kiddies drink tubes (We call them "Tip Tops" around here). Better than nothing, but didn't stay frozen for long... then we finally found ice cubes... then we found out the site had a freezer for our use, so went back to using freezer blocks and bottles!
The first and last time I tried supermarket ice cubes I ended up with a coolbox full of water and all the food waterlogged.
If you take milk with you take two bottles and freeze one of them. By the time you have used the first one the second will have thawed and be ready to use.
Alternatively fill plastic bottles with water and freeze them making sure you leave space inside the bottle for expansion. These will last several days, much longer than ice packs or ice cubes. You could do the same with fruit juice drinks and as they thaw you have a nice cool drink.
Pack the coolbox well because less spaces means less warm air inside the box.
The cold water in the bottom is what makes it work so well. We emptied as we went but always kept at least an inch of water in the bottom and it keeps everything very cold
I use squash bottles that i fill with water freeze them & use to keep stuff cold in our maxicool igloo, works a treat. Also freeze some of the fruit juice & milk.
These being thicker/ bulkier than the flat ice packs stay frozen longer. Helping to keep all the other stuff cold.
We us an Igloo maxcold and pre chill it 24 - 48 hours before we leave, as others have suggested freezing fruit juice and meals help.
I have added a piece of polystyrene that fits as a second lid inside for when the box isn't full as it just sits above the contents and added a digital thermometer.
The old tip of leaving a wet towel over the cool box actually works great too.
Thanks for all the tips and suggestions.
I might try and fill some old plastic chinese takeaway tubs and freeze them beforehand, then place them in sealed food bags and put them in the bottom of the coolbox. The larger blocks should stay frozen longer and the bags should reduce the amount of water in the bottom and soaking the food. I will also get some polystyrene to put on top of the food to act as another layer of insulation which is a great tip and worth trying
Quote: Originally posted by David Gibbs on 16/3/2015
Thanks for all the tips and suggestions.
I might try and fill some old plastic chinese takeaway tubs and freeze them beforehand, then place them in sealed food bags and put them in the bottom of the coolbox. The larger blocks should stay frozen longer and the bags should reduce the amount of water in the bottom and soaking the food...
We're planning on doing the same, as Muckerette bought some of those tubs from some pound shop or other, for that very reason. It was so long ago though, I'd forgotten all about them!
I'll probably lay mine top and bottom though... and maybe even in between too... but I'm just crazy like that!!
Depends on the ice box / bag efficiency, in my experience. The old metal one that we took camping in Canada in the 1960s, with lock down handles, kept things solid for a weekend. The new padded plastic zipped one barely lasts a day. You'll only get the ice bags in bigger supermarkets - you'd need an alternative for Skye, for example. I'd be inclined, if starting again, to get one that connects to the cigarette lighter socket in the boot. The most useful item for us was a wide-mouthed Thermos, and it kept the ice cold for my weekend G&Ts.
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Topic: Coolbox - icepack vs disposable cube bag
