Moveable
Feasts Tips for Choosing
& Using Coolers by Sofia
Romano
A
loaf of bread, a jug of
wine: "Fully loaded"
backpack picnic cooler
Coolers and road trips were made for each
other. Coolers are also wonderful for family outings -- a
day at the beach, a sporting event, or even a trip to an amusement
park. They're even great for grocery shopping on hot summer
days, and they're indispensable for picnics and backyard barbecues.
As uses for coolers have multiplied, so have innovative designs.
Whether you're setting out to conquer Route 66 or just heading
up the road for a picnic in the park, here are tips for choosing
and using the best coolers for your needs.
If you are going on a long
trip, it's best to bring one cooler for beverages and a
separate cooler for food. The reason is that beverage coolers
are opened frequently, allowing cold air to escape. Coolers
with food will stay colder longer because they will be opened
less frequently. Depending on the length of your trip or
day out, a separate cooler filled with extra ice will help
you to replenish ice in both food and beverage coolers.
Wash all perishable foods
such as fruits & vegetables before you leave home. Pack
all foods in air tight bags or sealed plastic containers.
This helps prevent cross contamination, not to mention a
mess.
Ice packs are available in
many different sizes and styles. For the softer coolers,
we advise that you DO NOT put loose ice in the food coolers.
The reason for this is simple: the sharp edges of the ice
can rip the lining. Also, ice melts faster than ice packs
and makes the cooler heavy and misshapen. In order to prolong
usage of your cooler, it must be cared for properly.
Beverage cooler tips:
Pre-chill beverages before placing them in a cooler. Pre-cooling
preserves ice, because you will be using ice to keep drinks
cold, but not to cool them down in the first place. Since
cold air travels down, place beverages in the cooler first
and ice last. If possible, try to keep your cooler out of
the sun and out of a hot car. Try finding a shaded area
for your cooler once you arrive at your destination.
Food cooler tips:
To keep food cold on long weekend getaways, several ice
packs are best, or you can use a block of ice, which will
keep food cold for a longer period than ice cubes. Always
place ice packs or ice blocks on the bottom of the cooler.
Always pack perishable foods directly from the refrigerator
into the cooler -- don't let them warm up first. Keep foods
dry and safe from cross contamination by placing them in
air tight bags or sealed plastic containers. Along with
your icepacks, pre-freeze several small bottles of water.
Fill in any spaces and gaps with the frozen bottles. Not
only are they extra ice packs, they're also extra water
if you get thirsty!
Keeping hot foods warm.
Coolers can be used not only for cooling but also for keeping
foods warm. We highly recommend the following to keep warm
foods warm. Purchase some combination
ice /hot packs. Once you have heated your food, wrap
it up in tin foil and then place the hot packs (please read
instructions for their use) on top. If there are any spaces,
cover the foil-wrapped food with a kitchen towel. Wrap hot
bowls containing hot foods with more towels and then carefully
place in the cooler. Fill up and gaps or spaces with kitchen
towels -- filling in as much empty space as possible will
help keep foods hot.
THINGS
TO REMEMBER
A cooler is not meant
to re-chill food that has remained at a temperature of
40°F or above for one hour or more. Only food that
has remained at safe temperatures should be placed back
into the cooler. To be safe, throw out any food you are
unsure of (especially anything with mayonnaise, eggs,
etc.)
A full cooler will maintain
safer temperatures longer than a half empty cooler.
Thaw frozen items in
a refrigerator or cooler. Do not thaw meat at room temperature
or in the sun.
Keep perishable foods
in cooler until just before serving.
To sanitize cooler,
we suggest spraying the inside with an equal mix of water
and white vinegar.
Leave the lid OPEN for
the interior to air dry. This is important -- if you close
your cooler while it is damp, there will be an odor.
Some coolers come with
removable liners. Remove the liner and wash it with warm
soapy water. Again, make sure the liner is completely
dry before placing it back inside the cooler.
HOW TO CHOOSE
A COOLER
Backpack
cooler combos are great for picnics, a day at
the beach, camping or hiking... The best thing about these
backpack coolers is that they have a section at the top
for your "dry" goods and an insulated bottom
section for your food and/or beverages. Next time you
bring the family to the fun fair or amusement parks, save
your money (and your tummy!) by packing healthy sandwiches
and crunchy snacks for you and the kids.
Picnic
Coolersare fully loaded, meaning they
have all the accessories required for a picnic day out:
glasses, plates, napkins and so on. Pack up some yummy
cheeses, crackers and your favorite wine and have a great
day out with your family and friends.
Insulated
Cooler Totes are really stylish and classy, with
many colors and styles. Designed with ladies in mind,
they're excellent for the farmers market, going grocery
shopping or a day at the beach. Some of these bags are
so stylish they can be used as an everyday bag!
Coolers
on Wheels are ideal for traveling. The wheels
are easy to roll and you can get quite a lot of food in
the insulated main compartment. Rolling Musicoolers,
which have radios built right in, are ideal for beach
trips or vacation. Some customers use them to transport
their food, and some even bring them along to conventions
and trade shows. They also collapse for easy storage.
Party
coolers are easy to fill up with as many as 60
cans of your favorite drinks. Top up with ice and enjoy
the party! These coolers are great for larger outdoor
gatherings and tailgate parties.
All coolers are designed
to serve the same purpose: to keep foods cool or warm until
they are enjoyed. Innovative and specialized designs add style,
comfort, and flexibility, which means the possibilities for
fun and healthy eating are limited only by your imagination!
Sofia Romano
has been with Keep
Your Cooler.com since 2002. Getting to know all
types of coolers (picnic, backpack, rolling) is her
job -- she is in charge of quality control and the in-house
expert on all products. Sofia and her staff personally
test and review all of the coolers that can be found
at Keep Your Cooler.com.
