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.
