Most people will use ice cube bags to fill their coolers and maintain the temperature of their food and beverages. Sure, they work, but at the expense of constantly adding additional ice and filling your cooler with water. Use ice blocks in its place to prevent this and extend the life of ice.

Ice Substitutes For Coolers

Gel pack are popular options for keeping items cool in the cooler. You can get different types of Gel pack, and they can come in a variety of sizes from small to large. If you don’t want to rely on ice cubes, they are a simple and cheap substitute.

Keep It Locked And Closed

If you want your drinks and frozen foods to stay cold, then don’t open the Camping outdoor Cooler Box too much! Otherwise, you’ll cause the ice to melt, and if the ice melts, your food won’t be kept cold or frozen for very long afterward.

Drain Water On Long Trips But Not On Short Trips

It is a given that the ice in your picnic ice cooler box will eventually start to melt. This doesn’t necessarily result in cooler water, though. It is advisable to leave the ice melt inside when going on a weekend camping trip because the water will still be cold enough to cool the food and beverages.

But, if you intend to stay for a longer trip, it would be preferable if you drained the cooler of this water. Even though your food containers are waterproof, you shouldn’t leave them submerged. Your frozen food products will defrost more quickly over longer visits as this water simply keeps getting warmer and builds up.

So, once it starts to build up drain out the water and replace it with more ice or ice packs if you have them.

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

The right way to pack a cooler is quite easy to do. Just bear in mind to layer your belongings to keep food separate and arranged. Maximizing the cooler’s capacity will ensure that all of your products are kept chilled.