Choosing a Cooler

Of all of the things that you purchase for a camping trip, a cooler is the most important to stay healthy.  It is also one of those things that many people overlook and figure that if everything else can be cheap, why can't it?  The answer is found using two words:  FOOD POISONING!

Food Danger

I spent close to 15 years in the restaurant industry and keeping food cold is extremely important.  Generally speaking, you want to aim at keeping cold food (meat and dairy especially) at 4^o C or colder.  If you are tent camping, chances are you didn't bring a fridge, so we need coolers and we need to use high quality coolers.

Salmonella, as an example, requires no more than two hours to grow to an amount enough to make you sick for 1 to 7 days.  Your camping trip could be over before it really begins.

Choosing a Cooler

Choosing a cooler is difficult and store flyers make the selection even more difficult.  In my opinion, you should consider two major points:

• Size required (food + ice)
• Length of time required

Coleman, as an example, has a fantastic series of Xtreme Coolers.  They can be pricey, but state that they can keep ice for up to 6 days at 32^o C outside temperature.  I have achieved that, but with proper prep.  I try to keep only enough food for a weekend in them.  Better safe than sorry.

Tips

1.  Cool your cooler and food before hand.  A warm cooler takes a while to cool down.  Many people, in a rush, will throw their food into a cooler, top it off with ice and head off.  Unfortunately, this could endanger all of the food in your cooler and you have just wasted ice.  If possible, place a bag of ice or two in your cooler the night before and bring it indoors (don't leave it in the car!). 

2.  Freeze your food and save on ice!  If your cooler has been pre-cooled, your frozen food will help keep the cooler cool.

3.  Keep your cooler in the shade.  The sun will warm the cooler.  Many people also keep the cooler in their cars to prevent animals from getting a free snack.  Your car will become an oven in the sun, thus endangering your food and possibly making unfit for consumption.

4.  Keep it closed!  Every time you open your cooler you allow cold air out and warm air in.  Your cooler is most efficient when closed.

5.  Use several coolers.  I use one cooler strictly for drinks like beer and juice.  I would rather go to the washroom for a pee after a beer, than to vomit after eating a bad burger.  I also try to keep other often used items (condiments, breads) in a separate cooler to avoid cross contamination.

6.  Shop often if you are on an extended trip.  Don't try to fill up your cooler for an entire trip unless necessary.  Pack for two to three days, then buy fresh food.


Have fun and eat safely!