{"id":21397,"date":"2023-07-20T09:07:36","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T13:07:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/?p=21397"},"modified":"2023-11-07T08:10:31","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T13:10:31","slug":"how-to-pack-clean-and-store-a-cooler-in-six-easy-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.cubesmart.dev\/blog\/your-life\/how-to-pack-clean-and-store-a-cooler-in-six-easy-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Pack, Clean, and Store a Cooler in Six Easy Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Get these cooler packing tips and fit all your summer goodies.
Free Image via Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Forgive the dad joke, but coolers are a hot topic<\/strong> this season. There\u2019s a lot of chat online in blog posts<\/a> and camping forums about which coolers are best, how to achieve maximum chill, and what to do with coolers when they\u2019re not in use. But the majority of the conversation is, perhaps unsurprisingly, centered around the age-old question: \u201cHow do I pack a cooler?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is: We\u2019ve done all the research\nfor you, so you don\u2019t have to waste time and energy scouring the internet to\ncompile all the tips and reference articles. Believe us, packing, cleaning, and\nstoring a cooler for the best possible use is both an art and a science, so\nyou\u2019ll likely want to click through any links we recommend for further reading.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Summer is better with a cold beverage. Make space with these six tips.
Free Image via Pexels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Six Easy Cooler Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Scroll through to discover the very best advice on how to pack, clean, and store a cooler for your summer trips and parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Consider Your Cooler<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before you even begin to think about the details, you need to size up what you\u2019ve got \u2013 and figure out what, if anything, you need to purchase. If you\u2019re using a budget cooler that\u2019s been sweating in the shed for the last 15 years, it might be time to invest in a more modern (and better insulated) option. Switchback Travel<\/a> has a great roundup of cooler choices including popular, high-end choices from Coleman and Yeti as well as some lesser cost options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When\ndetermining what size cooler to get, think first about the number of items\nyou\u2019re going to want to chill. You want to aim for a 2: 1 ratio of ice to food\nor drink. It may help to mentally divide any cooler into three segments and\nthen make sure that what you\u2019re planning on packing can completely fit in one.\n(Of course, this is just a visualization exercise; you shouldn\u2019t pack the\ncooler like that.)  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro Tip<\/em>: <\/strong>If you\u2019re going on a trip that will last more than a few days, you might want to bring two coolers: one for drinks and one for food. Use the better cooler for the food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Get in the Ice Business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Ice the contents of your cooler with different methods.
Free Image via Pexels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you have room in your freezer, you\u2019ll want to make as much ice as possible before your trip or party. Cubes are great, but the more surface area a piece of ice has \u2013 the quicker it will melt. Put water in containers and pans so that you have large blocks of ice with limited surface areas. You need to put a layer of ice on the bottom of your cooler, so plan accordingly to freeze ice in dimensions that match at 1-2 inches of thickness. Do not, however, freeze water in your coolers it may cause significant damage. And, as we learned above, coolers are not cheap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro Tip:<\/em> Freeze water in bottles (leave room for expansion) to fill extra space in your cooler \u2013 and provide a steady supply of ice-cold water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Plan and Organize Your Menu<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re using your cooler\nfor a camping trip, you\u2019ll need to figure out what you\u2019re going to cook long\nbefore you take off into the yonder. Freeze whatever you can, as frozen food\ncan count towards the 2:1 ice to food ratio mentioned above. At a minimum, make\nsure that everything you put in the cooler is pre-refrigerated. Organize your\ncooler in sections for breakfast, lunch, and dinner so that you\u2019re not wasting\nvaluable chill rummaging around looking for the hot dogs. Do as much food\npreparation as you can so anything you need to cook is packed together with all\nof its components and ready to go. Fresh Off the Grid has a useful collection\nof tasty sounding camp cuisine<\/a>\nto get menu ideas flowing.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro Tip: <\/em>Get rid of every bit of excess packaging you\ncan. No need to haul a bunch of trash with you into the great outdoors.\nConsider investing in some reusable food storage containers<\/a>, especially for any raw meat (which you\u2019ll\nwant to pack separately from everything else and at the bottom of your\ncooler).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Pack ‘er Up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Pack food in solid or sturdier sealed containers to avoid leakage and bags tearing.
Free Image via Pexels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve done all the prep work above, packing the actual cooler should be a breeze. First, place the bottom 1\u20132-inch ice layer in the cooler. Popular Science<\/a> says that you should next add an insulation layer, like a thin piece of wood or cardboard, to protect the ice layer at the bottom from exposure to air. You could potentially use flexible plastic cutting boards for this layer as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next,\nadd food in reverse order of when you\u2019ll need it (with the exception of\nuncooked meat, which should be stored in the bottom in watertight containers,\nand any fragile foods). Fill in all the gaps and any empty space with blocks\nand cubes of ice, including those frozen bottles we mentioned above. The point\nis to completely cover your food and beverages, so this isn\u2019t the time to\nskimp. At the top, add a lightweight freezer sheet. Voila! The world\u2019s coldest\ncooler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro Tip: <\/em>Try not to keep any of your food in its\noriginal packaging. Transfer items to sturdier and more sealable options that\nare meant for reuse. A compromised bag leads to soggy contents. You\u2019ll thank us\nwhen your bread stays dry! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Clean and Dry Your Cooler<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once the trip is done, and everyone has avoided food poisoning thanks to your superior cooler packing skills, it\u2019s time to pat yourself on the back and get to work cleaning out your cooler. Igloo<\/a> recommends emptying the cooler, and then giving it a basic clean and rinse with mild detergent and water. They suggest using a solution of baking soda and warm water for tougher stains and breaking out the bleach and water to get rid of odors. Open it up and dry it completely in the sun before getting it ready for storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro-tip:<\/em> Use a garden hose to make quick work of the\ntask. Just be sure that any soapy run-off is directed well-away from plants or\ngrass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Store it for Next Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When cooler season is over, it\u2019s time to store it away safely and securely. If you\u2019ve followed the advice in step five, then all you need to do is wrap it in a tarp or cloth for extra protection and then either place it in your climate-controlled storage unit<\/a>, or in a cool, dark and dry spot at home. Outdoor sheds, attics, and unheated garages are not ideal for coolers, which can suffer damage from the elements that dramatically reduces its lifespan and freezing capacity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro Tip: <\/em>Place your cooler in a large plastic bag for\nultimate ease and cleanliness. When you pull it out for your first trip, the\nbag may be filthy \u2013 but your cooler will be pristine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hope we\u2019ve cut through the noise and given you six actionable tips for packing, cleaning, and storing your cooler. A little bit of preparation will make everything a lot easier in the moment, which will make everything more enjoyable overall. Here\u2019s to a cooler <\/em>summer!    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Forgive the dad joke, but coolers are a hot topic this season. There\u2019s a lot of chat online in blog posts and camping forums about which coolers are best, how to achieve maximum chill, and what to do with coolers when they\u2019re not in use. But the majority of the conversation is, perhaps unsurprisingly, centered […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":21520,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[642,641],"tags":[1905,1906,1907],"class_list":["post-21397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hobbies","category-your-life","tag-cooler-tips","tag-how-to-pack-a-cooler","tag-packing-cooler"],"yoast_head":"\r\nHow to Pack, Clean, and Store a Cooler in Six Easy Steps | The Storage Space<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It's cooler season. 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