What is the best way to slow ice from melting in a cooler?

[underdog]

someone said if i put dry ice at the bottom of the cooler then put regular ice on top of that, along with my meat, it would keep it cooler longer. is that true. any other ideas?

[tplife]

someone said if i put dry ice at the bottom of the cooler then put regular ice on top of that, along with my meat, it would keep it cooler longer. is that true. any other ideas?

I'd avoid that as the melting water will speed the rate of sublimation of the dry ice. The dry ice is at minus 109.3 F until it's gone, the wet ice is 32-degrees F. The wet ice will speed the rate of dry ice loss. If you could eliminate the melting water from the wet ice, you could improve cooling time length because the wet ice insulates the cooler top better than nothing at all up there. Of course shield your cooler with a barrier between it and the dry ice, the dry ice will permanently damage the cooler lining otherwise. :D

[Yukon Jack]

Using two coolers can help. Keep drinks and anything else you want to get to often in one cooler and keep your meats and other things you only use at mealtime in the other. Opening and closing a cooler a lot really speeds up the melting. Also don't just use cubed ice, buy a block or make your own with empty milk cartons. I like to freeze water bottles and keep them in the chest then when the ice melts we just drink the water..no melted ice problem there. One other thing to try is a brick size sponge is the bottom of your cooler. It will soak up that melted ice then you can just wring it out when it gets saturated.

[Eaglebait Ranch]

Keep it plugged in (to the generator)! :D

Sorry, I'm not taking much seriously today as I am packed........ and .... just ... waiting .. for .. Monday: we leave for our 30 day backpack trip.:p

[Bigdog57]

"Double Insulate" it! Place a cheap styrofoam cooler just a bit smaller inside the larger plastic-cased cooler -it'll stay colder. Also use block ice - less surface area, so it melts more slowly.

[surmisez]

Using two coolers can help. Keep drinks and anything else you want to get to often in one cooler and keep your meats and other things you only use at mealtime in the other.

We used this tip on our recent trip and it made a huge difference. We only bought ice once vs every other day. :D

[MoeAnge]

Needing a new cooler

Hello,

After years of using the same cooler, the time has come to purchase a new one!

Have any of you found one in particular that works really well?

We did find something of interest, I went to the local dollar store and purchased 2 sink racks--black coated metal racks that sit in the bottom of the sink. I bent them in a vice to they fit together in the bottom of our cooler and as the ice melts, this rack keeps the food from getting wet. It works quite well.

Favourite cooler?

Thanks!

MoeAnge.

[richardvg03]

Get a large solid piece of ice

[frank6160]

Hello,

After years of using the same cooler, the time has come to purchase a new one!

Have any of you found one in particular that works really well?

We did find something of interest, I went to the local dollar store and purchased 2 sink racks--black coated metal racks that sit in the bottom of the sink. I bent them in a vice to they fit together in the bottom of our cooler and as the ice melts, this rack keeps the food from getting wet. It works quite well.

Favourite cooler?

Thanks!

MoeAnge.

I have a 7 year old Coleman extreme and it has worked well for me.

[tplife]

Get a large solid piece of ice

Good advice! Also, remove the melted water periodically from your cooler. The remaining ice will last longer if you do...