How to Keep Food Cold While Camping
Ensuring your food is kept cold when camping is crucial for safety and an enjoyable outdoor experience.
This handy blog offers our top tips for keeping food cold and preventing spoilage.
Invest in a quality Cool Box
A high-performance cool box is a must when camping in the summer. Invest in a good-quality, thick-walled cooler with a tight seal to keep your food and beverage fresher for longer. Brands like Vango, Coleman, and Outwell all stock premium cool boxes in various sizes to store your food and drinks with ease and retain up to five days of ice.
Recommended - Vango Glacier 47L Cool Box
Pre-chill your food
Pre-chilling your cooler is also a great way to ensure your food and drink stay cold. Simply fill it with ice a few days before leaving to help it stay cold when you start to use it. It is also crucial to keep your cooler out of direct sunlight and in a shady area of your tent. Cover the cooler with a water blanket or towel to prevent the sun from heating it up.
Freeze Food ahead of time
Freeze meats, cheese, and pre-cooked meals ahead of time, which will serve as additional ice blocks in your cooler. You can also freeze your water bottles, which will double up as ice and drinking water. This is a great way to keep food and drinks cold on your camping trip.
Pack your box well
We recommend having two cool boxes for food and drinks. Store your drinks and snacks together in one cool box as this will be accessed the most. Any meal food should then be in a separate cool box and packed based on when you plan to cook the items. This will minimise exposure to warmth and stay cooler for longer.
Utilise airtight containers and zip-lock bags for meat, fish, and vegetables. This will also prevent food from getting wet and minimise cross-contamination. Board freezer packs are a great alternative to traditional ice packs. Layer them up between food or slide them down the sides of your cool box for the best performance.
Recommended - Thermos Freeze board
Monitor Temperature
The ideal cooler temperature should be below 4 degrees to prevent spoilage. Use a cooler thermometer to keep track of the temperature. You can also pre-cool any items before placing them in the cooler. Adding warm food to the cooler immediately will melt the ice faster and compromise the overall temperature.
A final note from us
With the right preparation and a reliable cool box, you can enjoy your food and drink at the right temperature. Whether you're camping for a weekend or an extended trip, follow our tips to ensure all your meals are fresh in the great outdoors!
Looking for more inspiration? Discover all our blogs on our Camp life area of the website, including ‘How to Camp without a Fridge’ and Cadac BBQ cleaning essentials.