How to Pack a Cooler for Camping Adventures

Are you getting ready for a camping adventure? Packing a cooler the right way is important for the safety and quality of your food. I know this sounds super boring…but your trip will go a lot smoother with these tips to keep your food cold and fresh!

A properly packed cooler is the difference between enjoying a delicious meal and having to settle for a soggy sandwich or spoiled meat. Imagine opening up your cooler to find that your hot dog buns have been crushed by a heavy watermelon or that your chicken has leaked all over your fruit salad. Not exactly the ideal camping experience, right?

Let’s get packing!

The Camping Food

Now to pack the cooler we first look at what you are bringing on your trip!

One of the fun parts of camping is planning the food! At least we think it’s fun, given our family is in the food business LOL.

Before you even start packing the cooler, consider your menu and plan your shopping trip.  For breakfast, oatmeal, eggs, and bacon are popular choices. Sandwiches are the perfect go-to for lunch, especially if you spend your days exploring. After a long afternoon hike, you may want something hearty and satisfying for dinner, like burgers, sausages, or steak. 

And don’t forget about snacks and desserts! S’mores, roasted marshmallows, and campfire popcorn can’t be forgotten – get the good quality chocolate for s’mores, it makes all the difference!

With a little bit of planning and creativity, you can enjoy delicious meals and snacks in the great outdoors.

Here are some of our favourite planning tips:

• Plan ahead and make a list: Before you hit the grocery store, take some time to plan out your meals and snacks. Make a list of everything you’ll need, from the ingredients for your meals to the snacks you’ll munch on throughout the day. This will help you stay organized and ensure you don’t forget anything important.

• Pack non-perishable items: Use your cooler space wisely and include non-perishable foods like peanut butter and crackers. These foods will last longer and won’t require refrigeration, making them perfect for camping trips.
• Consider pre-cooked meals: Preparing meals ahead of time and storing them in airtight containers can be a great way to save time and space. Just heat them up over the campfire or on a camping stove and you’re good to go. Plus, pre-cooked meals make it easy to plan portions, making sure that you’ll have enough food for everyone.
• Bring a variety of snacks: Snacks are a crucial part of any camping trip. Pack a variety of snacks like trail mix, beef jerky, and energy bars to keep your energy levels up throughout the day.
• Don’t forget the seasoning: Just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor. Bring along your favorite spices and seasonings to add some extra flavor to your meals. Garlic, salt, and pepper are always good options along with pre-mixed seasonings like cajun, jerk, steak rub and more.

Now that we have our meals planned out, let’s dust off the cooler!

Prepping the Cooler

Choosing the right cooler for your camping trip can make a big difference in how well your food stays fresh and safe to eat. When selecting a cooler, look for one that is well-insulated, has a tight-fitting lid, and is the appropriate size for your needs. You may also want to consider investing in a high-quality cooler that is built to withstand the elements and keep your food cold for several days.

Before packing your cooler, it’s important to prepare it properly. First, clean it thoroughly with warm, soapy water followed by a disinfectant spray or bleach.

Once your cooler is clean and dry, you can pre-cool it by filling it with ice or ice packs for a few hours before packing it with your food. This will help ensure that your cooler stays cold for longer and that your food stays fresh.  

Preparing the Foods

Preparing your food before you hit the campsite can save you time and hassle later on. By taking a little extra time to prep your food properly, you can ensure that everything is convenient and stays fresh and delicious throughout your trip.

For example, pre-cutting your fruits and veggies can save you the trouble of doing it at the campsite, where you might not have all the right tools or a flat surface to work on. Once they’re cut, you can store them in airtight containers or bags to prevent them from drying out or spoiling.

For meals that require more preparation, like stews or chili, consider making them ahead of time and storing them in leak-proof containers like Tupperware or ziplock bags. This can not only save you time but also make it easy to just reheat them at the campsite.

You’ll also want to remove any excess packaging in advance. It just takes up extra space and will get wet in the cooler.

When it comes to meat, it’s important to double-wrap it to prevent any leaks or contamination. Heavy duty, large ziplock bags are a great option! 

And speaking of double-wrapping, make sure everything is water-tight. Assume everything will get wet as your ice melts. Nobody likes to deal with a soggy mess. For example, eggs should be removed from the cartoon and stored in a durable plastic egg holder OR they can be pre-cracked into a container if you plan on making scrambled eggs.  Pre-cracked eggs that are stored at a safe temperature are good for days!

You can also look through your foods and decide what needs to be kept cold and what doesn’t. Set aside the non-perishable goods in crates or bags. If you’re camping in extremely hot weather, it’s a good idea to keep bread in a cooler to prevent it from going moldy.

Should Meats be Fresh or Frozen?

When it comes to packing meat for your camping trip, it’s important to consider how long you will be gone and whether your meat should be fresh or frozen.

If you plan to consume your meats within 1-2 days, it’s generally best to pack them fresh since you will be enjoying them soon.  Just be sure to check the expiry dates to ensure it won’t go bad before you eat it.

However, if you will be gone for longer than 2 days, it’s recommended that you freeze your meat before packing it. Frozen meat will stay colder for longer in your cooler, which can help keep other perishable items like dairy products and vegetables fresh as well. They act like extra ice packs!

Additionally, frozen meat will begin to thaw gradually in the cooler, which can help you space out your meals and avoid any food waste.

Choosing the Ice

When it comes to keeping your cooler cold, the type of ice you use can make a difference. There are a few options to choose from, including block ice, cubed ice, and reusable ice packs. Reusable ice packs are great for short trips of a couple days. Beyond that you’ll want to use ice because it will need to be replaced throughout your trip.

Block Ice

Block ice is a good choice for camping trips because it lasts longer than cubed ice and can help keep your food cold for several days. It’s a good idea to place a layer of block ice on the bottom of your cooler.  

It might be difficult to find block ice, but it can easily be made at home. Start by finding a clean, empty container that’s large enough to hold the amount of water you need. A loaf pan or casserole dish creates a nice, flat block of ice that fits nicely in the bottom of a cooler.

 Fill the container with water and place it in the freezer. It’s important to leave some room at the top of the container, as the water will expand as it freezes. Let the container freeze for at least 24 hours, or until the ice is completely solid. 

Cubed Ice

Cubed ice is more readily available however, it melts faster than block ice, so it may not be the best choice for longer camping trips. However, its small enough to slide into all the gaps in your cooler!

Reusable Ice Packs

Reusable ice packs are a popular choice for campers because they can be used over and over again. They’re also lightweight and easy to pack. However, they may not last as long as block ice or cubed ice. They are also known to leak, so it’s important to keep them in a separate bag or container to prevent them from contaminating your food.

Packing the Cooler

Now, it’s time to pack the cooler. Think of it as a game of Tetris, where the goal is to fit everything in (without squishing or smashing anything that is!). 

Start by adding a layer of ice or freezer packs at the bottom of the cooler. This will help keep everything cool and fresh.

Now, as you add in the food, include ice between the layers with a final layer of ice on the top.  Many cooler retailers suggest a 2:1 ratio of ice. The 2:1 ratio means that we use two parts of ice for every one part of food.

From here you can decide how you want to layer your food, whether that’s by weight or by the meal plan.

Layering Food by Weight

With a food safety background in mind, we tend to put raw meats on the bottom. This is done in case something leaks – you don’t want raw meat to contaminate everything (hopefully the double wrapping prevents this from happening!).

Followed by cooked foods and sturdy packaged foods like condiments. Lastly, the top will have anything delicate like fresh fruit.

Layering Food by Meal Plan Days

Looking to make your foods more accessible? When it’s time to make a meal it can be frustrating to pull everything out of the cooler to get what you need.

To prevent this, some campers like to layer their food according to the meal plan, with your last day’s meals at the bottom of the cooler and your first day’s meals at the top. This way, you won’t have to dig through all of your food to find what you need each day.

This method will require all the foods to be in sturdy containers so that delicate foods don’t get crushed.

Considering a Second Cooler

A second cooler comes in handy to keep your beverages separate or if you’ve run out of space.  It’s also good for bread and snacks.

Transportation and Storage

Transportation and storage are important considerations when packing a cooler for a camping trip.

Driving with a Cooler

If you’re driving to your campsite, it’s a good idea to secure the cooler in a cool spot if possible. If it’s in the bed of a truck, try using a blanket overtop of the cooler to protect it from direct sunlight.

At the Campsite

This might be pretty obvious, but don’t leave your cooler in direct sunlight. Find a shady, cool spot to keep the temperature consistent. And if you’re in bear country (or raccoons for that matter!), keep your cooler out of reach from these savvy critters. Trust us, waking up to the sounds of animals ransacking your food is not fun (it happened to a neighboring camper and it’s scary when these animals are relentless and it’s pitch black out!).

And there you have it, the ultimate guide to packing a cooler for camping. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to keep your meats cool, fresh, and delicious throughout your trip. So, fire up the grill or campfire and get ready to enjoy some tasty meat in the great outdoors.

Happy camping and happy eating!