FML Outdoors.com

Over the years, my caneoing buddies and I have learned to simplify and pack our food and equipment much more efficiently. I’d like to share three simple tips to keeping your cooler cold and it’s contents dry.

Lesson #1

Nothings worse than planning a wonderful meal then to find the bread wet and the ham floating somewhere near the bottom of the cooler! Rather than buying bags of ice that later melt and become a swimming pool for your lunch, I suggest that you freeze your water in bottles. The larger 24oz water bottles are the perfect size for most coleman coolers.  As the water melts,  it becomes your drinking water; taking care of two important needs — ice to keep food from spoiling and water to keep you hydrated! (Special Note: For two-day trips the smaller 16oz bottles simply don’t stay frozen as long as the larger 24oz bottles).

Lesson #2

On hot days, when the suns shines brightly, make sure to keep your cooler in the shade. If that’s not possible, like when canoeing, take a beach towel and dunk it in the river. Wring the towel out slightly and drape it over the top of the cooler. As the water evaporates it will have a cooling effect by pulling heat away. Also, while traveling in your vehicle  use your life jacket as an extra layer of insulation. Unsnap the jacket and lay over the cooler.

“What can I do to shorten the amount of prep time, so that I may enjoy this time away?”

Lesson #3

Freeze as much of the contents in your cooler as possible.

Most of the food for our trips is cut and prepare at home a few days before we leave. I remember when we used to cut onions and made sandwiches over a canoe paddle. Well, NO MORE! Try to prepare as much of the meal before-hand.

Cut all the onions, green peppers, brown the hamburger and even scrabble the eggs! (Don’t freeze eggs!) Take a close look at the ingredients for whatever meal you are planing and ask this simple question, “What can I do to shorten the amount of prep time, so that I may enjoy this time away?” Hey — I’m not saying cooking isn’t part of the fun, but you’ll quickly realize that you spend more time preparing the meal and not enough time sitting around the campfire with friends.

Plus, when the weather doesn’t cooperate, most of the work is already done. Simply combine and reheat!

By following these three easy steps you will keep your cooler dry and it’s contents cold for days.If you think this is cool, check out this very cool cooler at: http://www.cruzincooler.com/