How to keep food cold in an ice chest

Food spoilage is a thing of the past

photo by Truman

The camper pulled out a six-pack of soda from the ice chest and proceeded to chip off the ice around the bottom of the cans with an ice pick. Unfortunately, he punctured one of the cans and sent an impressive spray of soda everywhere. (Tip - If you send soda everywhere, wash it down before the ants find it.)

While the display was interesting, what captured everyone attention was that fact that there was ice frozen to the soda cans. Regular ice will not freeze to items in the ice chest. How did the camper get the ice chest cold enough to freeze?

It was such a simple solution and yet, not many of the other campers knew about it. Those campers now include more meat and other perishable items when they camp or go anywhere that an ice chest is necessary. There is less worrying about food spoiling.

A one gallon jug of water and 1/4 cup of salt makes a brine solution that freezes at a colder temperature than water. It is easy to make and works every time.

Instructions

Step 1

Start with a clean one gallon container

Don't throw out the one gallon milk, water or juice container. Make sure that it is clean.

Step 2

Fill the container with water

The water should be just below the neck of the container. If it is filled any higher, as the water freezes, it will expand and leak out of the container.

photo by Wade M

Step 3

Add 1/4 cup of salt

Add the salt to the container. Replace the cap and shake well.

Step 4

Freeze

Place the container in the freezer. The salt will want to bond together so it will be necessary to shake the container until it is frozen to redistribute the salt.

Step 5

Packing the ice chest

Place the container in the bottom of the ice chest. Meat and other frozen items should be stored in water-proof bags to protect them from any spillage in the ice chest. These items should be layered next to or on top of the brine containers. Add the ice. For the remaining items that do not need to be kept frozen or simply refrigerated, add them to the first layer of ice and then cover with another layer.

photo by Klif Rhodes

Step 6

Storing leftovers

Storing leftovers is always a concern. It is not necessary to throw them out. Soups, stews and other liquids can be stored in freezer bags. Let them cool and then place next to the containers in the bottom of the ice chest.

Step 7

Refreeze

There is no need to create a new container every time you use the ice chest. Even if the contents of the container are somewhat melted, place it back in the freezer.Our containers have been used over and over again. There is an upside to storing them in the freezer. In our freezer, frost has transferred to the orange juice cans. A power failure will not threaten the food in the freezer for quite a while. Keep the freezer closed as much as possible and the food will remain frozen longer.

Things Needed

A one-gallon container. Water, milk or juice bottles work well. Make sure that they are clean.

1/4 cup of salt

Tips & Warnings

Freeze a smaller bottle of water and add onion or garlic salt. It will still freeze at a colder temperature but if you let it thaw, it can provide seasoning for many of your camping meals.

In a larger ice chest, use two containers.

If there are children, it is simpler to take two ice chests. Children seem to open the ice chest more times than they open the refrigerator at home. Separate frozen items and store with the brine container. Food items that the children will quickly consume can be stored in another ice chest.

If you have stored frozen meat for your next meal, make sure that you remove it and let it thaw. It will not thaw in the ice chest. (That is a quick trip out of the campground for fast food.)

If you have an older ice chest that does not seal as well as it used to, it can be covered with a doubled towel. This help to keep heat from entering.

All ice chests will fail if they are left in the sun. As the sun moves, the ice chest should be moved with the shade.

The brine containers will eventually melt but even as they melt, they remain colder than the ice.

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Ann Hinds
Helium member since Feb 24, 09
Number of Guides: 24

+ Post your Question|> See All Q&A

Hi Ann, Great Guide. Hope this one gets through the Helium process - 2nd attempt. Will your trick be as effective if we only use the containers of frozen salt water and skip the layers of loose ice in the cooler? We like to keep our coolers dry and have been using froze containers of plain water for years. Thanks, Geoff

Hi Ann, Great Guide. We've been using 2 coolers, with ice frozen in one or more plastic containers and will add your suggestion for salt in the water before we freeze it. Question is about the layers of ice you mention. We like to keep our coolers dry - hence the frozen containers of water. Will your trick be as effective if we just use the frozen containers of salt water and skip the loose ice in the cooler? Thanks, Geoff

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