One of the reasons we love RVs so much is that we have access to a refrigerator and a freezer to keep things cold.
But sometimes, you want to sit outside and enjoy a few drinks. In those cases, it’s convenient to have a cooler. However, what isn’t nice is reaching in for a cold beer and coming out with a wet label stuck to your now very wet arm. Or, even better, fishing through a lake of freezing cold water to find the last can of your specialty brew.
Ice melts, but it doesn’t have to make a mess. Here are some tips to keep your cooler chilled, and your drinks from floating away:
- Use block ice or ice packs instead of loose cubes or crushed ice. They will keep cold longer and won’t become a puddle of former-ice before you finish your second drink.
- Freeze water balloons. Not only are water balloons colourful and festive, but when they melt, they contain the water. (Bonus, let the kids throw them around once they have melted!)
- Add salt to the water that you intend to freeze or freeze seawater. Salt lowers the freezing temperature of the water, so it will stay cold for much longer.
- Cool drinks before you add them to the cooler. You have a refrigerator for a reason – use it! Get the refreshments cold before adding them to the cooler, and they will stay chilled longer.
- Keep the cooler out of the sun. Also remember to keep the lid closed as much as possible. But you knew that, right?
Enjoying cold drinks on a hot day is a camping rite of passage. A few tweaks, and you can enjoy the experience even more.