Coolers are essential for keeping drinks and food cool in the summer when we go camping or at the beach. There are many types of coolers to keep your food cool and different cooling methods like electric coolers or thermoelectric coolers.
How to choose a camping cooler and what to consider before buying it?
To choose a good camping cooler to take on a trip, it is necessary to take into account some details that will help you decide on the purchase of one of the best possible camping cooler. Aspects such as the possibility of controlling the temperature, the storage capacity or the fact that they are made of polyurethane or another material can be among the decisive factors. Also, some smart coolers have an energy saving feature called ECO, which is very helpful in saving energy.
If you are a countryside enthusiast and like to take advantage of weekends to go alone, with family or friends, you should always have a cooler with you. Whether it’s storing cold drinks and cooling down in the summer or using a thermoelectric cooler to enjoy a hot soup or cream in the winter.
What is a camping cooler?
A camping cooler is an insulated container that keeps food and drink cool by placing water-operated ice packs or, in the case of electric coolers, by plugging them into the mains or the car socket. . They are commonly used to transport food on short journeys, such as a trip to the countryside or to the beach, or for longer car journeys on the road. Large capacity coolers are ideal for large families and long car journeys. There are a wide variety of coolers depending on what you are going to use them for. These can be basic coolers with storage cooling, thermoelectric coolers to lower the outside temperature, compressor coolers, insulated coolers, etc. There are also different sizes depending on the amount of drinks or food you wish to transport and refrigerate. Typically, the design and exterior of classic coolers are usually plastic or polyurethane.
What is a camping cooler used for and how does it work?
Camping coolers were designed to allow us to enjoy food, snacks or cold drinks anytime and anywhere. When we go on a trip, to the beach or any other warm place. They ensure that the temperature of the food is kept below the ambient temperature. Depending on the type of cooler you use, the steps for keeping food and drinks cold will vary. For example, with a classic cooler, it works with blocks of ice water that you should have left in the freezer beforehand. If you use a thermoelectric cooler, all you need is a plug to plug it into the mains and start cooling.
Types of camping coolers
Depending on how the best coolers cool, there are four types of camping coolers in total:
- Rigid: these coolers are the most classic and use accumulators or blocks of ice to cool their contents. They usually have an integrated support handle and a polyurethane exterior. Traditional blue coolers are easily recognizable.
- Compressor Coolers: Compressor coolers are more powerful and can maintain lower temperatures, staying at the temperature threshold like a conventional refrigerator. They tend to make a lot more noise than other types.
- Without compressor: The vast majority of thermoelectric or electric refrigerators tend to avoid the use of a compressor. They reduce noise and keep fridge contents at more than acceptable temperatures so you can enjoy cold refreshment.
- Trivalent: Trivalent coolers are often used in caravans. Its name is due to the fact that it is able to use three different power sources: a direct 12V connection to the caravan when on the road. Another type of 220V connection to connect to the network of the campsite and a third source of energy thanks to gas, for those cases in which it is impossible to connect the refrigerator to the network. It is the most complete and functional and therefore the most expensive, but it is worth it if you like to go on holiday in a caravan.
What types of food can I store in a camping cooler?
Inside our camping coolers we can store different types of fresh food: seasonal fruits like melon, watermelon, cherries, drinks and sodas and any food that can be refrigerated. Depending on the power and capacity of some of the best camping coolers on the market, you will be able to store more or less food and drink.
Tips for keeping your camping refrigerator in good condition
The maintenance and care of any type of camping cooler is essential to increase its useful life. In conventional coolers that use ice packs for cooling, one of the most common recommendations is to clean it once we get home to avoid the formation of bad odors. In electric refrigerators, the main recommendation to enjoy the refrigerator longer is not to block the air outlet or inlet and to avoid constantly opening and closing it to prevent the refrigerator from overheating.