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Okay Cooler Folks - Give me the download
Okay Cooler Folks - Give me the download
Certainly not a new topic. But was recently notified by PART of our travel group that apparently we are considering taking a COOLER with some dinner items on our upcoming november trip. There are 4 of us, So I'm thinking a few of the harder to get/more expensive items/special items for a 3-4 dinners. Last trip we threw a few non-perishable items/snacks in the one suitcase we collectively checked. So the questions are: Polar Bear Cooler the only way to go? What size easiest to check and or carryon? and secrets to make it travel successfully? 24 can big enough? Other options/opinions welcome.
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mindehankins
- Posts: 3014
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Western NY State
We bought our backpack type cooler at Target and it'd done great for three trips to St. John, and use around here as well.
We bring meats and cheeses, bacon, butter and something already prepared to cook for dinner the first night if we have delays. We bring other items that don't need refrigeration in our other bags.
The meat needs time to freeze through...at least 24 hours. Then line the inside of the bag with paper towels, and wrap the meat individually in paper towels (newspaper works fine, too!). We drive 2 hours to a hotel near the airport, leave it in the fridge in the hotel room, and in the morning, we take it to the airport. Everything has always been frozen on arrival in St. John.
Easy peasy. And I don't think you have to buy the most expensive cooler ever made, to make it work. Ours was only maybe $30.
We bring meats and cheeses, bacon, butter and something already prepared to cook for dinner the first night if we have delays. We bring other items that don't need refrigeration in our other bags.
The meat needs time to freeze through...at least 24 hours. Then line the inside of the bag with paper towels, and wrap the meat individually in paper towels (newspaper works fine, too!). We drive 2 hours to a hotel near the airport, leave it in the fridge in the hotel room, and in the morning, we take it to the airport. Everything has always been frozen on arrival in St. John.
Easy peasy. And I don't think you have to buy the most expensive cooler ever made, to make it work. Ours was only maybe $30.
We boughta 24 can rolling cooler, which was great last trip. Didn't have to "carry" anything.
We only brought some chicken, bacon, porkroll, scrapple and snacks. We have a Food Saver which is great. We just use the Food Saver for everything, freeze it, and it's still frozen when we get there.
We use the same cooler for the beach and on the flight home, we put anything in there that we can't fit in our luggage, such as gifts for people at home.
I definetly would take a cooler, we always have.
It's nice not to go out and shop all the time.
We only brought some chicken, bacon, porkroll, scrapple and snacks. We have a Food Saver which is great. We just use the Food Saver for everything, freeze it, and it's still frozen when we get there.
We use the same cooler for the beach and on the flight home, we put anything in there that we can't fit in our luggage, such as gifts for people at home.
I definetly would take a cooler, we always have.
It's nice not to go out and shop all the time.
"Paradise...it's a state of mine"
We have both a 12 can and a 24 can Polar Bear cooler. Which one we take depends on the length of stay and how many people we need to feed. If possible wrap the food in clear wrap like cryo-pack. TSA may want to see what is in the cooler.
We generally pack only meat. Do freeze everything solid. We like to get it into the freezer at least 48 hours before we leave. If you do, it will still be frozen when you arrive.
JIM
We generally pack only meat. Do freeze everything solid. We like to get it into the freezer at least 48 hours before we leave. If you do, it will still be frozen when you arrive.
JIM
Man it's like some dream we live down here....
It may sound crazy, but we took steaks and chicken down without a cooler.
Sucessfully, even.
We made a last minute decision to take them but didn't have an acceptable cooler or time to get one before leaving.
We gambled that things would survive the trip and I improvised the packaging.
Previously I had put a steak or 2-3 chicken breasts each in quart size freezer bags and frozen them.
So I took all the frozen ziploc bags, double bagged them in kitchen trash bags then inside a thicker lawn bag and duct taped each one, then the outside.
I made sure there was no way anything could leak out if it thawed.
Lastly, I wrapped the bundle in two beach towels we were taking anyway and stashed it in our carry-on suitcase.
Our total flight time was 7 hours and even with the ride over to STJ and to villa, the meat was only just beginning to thaw when we unpacked, a little soft around the edges but still frozen and it was perfect for dinner late that night.
Sucessfully, even.
We made a last minute decision to take them but didn't have an acceptable cooler or time to get one before leaving.
We gambled that things would survive the trip and I improvised the packaging.
Previously I had put a steak or 2-3 chicken breasts each in quart size freezer bags and frozen them.
So I took all the frozen ziploc bags, double bagged them in kitchen trash bags then inside a thicker lawn bag and duct taped each one, then the outside.
I made sure there was no way anything could leak out if it thawed.
Lastly, I wrapped the bundle in two beach towels we were taking anyway and stashed it in our carry-on suitcase.
Our total flight time was 7 hours and even with the ride over to STJ and to villa, the meat was only just beginning to thaw when we unpacked, a little soft around the edges but still frozen and it was perfect for dinner late that night.
Kathy Henion
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Xislandgirl
- Posts: 4163
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:03 pm
- Location: Slightly left of center
We do exactly what Minde does and it works out perfectly. Our last trip we packed:
Chicken breasts
Bacon
Large block of cheddar
Frozen lasagna (it was in the freezer so why not)
Frozen stuffed clams
Breakfast Sausages
Pack it TIGHT. Leave no open space in it and layer with newspaper. 12 hours later, everything is still frozen.
We do not check luggage so the backpack is the perfect size and I love having the cooler to take to the beach
Chicken breasts
Bacon
Large block of cheddar
Frozen lasagna (it was in the freezer so why not)
Frozen stuffed clams
Breakfast Sausages
Pack it TIGHT. Leave no open space in it and layer with newspaper. 12 hours later, everything is still frozen.
We do not check luggage so the backpack is the perfect size and I love having the cooler to take to the beach
I like using the polar bear cooler because sometimes it takes a very long time for us to get to STJ. The longest time it took 22 hours. Last trip it was 18.5 hours door to door, including a 4 hour delay on the tarmac in Miami in July heat. I packed my polar bear coolers full and tight including sheets of techni ice and everything was still rock solid frozen when I unpacked at the villa. If you are traveling for a shorter period, I doubt a polar bear is needed. Just make sure everything you bring is frozen solid.
I usually bring two coolers: the largest size, which when completely packed just makes it under the weight limit as a checked bag, and the 24 can size, which can be carried on and is the cooler we bring to the beach. The large one is too big and heavy when filled to tote anywhere other than to/from the airport. Last trip I had six people, so brought the polar bear backpack as well, which we used as a second beach cooler.
I usually bring two coolers: the largest size, which when completely packed just makes it under the weight limit as a checked bag, and the 24 can size, which can be carried on and is the cooler we bring to the beach. The large one is too big and heavy when filled to tote anywhere other than to/from the airport. Last trip I had six people, so brought the polar bear backpack as well, which we used as a second beach cooler.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
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snorkelqueen
- Posts: 432
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2007 12:33 pm
- Location: california
It can definately work.snorkelqueen wrote:We travel from California via New York or Miami so I never thought a cooler would work for us but liamsaunt has given me hope!! It would be nice not to have to buy EVERYTHING at Starfish!
We did 36+ hours, using a Polar Bear, and everything was frozen solid.
For that trip, I had our butcher vac pack and freeze, in the deep freezer, all the meat. I layered techi ice between the layers of meat as well as a layer on the bottom and the top and kept it zipped, never openning it.
(The interior layer of tachi ice was probably overkill.)
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Sumerwaters
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 10:49 pm
We utilize our soft side cooler as a carry on also.
Check out www.softcoolers.com. Made in the USA, nice warranty, no leaks, and keeps food frozen for over 24 hours. Many sizes to choose from. Even the 36 can size fits as a carry on.Love these coolers!
Check out www.softcoolers.com. Made in the USA, nice warranty, no leaks, and keeps food frozen for over 24 hours. Many sizes to choose from. Even the 36 can size fits as a carry on.Love these coolers!
flying from Los Angeles
We are headed there on Saturday (Yippee!!!!!)
We are using a 6"x8"x6" soft sided cooler as a "personal item" on the plane. The airline states 6"x6"x6" as the acceptable size but ours fits under the seat so it should be fine. I have had mixed results from checking a cooler. We are also bringing a collapsable cooler but it will mainly contain wine
and non-perishables.
I was able to squeeze 2 steaks, 6 chicken thighs/breasts, precooked fixins (Italian sausage w/ veggies and spices) to doctor up a jar of spaghetti sauce (to be bought at Cost-U-Less on STT) as well as a package of Yaki Soba noodles.
The meat is all marinated. I stuffed everything into the cooler and shoved cooler into the freezer a couple of days ago.
We are spending the night in STT at the Crystal Palace. I know that Ronnie lets guests have access to the fridge so I am hoping that he has a spot available in his freezer for this.
We are using a 6"x8"x6" soft sided cooler as a "personal item" on the plane. The airline states 6"x6"x6" as the acceptable size but ours fits under the seat so it should be fine. I have had mixed results from checking a cooler. We are also bringing a collapsable cooler but it will mainly contain wine
and non-perishables.I was able to squeeze 2 steaks, 6 chicken thighs/breasts, precooked fixins (Italian sausage w/ veggies and spices) to doctor up a jar of spaghetti sauce (to be bought at Cost-U-Less on STT) as well as a package of Yaki Soba noodles.
The meat is all marinated. I stuffed everything into the cooler and shoved cooler into the freezer a couple of days ago.
We are spending the night in STT at the Crystal Palace. I know that Ronnie lets guests have access to the fridge so I am hoping that he has a spot available in his freezer for this.