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Hi,

I am new to this forum and a relatively new camper, with only 3 small trips in total here in the uk.

We are very keen to go more this year with the children being older. I have the tent sorted and want to get a fridge/coolbox to use when it gets hot and keep food fresh.

We would like to go to the new forest and the sites I am looking at don't have power to use an electric fridge/coolbox.

This is where I need advice, any suggestions on how to keep food cool during a stay of a couple of days?

Thank you in advance.

most electric cool boxes will work like non powered cool boxes too when not plugged in.     All you need is some frozen ice packs or just freeze some pop bottles/water bottles and use those.  That will work for a couple of days and you will have a nice cold drink too!  

 I used to freeze a pack of bacon for a couple of days into the camp and that would work as an ice block and be ready for use by the 2nd/3rd morning.  You can do this with many foods and still be safe.

Quote: Originally posted by starbeck on 08/4/2011

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We have an electric coolbox which is pre-cooled and plugged into the car during the journey to the campsite. We do not have EHU (electrical hook-up).

The first day, everything is nice and cool as long as you keep the lid on. What we do next is buy a 'bag of ice' from the freezer section in the local supermarket - they all sell them (even petrol stations!), for about a quid. Put in coolbox, food stays fresh and you have ice for your evening drinks!! The next day they will gradually melt, water on bottom of coolbox, so make sure that you put your food in food bags!

Go out for the day, buy another (£1) bag of ice, empty water and put new bag of ice in coolbox.

Food still cold and still have ice for evening drinks!

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we do this too, in our non electric cool box - usually containing beer, wine and tonic!! 

If your'll only going for a couple of day, may I suggest freezing some of your meals to go. I very often take a frozen chilli or SpagBol, frozen milk, frozen sausages etc with me.  They work as ice blocks and I don't have to worry about getting something for dinner the next day or so.  Make sure you've frozen them really well before hand so they are as cold and frozen as possible.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.  Happy camping.

 most sites will refreeze marked ice packs in a spare freezer. We only take a cool box with ice packs. have as much frozen food in at as possible for the first day. Then we try to buy fresh meat but cheese, eggs, butter and salad stuff are fine in the coolbox.

If the site has a freezer you can buy frozen food and place it in a marked carrier bag til you need it.

Quote: Originally posted by mrneillees on 11/4/2011

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we use a cool bag as it's easier to squeeze into the car. we also freeze bacon and burgers and allow to defrost. and yes we also just buy bags of ice cubes when we go shopping (again be careful to seal food so water doesn't get in)...usually put beer and cider cans on the bottom and they are always lovely and chilled

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Quote: I agree with 'andcow': most electric cool boxes will work like non powered cool boxes too when not plugged in.

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