4 Ways to Prevent Food From Freezing in a Cooler

Pre-chill everything before packing Cold items take longer to cool down further than warm items. Put food and drinks in the fridge or freezer before they go into the cooler.

Add a buffer layer between ice and food Direct contact with ice or dry ice freezes items fast. Use cardboard, a towel, or newspaper as a barrier to slow cold transfer without losing overall temperature.

Wrap dry ice separately Dry ice is far too cold to leave bare. Wrap it in newspaper or cloth before placing it in the cooler.

Don’t overpack with ice A 2:1 ratio of food to ice is enough for most day trips. More ice increases freeze risk without much benefit.