5 Ways to Make a Cooler Work Like a Fridge

Pre-chill everything Put your food and drinks in the fridge the night before. Also pre-chill the cooler itself by tossing a bag of ice in it for a few hours before packing.

Use block ice instead of cubes Block ice lasts longer because it melts slower. Freeze milk jugs full of water — they work as ice packs and you can drink the water later.

Keep the cooler in the shade Cover it with a reflective blanket or tarp if there’s no natural shade. Every degree of ambient temperature cuts your ice life.

Open it as little as possible Figure out what you want before you lift the lid. Make a separate “snack cooler” with less insulation for frequent access so you don’t wreck the main one.

Drain meltwater when possible Water conducts heat faster than air, so removing it helps ice last longer. Just be careful not to drain your ice.