FAQ on Packing Your Ice Chest Cooler

You have so many great coolers, I don't know which one I want.

We do have a great selection and sometimes it's hard to know which is best for what. The backpack cooler combos are great for picnics, a day at the beach, camping or hiking... The best thing about these backpack coolers is that they have a dry section at the top for your "dry" goods and an insulated bottom section for your food and/or beverages. The Backpack Excursion Cooler is the only backpack that has one LARGE insulated cooler section (no dry section). All of these backpack coolers are really sporty, comfy and convenient.

The Insulated Cooler Totes are really stylish and classy, with many colors and styles, and are ideal for the ladies. Excellent for the farmers market, or a day at the beach. The Lunch Coolers are ideal for a work day, fully insulated, some come in 2 sections, others with convenient zip down snack trays and a cup holder. The Picnic Coolers are fully loaded, meaning they have all the accessories required for a picnic day out, glasses, plates, napkins and so on. For a day at the beach or family day out, we have a fine selection of picnic coolers to meet your needs. Bring along a matching insulated wine cooler pouch for the extra beverages. The Coolers on Wheels are ideal for the traveling trip. The wheels are easy to roll and you can get quite a lot of food in the insulated main compartment. The rolling Musicoolers are ideal for that special beach trip or vacation. Some have used them to transport their food, some love bringing them on their business conventions. They also collapsefor easy storage. The Radio Coolers are an excellent treat. They come in many sizes and colors and some have detachable radios.Basically all coolers serve the same purpose. They cool AND look fashionable and stylish at the same time!

How do I know if the ice chest cooler is the right size?

All ice chest coolers have the dimension sizes noted, plus to give you an idea of how big the coolers are, we have stated the number of 12oz cans that each is capable of holding. Some coolers are soft body, some have the hard body.

If the coolers are collapsible coolers this will also be noted. If this is not noted, then chances are the cooler is not a collapsible cooler. In most cases, we have noted as to whether the cooler has a large insulated compartment or a small insulated compartment. Some of our lunch box coolers are big enough for lunch AND dinner. Please check sizes.

Do they all have removable liners? Are they leak proof? Some of our food and beverage coolers do have removable liners, this is also noted. All coolers are leak proof, and all inner liners are easy to clean with warm water and soap. Do NOT use loose ice with these coolers - please see below.

Can you bring rolling coolers on wheels aboard airlines? The rolling coolers are ideal for travel, they fit most carry on guidelines to bring aboard airlines - please check with airlines for confirmation.


Why do you suggest NOT putting loose ice into the cooler? What ice packs should I use? The reason for this is simple, ice melts faster and makes the ice chest cooler heavier than needs be plus the sharp edges on ice may cut the thermal insulation. Ice packs are available in many different sizes and styles. We suggest that you DO NOT put loose ice in the food coolers

How long will my food and/or beverages stay cold/hot?
Your cooler should last all day. Obviously the way you pack your cooler and how many times you open your cooler will determine how long your food and/or beverages will stay hot/cold.

Beverage cooler:
Pre-chill beverages before placing them in the cooler. Pre-cooling preserves ice, so you will need less ice to cool drinks down. Since cold air travels down, place beverages in the cooler first and ice last. Try to keep your cooler out of the sun and out of a hot car, finding a safe spot in a shaded area.



Food cooler:
To keep food cold for weekend getaways, a block of ice is best. Block ice keeps food cold for longer periods of time when compared to crushed or cubed ice. A mixture of block and cubed ice is recommended. Place block ice at the bottom of the cooler. Place perishable foods directly on block ice. Cover perishable foods with cubed ice. Pack perishable foods directly from the refrigerator into the cooler. Keep foods dry and safe from cross contamination by placing in air tight bags or sealed plastic containers. Again, we suggest sealing the block of ice or ice cubes in ziplock bags.

Some more tips.
Wash all perishable foods, such as fruits and vegetables, before leaving home. Pack all foods in air tight bags or sealed plastic containers to prevent cross contamination.


Keep hot foods hot. Line your cooler with towels. Wrap hot casserole bowls containing hot foods with more towels and place in cooler. Not allowing for empty space will help keep foods hot.

A cooler is not meant to re-chill food that has remained at a temperature of 40°F or above for one hour or more. Only food that has remained at safe temperatures should be placed back into the cooler. To be safe, throw out any food you are unsure of.

A full cooler will maintain safer temperatures longer than a half empty cooler.

Thaw items in the refrigerator or cooler, do not thaw meat at room temperature or in the sun.

Keep perishable foods in cooler until just before serving.

It is best to bring a cooler for beverages and a separate cooler for perishable food if going on a long trip. Beverage coolers are opened frequently, allowing cold air to escape. The food cooler will stay colder longer because it will be opened less frequently. Depending on the length of your outing, a separate cooler with extra ice will help you to replenish ice in food and beverage coolers.

Tips on cleaning your food and beverage coolers.

Wash cooler with warm soapy water. Use kitchen ingredients, such as baking soda, to remove stains. To sanitize cooler, spray the inside with a mixture of 1 teaspoon. of liquid bleach to 1 quart of water. Let mixture sit for 10 minutes and wash again with clean water. Leave lid open for cooler to air dry before storing. Some coolers come with removable liner. Remove liner and wash with warm soapy water.

Note: the above are suggestions only.
Have fun with your cooler and please feel free to email us with any questions!

		California Innovations Cooler Info