A well-stocked cooler really making the beach day a success and these cooler hacks will certain that all goes well to plan (and nothing goes to roughness). When we’re oceanside, it’s a complete day affair, start as soon as the provincial parking opened. I tried to pack enough for two full meals for seven people, plus snacks. Somehow the fresh air and the water makes everyone very hungry and we normally eat our way through everything.
Table of Contents
Packing foods that travel well.
Hearty salads such as grains, pasta, and potato all hold up well. Looking for bread with a great crust on it. Instead of baked goods that will splash, bring something equally substantial or Chocolate Pretzel Monster Cookies.
Pre-Chill the Cooler.
I pre-chilled the cooler with the blog of ice so it is ice cold when I packed it full of meal. If you have the big group of humans, considering designating an add on cooler just for drinking. This will cut back on the usage of food-designated cooler and it would preserve the chill for longer.
Pack foods in clean containers.
Wash vegetables and fruits at home, then dry them well and package everything resealable, clear bags or containers so you do see at a glance what is really inside. Cheese, Salads, cold meats– everything can be safely stored in a plastic clear container.
Pack only cold drink and food.
Pre-chill as much drink and food as possible before load the cooler. Freeze drinking water in plastic jugs to utilize in place of ice blocks. You’ll have drink water when they melted!
Make the packing list of cool contents and tape it to top. This supports you remember what you packed and you do scratch off items as they removed.
Pack full and pack smart. I follow this order: a layer of ice packs at bottom of a pre-chilled, clean cooler, follow by meats (cold chicken, cold cuts, etc). I shaked a bag of ice around meat, then add dairy, condiments and salads on top.
Producing goes in next, with the fine items on top. It’s always best to avoid pockets of air and fill a cooler to the brim. Empty spaces can be fill up with picnic blanket or clean beach towels.
Keep the cooler out of sun. When possible, storing the cooler in the shade to support it stay cool. We like our Coleman Eaved Canopy for sunny shelter at the beach.
Cleaning up for next time. Upon returning sweet home, washing the cooler with warm soapy water once it has been empty. Disinfect if required, then rinse and dry well before put it away, ready for the another adventure!
So, what to packed in that cooler? I usually pack meat and cheese, boiled and condiments eggs. We stop by a country farm stand for vegetables and fruits and a real exceptional loaf of bread.
I also love to bring a hearty pasta salad to beach, as it travels well and could be made in advance. We like an orzo salad such as my Mediterranean Pasta Salad with snap peas or asparagus.
Chicken Taco Tortilla Hack
Meeting another truly genius TikTok recipe. This one involves a plain trick to fold your tortilla to creating a wrap that will offer you a ideal bite all throughout. Each bite will be cheesy, crispy, and included all of the toppings. We put together a chicken taco with the hack, but the toppings are endless. You do even go sweet like you would in a crepe and filling each quadrant with bananas, Nutella, and other joy toppings.
Chicken Pasta Salad
This super savory pasta salad is a big huge hit at barbecues and longer days at the beach. Swap in a mayo-based dressing for the normal tangy mustard vinaigrette lightens stuff up a bit, and a healthy serving of crispy bacon and seared chicken make it satisfy enough.
Chickpea “Tuna” Salad
A tiny wary of tuna fish salad? Bring this salad to your beach day instead! It hits all the similar flavor notes, without any fishy taste or smell.
Best Chocolate Brownies
If you have the sweet tooth, brownies are one of the good manners satisfying it at the beach. Since they’re baked through, they won’t melted like other chocolatey treats, and they don’t want to stay in the cooler if you’re shorter on space.
Hard Boiled Eggs
This might be one of the good bang for your buck meals to tote. Hard boiled eggs are simplest to make, filling, and easier to rinse off if they occur to encounter an unprepared sand storm. They’re also delicious cold or warm if cooler space is the problem. Just skin them in advance—it’s manner too much work to do it on the beach side.
