How to Pack an Esky So Ice Lasts Longer
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Not everyone needs a 12V fridge. For weekend trips, a good esky packed properly can keep food cold for days. Packed badly, you’ll be fishing soggy sausages out of warm water by day two. Here’s how to make your ice last.
Ice life depends on your esky, the weather and how often you open it. Treat any times you see quoted as rough guides, not promises.
Before you leave
- Pre-chill the esky. Bring it inside the night before, or fill it with a sacrificial bag of ice or frozen bottles for a few hours, then tip that out. A warm esky melts your first lot of ice fast.
- Freeze everything you can. Frozen meat, frozen water bottles and pre-cooked meals frozen flat act as extra ice and thaw as the trip goes on.
- Chill drinks and food first. Don’t put warm items in the esky.
- Plan meals in order. Eat the most perishable food first.
Block ice vs cubed ice
- Block ice lasts longer because it has less surface area.
- Cubed ice cools things faster and fills gaps.
- A mix works well: blocks on the bottom, cubes around and on top.
- Frozen water bottles double as drinking water once they melt.
How to pack it
- Ice on the bottom. Block ice or frozen bottles first.
- Frozen meat next, sealed in containers or bags so it can’t leak.
- Dairy and other perishables on top of that.
- Fruit, veg and less critical items near the top.
- More ice around and over the top. Cold air sinks, so ice on top helps.
- Fill the gaps. Air space warms up. Use extra ice, a towel or a folded blanket.
Keep raw meat sealed and below ready-to-eat food to avoid cross-contamination.
Use two eskies if you can
- One for drinks, which gets opened all day.
- One for food, opened only at meal times.
This one change can make a big difference to how long your food stays cold.
At camp
- Keep it in the shade all day, and move it as the sun moves.
- Lift it off hot ground using a mat, a piece of timber or a camp table.
- Cover it with a blanket or towel, or use an insulated esky cover. (insulated esky covers on Amazon)
- Open it as little as possible. Know what you want before you lift the lid.
- Drain or keep the meltwater? Cold meltwater still helps keep things cool, but it can make food soggy and spread contamination. Keep food sealed if you leave water in, or drain it and top up the ice.
- Top up ice in towns when you can.
Food safety
- Keep perishable food cold. If food that should be refrigerated has been sitting warm, when in doubt, throw it out.
- A cheap fridge thermometer in the esky tells you if things are getting too warm. (fridge thermometers on Amazon)
- Keep the esky clean, and wash and dry it fully after each trip.
When to upgrade to a 12V fridge
An esky is cheap, simple and needs no power. A 12V fridge costs more and needs a power setup, but means no ice runs and no soggy food. A fridge starts to make sense if you: (12V camping fridges on Amazon)
- Camp for longer than a few days at a time
- Go remote, far from towns that sell ice
- Camp often in hot weather
Our esky vs 12V fridge comparison and how to choose a 12V camping fridge cover the trade-offs. For hot-weather trips, also read camping in hot weather.
Top of the line vs best value
Well-known options sold in Australia, if you want a starting point. We haven’t independently tested every one, prices change often, and the right choice depends on your trip, so check current prices, specs and warranty before buying. Not ready to buy? Pop it in your Amazon cart so it’s there when you are.
Esky
- Top of the line: ENGEL 60 QT Ultra-Light cooler on Amazon · Add to Amazon cart: premium heavy-duty icebox.
- Best value: Coleman 28QT wheeled cooler on Amazon · Add to Amazon cart: budget-friendly wheeled cooler for short trips.
Further reading
The bottom line
Pre-chill, freeze what you can, pack ice on the bottom and top, fill the gaps, keep the esky shaded and open it as little as possible. Do that and a decent esky will handle most weekend trips.
