7 Cooler Packing Hacks That Actually Work

Seas the day with these breezy hacks

A perfectly packed cooler can make or break a summer adventure. Without snack and beverage essentials chilled and ready to go, a relaxing day under the sun can quickly turn into chaos. Thankfully, these seven simple hacks will turn your cooler into your beach day best friend.

Keep Your Sandwiches Sand Free

There’s nothing better than eating a cold sandwich by the beach on a hot summer day. But, with so many different ingredients involved, lunch assembly can quickly get stressful. Keep beach day lunch easy by making your sandwiches ahead of time and putting them back in the bread bag for transport.

Upgrade this hack even further by popping the bag of assembled sandwiches into a cheap bread container. When it's time for lunch, pull the sandwiches up to the top of the container using the sides of the plastic bag. This way, sandy hands will stay out of everyone’s lunch, and you can get back to playing on the beach in no time.

Never Forget the Essentials

When running out the door for a fun day in the sun, it can be easy to forget miscellaneous items such as trash bags, napkins, and utensils. Luckily, when properly prepared, coolers can be used for much more than just food and beverage storage. We recommend attaching a plastic bag to the inside of your cooler's lid with Velcro, or some other adhesive, to store the smaller items you don’t want to leave behind.

Upgrade Your Ice Pack

By the end of a long day outside, it is easy for your ice-filled cooler to turn into a melted mess. Try making "supercharged" ice packs out of PVC pipes to fit perfectly in your cooler and keep it slush-free. Simply fill a PVC pipe with water—or salt water since it freezes to a colder temperature—almost the entire way to the top; you don't want to overfill it because the pipes will expand as they freeze. Close the top with a cap and toss it in the freezer. Once assembled, these ice packs are ready to use and re-use all summer long.

Organize Your Drink Selection

There’s no need to turn your cooler into a scavenger hunt this summer. Instead of letting your beverages get mixed up in your ice, open your canned drink boxes and place them upside down in your cooler. After you have added the ice, pull the boxes out, and you are ready to go. The cans stay perfectly organized by beverage type, and everyone knows exactly where to find their drink of choice.

Add an Extra Rack to Your Cooler

Not every beach day essential needs to be submerged in ice, but, some items, like fruit and cookies, shouldn’t be sitting out in the sun all day either. Instead of carrying these items separately, place a wire rack on top of your drinks and ice to create a shelf in your cooler. This hack keeps items chilled and accessible, without getting them wet and soggy as the ice melts.

Transition Your Cooler From Day-to-Night

Even with the long days of summer, beach parties can often extend past sunset. To prepare your cooler for after-dark, toss a few glow sticks into the ice. Not only will they light up your cooler so you know what you are grabbing, but the neon lights are also a fun way to brighten the night and keep the party going.

Leave No Bottle Opener Behind

While it might seem simple, the last thing you want is to realize you can't drink anything in your cooler because you forgot to pack a bottle opener. Keep this tiny tool from getting lost in the sand or left behind by making sure it is always next to the drinks where everyone needs it. We recommend using a zip tie to connect this essential to your cooler.

Read the original article on All Recipes.