Cooler bag - A popular companion of active and energetic people. A trip to the forest, fishing or to a suburban area will not do without a feast or a simple snack. How to save food during a long trip, especially in hot weather for years? Experienced travelers know: a cooler bag will help, which is also called an isothermal bag, a thermal bag.
We’ll understand how it works, how it works, and how reliable it is.
How is the cooler bag
The main task of the cooler bag is to maximize the long-term preservation of food temperature. Most often it is used to keep chilled foods during the hot season, but it can also successfully keep cooked dishes hot. Therefore, it would be more accurate to compare it with a thermos.
Device
Manufacturers managed to maintain the initial temperature of the products due to the use of special materials for the inner container:
- nylon - for the walls and lid of the container;
- polyethylene foam or polyurethane foam - for thermal laying.
These materials have thermal insulation properties and protect the contents of the container from cooling or heating, while maintaining the existing temperature.
The design of the container is also aimed at fulfilling the main task. It has double walls, the space between them is filled with a special thermal pad.
Inside, the food storage container is usually decorated with a special artificial fabric that is easy to clean. And the external design of the bag is made of dense fabrics (for example, nylon, polyester, etc.).
Important!Thermal bags are considered to be of higher quality, made from the outside from a waterproof material, which also has reflective properties.
Advantages and disadvantages
Thermal bags have passed the reliability test of many buyers who objectively note the advantages and disadvantages of special bags.
pros
- The materials used in the manufacture of bags allow thermobags of different manufacturers to maintain a temperature of 7 to 12 hours.
- To extend the shelf life of products, additional cooling elements can be used.
- Many types of cooler bags are convenient for their compactness. When they are not filled with products, they can be folded so as not to take up much space.
Minuses
- The need for pre-cooling or freezing foods before laying in a thermal bag.
- Relatively short shelf life.
- Small volume of containers of certain types of bags.
Cooling elements
It is possible to extend the ability to maintain the temperature of products in a cooler bag using special cooling elements. These are special plastic blocks that are usually filled with dry ice.
To make this block with dry ice useful, it is used only after preliminary freezing. When using a thermal bag, dry ice gradually thaws and at the same time absorbs the heat of products. So it does not allow the air inside the container to warm up, and the products remain chilled for a long time.
When using such cold storage batteries, the storage time in the cooler bag can be almost 2 times longer.
The use of foil for a thermal bag
The use of materials containing foil increases the quality characteristics of a thermal bag. The reflectivity of the foil is used in special foil materials. If the inner surface of the food container is made of such a material, this increases the thermal insulation properties of the thermal bag. Therefore, manufacturers who care about the quality of their products must use foil-based materials.
Important!Before loading, wrap all products individually in foil. This will keep them cool much longer.
How to use a cooler bag
The cooler bag will retain its useful qualities and will last a long time with the right attitude and careful care. The basic rules for care and use are simple.
Storage and care
- Do not overload the bag. In order not to damage the fasteners, load it in strict accordance with the stipulated volume.
- Clean the bag after each use. Use a damp cloth or cotton cloth dampened with soap and water. When using a soapy solution, be sure to wipe it additionally with a cloth moistened with clean water.
- If the instruction for a specific model does not prohibit washing, and a simple cleaning did not lead to the desired result, you can wash the bag. It’s better to do it manually. Washing in the washing machine is permissible only in delicate mode.
- Allow the bag to dry naturally.
How to prolong cold preservation
Keeping the cold inside the cooler bag helps to comply with the following loading rules:
- Place only pre-frozen foods in the thermal bag.
- Try to fill the bag container completely without leaving empty space. The available free space in the absence of products can be filled simply with a bottle of water.
- Do not open the bag open for a long time. The more often you open the cooler bag, the more warm air will flow into the inner container, and the time to keep the cold will be reduced.
- Evenly distribute the cooling elements inside the bag.
Important! Try to lay out batteries of cold not only along the walls of the bag. It is more expedient to transfer products inside the container.
Cooling elements
Cold batteries must be frozen before use in the same way as food. They are placed in the freezer in advance so that they are there for at least 12 hours, if possible, increase the freezing time.
Use at least 4-5 medium-sized batteries; a smaller number will not keep the air cool evenly. By increasing the number of cooling elements by a few, you will make the cooler bag more efficient.
After using the bag, do not leave the cooling element inside. You need to get it, rinse with cold water, wipe it dry and place it in the freezer again. There you can store batteries for a long time until your next use.
Usage tips and tricks
We offer some tips on using a cooler bag. These tips will help you keep your food safe and secure during long trips.
- If you don’t have any special cooling elements at hand, you can make them yourself. To do this, you only need to fill small plastic bottles (0.5 or 1 liter) with a very saturated salt solution, and then freeze them. Home-made cooling elements are not inferior in properties to purchased ones.
- If possible, try to keep the bag in a cool place: the air-conditioned car interior, a hole in the ground in a shady place. This will prolong the preservation of the cold inside the bag.
Manufacturers tried to make the cooler bag useful and convenient. Now you know how the thermobag is arranged, how to use it correctly, and will be able to use its qualities for a long time.
Leave Your Comment