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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Do I need ice packs for a cool bag?

37 replies

lalala2228 · 31/05/2021 11:04

Probably a stupid question but help!

I'm going away soon and will be in the car for about 5-6 hours (it's a long journey and we'll be breaking for lunch on route).

I've ordered one of those tote cool bags to transport some food, which is arriving soon. My question is - do you need to put ice packs in the bag or do they keep the food cool just through insulation or something?

I'll be taking food from the fridge and freezer that I hope to transfer back to fridge/freezer at the other end.

Sorry, not an AIBU I know but am posting here in the hope of quick advice.

Thanks!

OP posts:

autumnboys · 31/05/2021 11:08

Yes, you’ll need some ice packs. You could also freeze some small water bottles (open and tip a bit of water out first, so they don’t split).

fourminutestosavetheworld · 31/05/2021 11:08

IME you need ice packs to lower the internal temperature of the bag sufficiently.

Mumdiva99 · 31/05/2021 11:09

Yes to ice packs. But you can use frozen food for this....frozen milk l, a frozen curry/chilli etc but I normally stick ice packs in as useful for picnics when you are away.

JingsMahBucket · 31/05/2021 11:10

Yes, you definitely ice packs. You can also do a mix of ice packs and frozen bottles of water. Depending on the temperature of the car, the water could defrost in time to give you cold ice water to drink at your destination or on the way home.

Original poster

lalala2228 · 31/05/2021 11:11

Yes to ice packs. But you can use frozen food for this..

I'm guessing ice packs will keep the frozen food frozen, but will they have the effect of freezing the refridgerated food as well? Should I buy two bags, one for frozen food and one for refridgerated?

How long do cool bags tend to keep stuff frozen before it all starts to thaw?

OP posts:

SchrodingersImmigrant · 31/05/2021 11:12

@autumnboys

Yes, you’ll need some ice packs. You could also freeze some small water bottles (open and tip a bit of water out first, so they don’t split).

Yes. This is win win. It keeps food cold and you get nice chilled water later

ImInStealthMode · 31/05/2021 11:17

No the ice packs won't make it cold enough to freeze chilled food, nor will they keep frozen food frozen, it'll still defrost but just at slower/safer rate than it would otherwise.

QuestionableMouse · 31/05/2021 11:19

Nothing will freeze - the ice packs won't lower the temperature enough but they will keep it closer to fridge temp than without.

Original poster

lalala2228 · 31/05/2021 11:21

Ok thanks - so I won't be able to transport frozen food and put it back in the freezer when I get to my destination?

OP posts:

Seeline · 31/05/2021 11:22

For that length of time, it's unlikely to keep frozen food frozen enough to just bung it in a freezer at the other end, even with ice packs. It will have started to defrost and then you're not supposed to re-freeze it

GreenLeafTurnip · 31/05/2021 11:23

Your frozen food won't stay frozen for 6 hours in a cool bag even with icepacks. The internal temperature won't be the same as a freezer. More like a fridge. Please don't refreeze thawed food.

EnidPrunehat · 31/05/2021 11:24

I wouldn't transfer frozen food that's been out of a freezer for 5/6 hours even if it has been in a cool box. It's enough time for a gradual but determined thaw to set in.

Thelnebriati · 31/05/2021 11:24

A cool bag is ok for a picnic, but to transport food you really need an insulated box.
You can make one out of a cardboard box wrapped in a duvet and put your cool bag in that, but you'd really be better off buying an insulated box. For a few hours before you put the food in, have some ice packs in it to bring the temperature down. Then add your food along with some fresh ice packs.

megletthesecond · 31/05/2021 11:25

The frozen food will defrost a fair bit tbh. You could chuck in a bag of frozen peas and veggie sausages to eat that evening though. I certainly wouldn't risk meat or anything you don't plan to eat within a day. Cheddar should be OK though.

LittleBearPad · 31/05/2021 11:28

I wouldn’t transport stuff that needs to stay frozen. If you don’t mind it defrosting to use that night you’ll be fine.

gamerchick · 31/05/2021 11:28

Fridge stuff with cold packs is fine. Freezer stuff, definitely not. Can you not just pop to a shop and get freezer stuff when you get to your destination?

Original poster

lalala2228 · 31/05/2021 11:28

Ok thanks - so would an insulated cool box with ice packs keep it frozen for 5-6 hours do you think? So I could take it out the freezer at home, put it in the box and then put it back in the freezer at the other end safely?

OP posts:

cherrypiepie · 31/05/2021 11:35

If you had a cool box fully packed with frozen food, a bag of ice cubes and several cool packs and leave it shut all day in the shade covered int a blanket it may well still be frozen enough but depends on the day time temperature too. If you have lots of cold stuff together it keep it cooler.

Personally in summer I wouldn't risk it. Think of a cool box as a poor fridge and a cool bag as an even worse fridge.

Thelnebriati · 31/05/2021 11:38

Thats how I store food when I'm defrosting the freezer, and its fine. I run the freezer extra cold for 8 hours before and after. Wrap it up as much as you can with duvets, cardboard boxes and newspaper.

When you get the other end check it to make sure its not soft, if it is just eat it within 24 hours.

Librariesmakeshhhhappen · 31/05/2021 11:39

Cool bags are not for keeping frozen food frozen. They just keep food cool, you know... for a pic nic or whatever.

Maybe if you filled it with ice packs/frozen water bottles and stuffed your frozen items in then they might stay frozen but it's not what they're for so you'd be taking a chance.

EnidPrunehat · 31/05/2021 11:40

It's easier and far safer not to take the risk. Are you going somewhere that has no access to frozen food?

Gladioli23 · 31/05/2021 11:42

If you need specific foods (we used to because my brother was a fussy eater) could you do either a) a food delivery to the holiday house when you get there or b) if that's not possible a stop at a supermarket on the way so the frozen stuff isn't defrosting for as long? My Asda deliveries tell me part way through the day if I have substitutions so I would have time to go into a supermarket en route if something I really needed was unavailable.

socalledfriend · 31/05/2021 11:45

I wouldn't eat food that had been transported for 6 hours in a cool bag over the summer.

Why don't you just arrange a delivery to your destination address? Much simpler.

Ponoka7 · 31/05/2021 11:49

Six hours would be pushing it. Properly insulated freezer bags say around three hours. I've transported a frozen chicken curry for three hours and it would have been ok to put back in the freezer. I've used that and frozen bread/water to cool the rest of the food. Just take one frozen meal that you are going to eat that night.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 31/05/2021 11:57

I wouldn't put the frozen food back to the freezer after tbh. Just put it in a fridge and eat same, next day.
Chilled food is fine as long as it is kept closed and with the ice packs

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