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Great question! As a foam cooler manufacturer, we have a lot of experience and hundreds of stories by regular Joes who swear up and down that their reasonably-priced, thick wall Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam coolers are better at keeping ice and drinks and food cold over a given number of days than hard shell coolers. As an example, I personally took a LoBoy thermal ice chest foam cooler on a camping trip in the Florida heat this past weekend. Left the driveway on Thursday with everything already iced down and come Sunday when I pulled the RV up to the dump station in preparation to head home, I dumped the remaining contents of the cooler and you know what most of it was? That's right - cold, chilly ICE.
Imagine it. A quality thick wall foam cooler or thermal ice chest can literally keep ice cold for DAYS, not just hours. I'm not talking about cheap, flimsy so-called styrofoam coolers that you get for a dollar off the shelf, but a real EPS foam cooler with at least 1" wall thickness. To get the same level of thermal protection from a hard shell cooler requires more thickness. Here's why...
EPS Foam Coolers vs. Hard shell CoolersThe typical "Hard Shell" wall is a sandwich of polyurethane foam between an exterior of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) an interior of Polypropylene (PP).
HDPE has a thermal conductivity 14 to 17 times higher than EPS. PP has a thermal conductivity 3 to 7 times higher than EPS. Thermal conductivity is the rate which a material transfers heat. HDPE and PP also retain the absorbed heat longer.
EPS and polyurethane foam have similar thermal conductivities. Wall thickness then becomes the determining factor.
How well the lid seals also affects thermal performance of the cooler.
So, when you want to have superior thermal protection for keeping ice cold for days and not just hours - and when you want to spend far less money but still get yourself a cooler that will last you YEARS, then you'll want to get a thick wall foam cooler (again, not a flimsy 'entry level' cooler that people just throw away) like the kind LoBoy makes.
But here's another thing that's important to consider. People have had the impression for years that foam coolers are a disposable product. That's not the way it's supposed to be, but because some manufacturers have been making inferior, flimsy foam coolers that leak and fall apart after one or two uses, hundreds of thousand of otherwise recyclable material ends up in the trash or as litter in the environment, and that's just not right.
EPS Foam Coolers are totally recyclable. LoBoy runs a 100% EPS Foam Recycling program because we care about the environment, and what's more, we make superior foam coolers and shipping coolers so that they last for many, many years. That way, people save money, there's less energy consumption, and customers aren't frustrated by broken, leaky foam coolers.
So, if you want to have better thermal protection for your ice - to make it last for days - and if you want to buy a foam cooler that lasts for years and from a green company that actually cares about the environment, think LoBoy EPS Foam Coolers.
What else can I help you with?
A better word than cold?
A better word than cold can be FROZEN .................
Is it safe to eat frozen dinners that come in plastic trays?
Yes it is safe. bacteria would not get into the food.
How do you use dry ice camping?
Since dry ice, which is frozen carbon dioxide, is even colder than regular ice (frozen water) it can be used to keep food cold for longer than regular ice does, when you take food with you in a cooler, on your camping trip.
Is plastic shatterproof?
There are many kinds of plastic. Some are rigid, or flexible. Some plastics become brittle if frozen and may shatter if dropped, or be damaged by long exposure to sunlight losing their colour. Some plastics, such as used in shatterproof rulers, are flexible enough to withstand being bent by schoolchildren.
How does and ice chest work?
An ice chest works by using insulation to trap the cold from ice, keeping the inside temperature low and preserving the contents. The thick walls of the chest prevent heat from entering, while ice helps maintain a cold environment inside. This combination helps keep food and drinks cold for an extended period of time.
How long will frozen meat stay frozen in a cooler?
Frozen meat can stay frozen in a cooler for up to 24-48 hours, depending on the quality of the cooler and the surrounding temperature.
How long will frozen food stay frozen in a cooler?
Frozen food can stay frozen in a cooler for about 24-48 hours, depending on factors like the quality of the cooler and how often it is opened.
How can I make a cooler colder for longer storage of perishable items?
To make a cooler colder for longer storage of perishable items, you can try using more ice packs or frozen gel packs, pre-chilling the cooler before adding items, keeping the cooler out of direct sunlight, and minimizing the frequency of opening the cooler.
How long will meat stay frozen in a cooler?
Meat can stay frozen in a cooler for up to 24-48 hours, depending on the quality of the cooler and the surrounding temperature. It is important to keep the cooler well-insulated and to replenish the ice regularly to maintain the frozen temperature.
How can I keep my cooler cold for a longer period of time?
To keep your cooler cold for a longer period of time, consider using ice packs or frozen water bottles instead of ice cubes, pre-chilling the cooler, keeping it out of direct sunlight, minimizing opening and closing, and using a cooler with thick insulation.
How long will food stay frozen in a cooler?
Food can stay frozen in a cooler for up to 24 hours, depending on the quality of the cooler and the amount of ice or ice packs used.
How long will meat stay frozen in a cooler without ice?
Meat will stay frozen in a cooler without ice for about 24-48 hours, depending on the temperature and insulation of the cooler.
How can I keep my cooler cold for longer periods of time?
To keep your cooler cold for longer periods of time, consider using ice packs or frozen water bottles instead of ice cubes, pre-chilling the cooler before adding items, keeping the cooler in a shaded area, minimizing opening and closing the lid, and using a cooler with thick insulation.
How can I keep my food and drinks cold for longer periods of time using a cooler?
To keep your food and drinks cold for longer in a cooler, consider using ice packs or frozen water bottles instead of ice cubes, pre-chilling items before placing them in the cooler, keeping the cooler in a shaded area, minimizing opening and closing the cooler frequently, and using a cooler with thicker insulation.
How long will frozen food last in a cooler before it spoils?
Frozen food can typically last in a cooler for up to 24 hours before it starts to spoil. It is important to keep the cooler well-insulated and add ice packs to maintain the cold temperature.
Why ice takes more time to melt in a cooler box?
Ice takes more time to melt in a cooler box because the cooler box is insulated, meaning it slows down the transfer of heat from the surrounding environment to the ice. This insulation helps to maintain a lower temperature inside the cooler box, keeping the ice frozen for a longer period of time.
How long can frozen food stay in a cooler before it becomes unsafe to consume?
Frozen food can stay in a cooler for up to 24 hours before it becomes unsafe to consume. It is important to keep the cooler well-insulated and at a consistent temperature to prevent food from thawing and spoiling.
