Football season is right around the corner and we all know what that means: tailgating! While I will confess that I'm not the most dedicated sports fan, I'm always down for coming to games simply to eat, drink, and be merry (while supporting the team of course).
When prepping for this weekend's tailgate, here are some tips to make the most out of your cooler.
1. Get the right cooler.
Before you even attempt to fill a cooler with all of your necessary game-time snacks, make sure you're using the right one. If you really want to keep things cold, make sure you are buying a cooler that has thick walls that will insulate your food well. Also make sure that your cooler has a secure lid that won't let out any leaks.
I If you're looking to buy a new cooler, try Yeti brand coolers. They're all the rage right now due to their insane ability to keep food and drinks at their absolute coldest.
2. Customize your cooler.
Once you've found the perfect cooler, customize it with your own personal touches by painting it or attaching stickers. Fraternity coolers are extremely popular on college campuses, and you'll be the envy of the tailgate with a cooler that is uniquely yours.
Get inspired by painting your favorite types of booze, team or your college logo. Painting a cooler is an easy and fun way to show your school spirit.
3. Keep it ice cold.
Keeping your food and drinks ice cold is the sole purpose of bringing a cooler to the game, so you might as well do it right. Try freezing a large block of ice in a cake pan or casserole dish the night before. The larger the ice, the slower it will melt.
In addition, make sure the foods and drinks you're adding to the cooler are cold as well. Starting out with warm foods or drinks will make everything else in the cooler heat up faster.
4. Keep your food dry.
So you've added a ton of ice, and well, eventually that's all going to melt. There's nothing worse then reaching into a cooler and pulling out a soggy wet sandwich.
Keep your food as dry as possible by sealing it in plastic Tupperware or bags.
#SpoonTip: Try using wire baking racks to separate your food from the ice at the bottom of your cooler.
5. Get organized.
Keep track of what you actually put into your cooler by labeling everything. Make a mental note of where you packed things so you don't have to go digging through the cooler later to find something.
6. Use layers.
When packing your cooler, make sure to put items that need to be kept extra cold towards the bottom, and keep more fragile items such as sandwiches and chips at the top. Second to the soggy sandwich, a smashed sandwich is the least desirable game day snack.
7. Store food in mason jars.
Mason jars are an easy way to store salads and other healthy options you may want to bring with you. Plus they're portable and easy to carry. For example, making a layered taco salad in mason jars is sure to be a hit.
8. Pack for a crowd.
Once people see the delicious goods you've got in your cooler, they'll be lining up to have some too. Try making small finger foods, like these King's Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders, that are easy for people to grab and take on the go.
#SpoonTip: Always bring extra.
9. Have a separate drink cooler.
If possible, try and keep your drinks and food in separate coolers. People tend to drink much quicker than they eat and will be opening and closing the cooler often. To ensure your food stays cold and fresh, keep it in a separate cooler that won't be opened as frequently.