Each summer, long road trips come with some challenges. One is how to keep food safe (affiliate) for everyone to eat after a few hours of driving in the hot, sticky weather. This summer, we are planning a road trip, and when researching how to take food with us, I came across these products from Amazon (affiliate) (affiliate).
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (affiliate), and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Topics
- Hard Insulated Plastic Coolers for Larger Cars
- On the Seat Insulated Coolers
- Back of the Car Seat Organizers
- Electric Coolers for the Car
- Prep Food Tips For On The Go to Keep Them Safe to Eat:
- More Tips to Keep Food Safe While Traveling
- Frequently Asked Questions on how to keep food safe while traveling this summer
Key Takeaways
- Use insulated containers and ice packs to keep food safe (affiliate) during summer road trips.
- Choose hard plastic coolers (affiliate) for larger cars, and on-the-seat coolers for kids.
- Freeze items like grapes and yogurt (affiliate) to double as ice packs and snacks.
- Be cautious with perishable foods, and avoid leaving them out of the cooler for long.
- Prep food in advance and store it in labeled containers for easier access while traveling.
Products to keep food safe on the go
First, you need a container that has some insulation. It can be a hard plastic cooler with wheels or a fabric one with insulated liners. Adding ice packs to it will help keep it cold longer. Keep in mind that you will need to refreeze them when they melt if you use ice packs.
Hard Insulated Plastic Coolers for Larger Cars
The hard plastic coolers (affiliate) work well but may move around unless you strap them into a particular area. It's great for minivans or SUVs where you have more floor space. If you have a pass-through crossover, something like the one below works great because the kids can reach behind them to get their food, and it doesn't need to be at their feet.
Ask yourself, how will you and your kids reach the food while you are in the vehicle? This will help you determine which one works best for you. Food in a well-insulated cooler (affiliate) will help keep your food cold for several hours.
Car Large Cooler Option
Cooler, Insulated Large Ice Chest with Portable Handles
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Pro Tip: Pack your cooler tightly. A full cooler stays cold much longer than a half-empty one. Fill any gaps with extra ice packs or even rolled-up kitchen towels to reduce air space.
On the Seat Insulated Coolers
These on-the-seat insulated coolers (affiliate) are great for the kid on the go. They have many side pockets for toys and books. And the inside can store the food for each child. Nice for kids with specific food preferences. It also works for kids who have dietary restrictions. Each child could have their own bin. This would work great in a minivan where the children can spread out.
Backseat storage option
Cooler Car Seat OrganizerMulti-Pocket Travel Insulated Drinks Holder Cooler
Buy Now →(affiliate)
I did a review about Mollie Ollie (affiliate) Mimmo Caddy (affiliate), which worked great for non-refrigerated snacks. Check the review out: 9 WAYS TO USE MOLLIE OLLIE MIMMO CADDY TO ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE
Back of the Car Seat Organizers
These back-of-the-car seat organizers (affiliate) work well for smaller crossovers or sedans. They give the kids places to store their drinks, snacks, and activities. Each of our children had their own back-of-the-seat storage organizer. They held things like colored pencil boxes (affiliate), notepads, DVDs for the DVD player, video game devices, etc. It really helped reduce the arguing issues during the trip.
Another Backseat Storage Option
Back of the Car Seat Organizer 2 PCS
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Pro Tip: Use a small zipper pouch inside the seat organizer to hold individually wrapped non-perishable snacks (granola bars, trail mix pouches, crackers). These are great for quick grabs without opening the cooler every five minutes.
Electric Coolers for the Car
The electric coolers for the car (affiliate) above, along with the insulated pocket, helped keep drinks and water from getting too hot in the summer. I never used this one before, but it looks really neat. Add a frozen water bottle with the other drinks to keep them cool; you don't need an ice pack. =)
Fabric cooler for the car
Electric Cooler Cooler Plug in 12V Car Cooler Bag, 26 qt (25 L)
Buy Now →(affiliate)
This electric cooler (affiliate) is great for larger cars or minivans that have extra lighters to keep food cold while driving. The downside is that if you leave the car off for hours, your drinks will probably be warm. 
Electric Cooler 12 Volt Option
Electric Cooler 12 Volt Refrigerator 12V Car Fridge 21 Quart Portable
Buy Now →(affiliate)
Taking a pet with you on your vacation? These are products for your furry family. They need food and water, too. I like that this one has multiple compartments for storing pet essentials. If you have soft dog food, be sure you have a cool place to store it. You wouldn't want your pet to get sick on the road. That is not fun at all.
Pro Tip: If you are using an electric cooler (affiliate), plug it in the night before your trip with the lid closed so it is already cold before you load it with food. Starting it at room temperature means it has to work much harder - and your food may not cool quickly enough.
Below are a few additional tips to make your trip a great success.
After installing these items in your vehicle, finding the right container to fit is crucial. These reusable food pouches (affiliate) are great for storing homemade baby food. Be sure to keep it in a cool place.
What's nice is that they can be washed out, reused, and stacked easily. I wish I had had these when my kids were little. We used the mini glass mason jars (affiliate), which were very clunky and heavy to carry. 
Look for containers built into the coolers. Removable dividers will not work because the food will slide under them. Keeping food separated from liquid items will help them stay fresh. The containers should also be locked on several sides.
Prep Food Tips For On The Go to Keep Them Safe to Eat:
- Let hot food cool to room temperature before storing it in a cold place.
- Label (affiliate) your food containers (affiliate) with the name of each item and the date they were created and stored.
- Homemade sandwiches work great. Limit cheese and other lunch meats. PB&J is a great option.
- Individual snack packages are great for kids. However, they create more trash, but you can find rest stops to recycle or trash the wrappers.
- Look for multipurpose items. The night before leaving, freeze larger water bottles to use as ice packets in larger coolers. Then, after they melt, you can drink from them.
- Pre-portion snacks into small reusable containers before you leave. It saves time, reduces mess, and means you are not digging through a full cooler while driving.
- Pack a small cutting board (affiliate) and knife in a blade guard. Great for slicing fruit or cheese at a rest stop picnic table instead of trying to prep food in a car.
- Wrap sandwiches in parchment paper (affiliate) instead of plastic wrap. It breathes better, helps prevent sogginess, and is easier to open with one hand.
- Keep a roll of paper towels and a small bottle of dish soap in your car kit. Wiping down hands and containers at rest stops makes the whole trip more hygienic and organized.
- Separate raw proteins from everything else - if you are packing raw meat for a cookout at your destination, store it in a sealed bag at the very bottom of the cooler where it is coldest, away from ready-to-eat foods.
More Tips to Keep Food Safe While Traveling
Keeping food safe (affiliate) while traveling in summer heat comes down to four things: the right container, the right temperature, the right food choices, and smart timing. Here are a few more habits that make a big difference:
Before you leave home:
- Chill your cooler with ice or ice packs for 30 minutes before loading it. A pre-chilled cooler keeps food colder much longer.
- Use block ice in addition to crushed ice. Block ice melts more slowly and keeps the cooler colder for a full day or more.
- Freeze items like grapes, string cheese, and yogurt (affiliate) tubes the night before. They act as extra ice packs and are ready to eat by snack time.
During the trip:
- Open the cooler as little as possible. Every time you open it, you let warm air in. Designate a snack bag or smaller bag for grab-and-go items so the main cooler stays shut.
- Keep the cooler out of direct sunlight. If it is in the trunk (affiliate), crack a window or cover it with a light-colored towel or blanket to deflect heat.
- The temperature danger zone for perishable food is between 40°F and 140°F. In hot summer weather, do not leave perishable food out of a cooler for more than 1 hour.
At your rest stops:
- Toss any perishable item you are not sure about. When in doubt, throw it out - food poisoning on a road trip is miserable.
- Refill ice at gas stations or grocery stores if your trip is longer than a day. Most gas stations sell bags of ice for just a few dollars.
- Wash hands before handling food, especially for children. Keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer (affiliate) in an easy-to-reach spot in the car.
Frequently Asked Questions on how to keep food safe while traveling this summer
It depends on how well-insulated the cooler is and how much ice or ice packs are used. In a high-quality hard-sided cooler with plenty of ice, perishable food can safely stay cold for 24 to 48 hours. In a soft-sided insulated bag, plan on food staying safe for about 4 to 8 hours in summer heat. The key is keeping the cooler temperature at or below 40°F. If you do not have a cooler thermometer, pick one up - they are inexpensive and take the guesswork out of it.
Foods that hold up well in a cooler include hard-boiled eggs, string cheese, baby carrots, grapes, apple slices, hummus cups, deli wraps (eaten within a few hours), and cold pasta salads with vinaigrette. For no-refrigeration options, peanut butter crackers, trail mix, dried fruit, granola bars, and fresh fruit like bananas and oranges are great choices.
Yes! Frozen water bottles are one of my favorite hacks. They work just as well as ice packs, they do not create a wet mess when they melt, and once they thaw, you have cold water to drink. Freeze them the night before your trip and layer them throughout your cooler.
A few tricks help a lot: pack condiments like mayo and mustard in small separate containers and spread them when you eat, not before. Wrap sandwiches tightly in parchment paper.
Keep wetter ingredients like tomatoes in a small zip bag and layer them on at lunchtime. Toasted or heartier bread also holds up better than soft white bread.
No - a parked car in summer can reach temperatures well over 100°F very quickly, which is well into the danger zone for bacterial growth. Never leave perishable food in a hot car, even for a short stop. If you are stepping out, bring your cooler or insulated bag with you or leave the car running with the AC on.
It depends on your car and family size. A hard-sided insulated cooler (affiliate) is best for large families with an SUV or minivan - it holds more and stays cold longer. For smaller cars or shorter trips, a soft-sided on-the-seat cooler (affiliate) or back-of-seat organizer with insulated pockets (affiliate) works beautifully. If you take a lot of long trips, an electric 12V cooler (affiliate) is worth the investment.
For dry pet food, keep it in an airtight container or zip-top bag in a cool spot in the car. For wet or raw pet food, treat it like people food - store it in a cooler with ice packs and keep it at or below 40°F. Bring a collapsible bowl and make sure your pet has fresh water at every stop. Check out our pet organizing ideas post for more pet travel essentials.
I hope these products and tips will help you keep your food protected while traveling this summer. Please share your tips below on how you protect your food while driving in the heat. I would love to hear from you!
If you are looking for some more ways to keep food safe this summer, check out these posts I found online and from our blog.
10 Mistakes to Avoid on a Road Trip, According to Experts from Travel and Leisure Magazine
20 Expert-Backed Tips For An Epic Road Trip from HuffPost
24 Useful Items for Your Family's Organized Car by Sabrina's Organizing
7 easy Tips for Packing for Long Trips by Sabrina's Organizing
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (affiliate), and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Franklin says
Thanks Sabrina. It's really great tips for people like me who travels a lot. Thank you so much for sharing such informative way of keeping foods safe.
Erica says
It is a great idea to be prepared with food when going on a long trip. If you aren't prepared, that means frequent stops at fast food restaurants which is expensive and unhealthy. I like the option of each child having their own bin. It probably leads to less fighting as well.
Doreen Pendgracs says
Thx for this terrific post, Sabrina. We are so fortunate in today's world that we have many options for transporting food that is safe and convenient. It makes it a lot more fun and a lot easier to get out there and have picnics!
William Rusho says
These are wonderful tips.
The frozen water bottle is the best little known secret. I have used that when I go hiking. Keeping another drink next to it keeps it cold, and it can be used as a compress if you ever hurt yourself.
Another tip for this, is when you are away on your trip and your pet is left home. Put a small frozen water bottle sitting in your pets water bowl. Will keep the water cool for your dog or cat all day long.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Dan Meyers says
Thanks for the great post, this will be very relevant for us over the next few months when we take our extended road trip.
Sarah Soboleski says
I love the blue bins that fit in the backseat and have room for toys. And the plastic containers with the dividers are perfect for the kids who don't like their food touching each other!
Jeri says
I do a lot of camping and I find the containers with the snap lids you've pictured here worth their weight in gold. Regular tupperware container lids are never truly watertight, but the snap lids are so awesome. I still have yet to invest in a steel cooler, but will one of these days. It's amazing how much longer ice lasts in one of those as opposed to the more common (and affordable) plastic ones.
Ken Dowell says
Those are some pretty innovative insulated storage containers. Never really know such variety was available. I've always used the classic Coleman cooler.
Marquita Herald says
These are great tips! I especially like the cooler from Amazon, but any of these would work well for road trips - my favorite kind of travel! Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
Liana George says
Great tips Sabrina! We don't travel much by car anymore but I will definitely be sharing these products and ideas with everyone I know that does! Wonderful post 🙂
RoseMary Griffith says
Good ideas. My brother has one of those plug-in coolers and they do work great. We've got a road trip coming up, so I'll keep these tips in mind!
Seana Turner says
Important not to end up eating spoiled food! I always wished that cars has a built-in cooler (and also self-heating cup holder). Even if I had to add the ice pack, having it built in somewhere would be so convenient!
Kristina Rylova says
Sabrina,
great advice!
Thanks for sharing it with us!
Janet Barclay says
We minimize what we need to bring by planning to shop a couple of days after we arrive at our destination. That way we only need to take enough food to last the first couple of days. We also use several small coolers, which are much easier to carry than one large one.
lenie says
Taking food along when traveling in the summer does require extra thought - your tips will help keep things safe.
Phoenicia says
Excellent tips Sabrina but I cannot help but smile as it is pouring with rain here in the UK!
With young children you cannot travel far without snacks unless you are willing to pay over and above in convenience stores.
As you have stated it is important we store foods appropriately to reduce risk of food poisoning and other sicknesses.
Catarina says
Excellent suggestions on how to keep food safe on the go, Sabrina. Grew up with my parents using coolers for anything that needed to stay cold and they worked. At least none of us got sick when we were out a whole day in our boat in the archipelago eating the food from the coolers.