Hi All,

This is my first post here and it seemed appropriate to make an attempt at a contribution rather than asking for something.

This morning as I was re-filling an empty half gallon milk carton to place in the freezer I thought I'd share this simple habit. My wife and I always keep a half dozen or so half gallon milk cartons of ice in our freezer which we use mostly when grocery shopping. Before leaving on a shopping trip, we fill the bottom of an ice chest with the cartons of ice then, after shopping, place all our frozen and cold sensitive items in the ice chest. Not only does this keep our food in optimum condition, but for us, the major benefit is that it buys us time as now we don't have to immediately rush back home and put all our food away. We try to make all our trips count and combine as many activities into a given excursion as possible. I recall one time when we visited some friends after a shopping trip and came home very late. Too tired to unload the car, we just left everything in the cooler overnight and unloaded the following morning.

BTW, this is a diverse and intelligent group that, from what I have seen, gets along well for the most part. I'm glad to join you.

Greg

Very nice, simple idea. THanks and welcome - Joe

Yeah.  In winter time, just set them on the porch at night, and bring them in in the morning. 
A full freezer will not cycle as often as a half full one...saves you electricity.

      I have never purchased ice or brought along those blue freezer packs for the camping cooler. Frozen steaks, cartons of milk and other frozen goods work just fine. I've also filled the bottom 2 inches of a cooler with water and left it in the freezer overnight. If the trip lasts a long time I purchase frozen concentrated juice and frozen vegetables. These are things we need anyway and they don't get everything all wet as melted ice does.

John Polk wrote:
Yeah.  In winter time, just set them on the porch at night, and bring them in in the morning. 
A full freezer will not cycle as often as a half full one...saves you electricity.

good call!