Staples

"Of course our resident outdoorsman is also an expert at cooler Jenga. Here’s how he keeps things chill on the road.A.Delicate items—maybe some ham sandos or a bag of frozen grapes—go on top with items you’ll want quick access to, like that bottle of homemade ’booch.B.Add smaller ice packs to keep the cold consistent. Whatever you’ve got in the freezer will do. The key is to fill your cooler completely because empty air heats faster.C.Heavy stuff like cans of soda should be carefully arranged on the bottom of the cooler where they can support lighter stuff without squishing anything.D.Forget the big bag of melting ice. Instead, line the bottom of your cooler with reusable ice packs—just make sure they’re the hard plastic type that doesn’t rip!E.Keep it clean! Nothing worse than a nasty cooler. Soap and water should do the trick, but you can scrub out the interior with a little bleach if things get real bad.*Good gear is key. I’m a Yeti guy. They make the best coolers, like this indestructibleRoadie 24 Hard Cooler($200;yeti.com), which fits in the front seat but holds plenty of fuel for the trip.—Brad Leone, Test Kitchen video host" - ByThe Bon Appétit Staff