Your camper provides you with one of the most convenient ways to camp. It’s easy to take along a wide variety of food for meals, and you don’t have to worry about how they will be cooked. You have a refrigerator to keep foods cold, and you can even leave canned goods in the camper cabinets in between trips. However, the convenience you love can also put you at risk for food poisoning if you aren’t careful. Remember these important tips to protect yourself the next time you head out on the road.
Allow Time for the Refrigerator to Cool
If you are heading out on the road, remember that it can take up to eight hours for your refrigerator to reach the proper temperature. Turn it on to start cooling before you start packing the camper. Wait until right before you leave before putting the food in the refrigerator, so you can be confident that the food will stay cool.
If you are traveling to your seasonal campsite and you turn the refrigerator off when you aren’t there, then pack the food in ice chests. As soon as you arrive at the campground, turn on the refrigerator to start cooling while you unpack everything. Put the ice chest inside the camper in the coolest area, but leave the food inside the chest until the refrigerator has cooled down.
Seasonal Camper Refrigerator Concerns
If you are out at your seasonal campsite on a regular basis, then it is better to just let the refrigerator run while you are gone. Ask the campground owners to notify you if the power goes out for any reason, so you can go out and turn the refrigerator back on. Leave a bowl of ice in the freezer when you aren’t there. Before unpacking your food from the ice chest, check the ice for signs of melting. If the ice has started melting, you cannot trust any of the dairy or meat products that were in your refrigerator and freezer.
Check Expiration Dates
It’s easy to forget that the mayonnaise you packed at the start of the season was already opened at the time. Before making meals on the road, always check the expiration date. This is especially important if you leave food in the camper in between camping trips.
With these easy tips, you can protect yourself from the dangers of food poisoning. Food is often left in campers to be used on the next trip, and that leaves the door open for them to expire. Always check expiration dates, allow your refrigerator time to cool down and use your telltale bowl of ice in the freezer if you leave the refrigerator running when you are not in the camper.
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