Keep the cold water in the cooler or dump it out?

[Long Shot]

The debate rages on with my camping pals. Some are of the opinion that the water that forms as the cooler ice melts, should be dumped out.

Others think that it is actually better to leave the water in as it is still cold and can help to preserve the ice that's left over. (my thoughts too)

Let's hear some input. I'm going to the desert on Friday, and I plan on pickin' a fight!!!! Hahahaha not. It's always in good fun, but more arrows in my quiver would be nice.

What say you?

Thanks Long Shot

[miked2345]

I leave the cold water in the cooler and add ice to it... Here's my reasoning.. Put a number of cans or bottles in a cooler, dump a bag of ice over the top. Will they get cold? yup.. but not as fast as a can or bottle in a cooler with ICE COLD water in it. (Water that still has floating ice in it.) The reason is if the can is completely in the water, the WHOLE surface area of the can (or bottle) is in contact with the icey water.

if the can is in just ice, then only parts of the can are in contact with the ice.

Of course, after the SHTF, we won't have ice... so it's all a mute point.

[Grand58742]

I'm of the same mind as Mike. Seems like there really isn't a huge difference time wise in water and ice versus just ice.

Having said that, the best I've found was the mountain snow in Colorado on a Memorial Day trip one year. Ran out of ice on day 3 of 5, nearest was 45 minutes one way, snow cap was only ten minutes. Worked like a champ and free to boot lol

[Lowdown3]

From one of the few times I was probably paying attention in science class I remember something to the effect of the motion of moving around say water or soda in a glass that has ice, makes the drink colder. I would assume that the similar thing applies. Little movement in the cooler, moving things around making them colder.

I think the water helps- to a point. When it's mostly water not so much.

[rockriver]

leave the water in
arrow 1. when you open the lid. lots of 80degree air goes in.
if there is 40 degree water in there... very little 80 deg. air... and the 40 degree water will still be ? 41 degrees.

arrow 2. ice will stay ice in 40degree water a lot longer than ice in air. easier to maintain the 40 deg in the mass of the water than in air... i made that one up!

[kev80]

I leave the water in but I add a little salt , it gets really cold. And the salt adds a little favor to the beer.

[All Talk]

The water has thermal mass (I am repeating what rockriver is alluding to). Provided the water is at a lower temperature than the itesm you are cooling therein (or is at or below a temperature you would like the beer to be) rthen you should leave it in. If the water is warmer than you want the stored items to be, you should pour it out and add new ice.

Bear in mind that when water and ice are together in the cooler (assuming the water came from melted ice), the water will not warm up apprecialbly over 32 degrees unitl (most of) the ice has melted. This is called the transition point between states. Something similar happens at 212 degrees -- to superheat steam, it first has to be removed from the boiler that contains liquid water.

Source: The physics and thermodynamics I learned getting an engineering degree, and the propulsion systems contnet I learned as a naval officer.

[Long Shot]

Good arrows. I should be able to do some real dazzling :cool:

[Grand58742]

The water has thermal mass (I am repeating what rockriver is alluding to). Provided the water is at a lower temperature than the itesm you are cooling therein (or is at or below a temperature you would like the beer to be) rthen you should leave it in. If the water is warmer than you want the stored items to be, you should pour it out and add new ice.

Bear in mind that when water and ice are together in the cooler (assuming the water came from melted ice), the water will not warm up apprecialbly over 32 degrees unitl (most of) the ice has melted. This is called the transition point between states. Something similar happens at 212 degrees -- to superheat steam, it first has to be removed from the boiler that contains liquid water.

Source: The physics and thermodynamics I learned getting an engineering degree, and the propulsion systems contnet I learned as a naval officer.

I think you lost me after the word "water..."

Pretty sure Matt is going to be looking for the pop up book. "Pictures for the big words." :D :D :D

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Pretty sure Matt is going to be looking for the pop up book. "Pictures for the big words." :D :D :D

I think we are going to have some personal testimony real soon on which is cooler once I stuff someone in the cooler

I leave my water in there when its deer or other game because it does keep the meat cooler and it also begins to soak out the gamey taste as well oh and latin thermosoemthinrotherurmother leastusmycupuswontbechecked thingabober Grand

[Grand58742]

I think we are going to have some personal testimony real soon on which is cooler once I stuff someone in the cooler

I just can't help seeing the scene from the movie "The Great Escape" with Steve McQueen and the German guard.

"Cooler!"