Cooler/fridge and cooking question

There are basically 3 types of refrigeration technologies.

1) Compressor -- this is what is found in almost all modern full size kitchen refrigerators. They also make dorm or truck size ones as well.
Pros: Inexpensive (price starts at about $99 at walmart)
Will cool to mid 30's in fridge section
May have freezer section
Cons: Usually 120v only (12v can be found but usually quite expensive)
Hi power consumption
Noisey
Not so reliable in truck because of vibration and shock


2) Thermo Electric Cooler -- this is what is found in most camping and truck "coolers". Uses solid state cooling device.
Pros: No moving part (except maybe small fan)
12 v
Very little power draw
Quiet
Very inexpensive
Very durable
Usually designed to be portable
Cons: Only cools to about mid 50's so food does not last as long
No freezer section


3) Absorption Refrigerator -- This is the type your grandparents would of had. Still used in large industrial refrigeration plants. Also quit popular in RV settings. This is what I have.
Pros: No moving parts.
Most will take 120v or 12v
Some will also run on propane.
Very quite
Very reliable
Cools to mid 30s
Some have freezer section

 

Sorry , accidentally submitted before I was finished
Pros: (continues) Dorm,rv, and truck sizes availible
Stand up well to shock and vibration

Cons: Somewhat expensive (smallest start at about $250)
Not designed to be portable
Need space for good air flow around heat exchanges in back to work properly.



To find examples of these go to amazon and search for "absorption refrigerator"

 

Engel refrigerators are 12 volt, they have an actual compressor and can be dialled down to below freezing. Pushing $1,000 though, but uses very little power.
12 Volt Fridge Freezers

 

I have one of these and it's super compact but has a good bit of room. I have mine in bewteen the front console and passenger seat. The floor AC blows around it and it can get cold enough to crystallize my milk. LOL

https://www.amazon.com/Koolatron-P-...d=1503768764&sr=8-5&keywords=koolatron+cooler

(Amazon is just for reference, I'm sure you can find a refirb or sale somewhere)

 

How about a "lunchbox" cooker and Yeti cooler? Yeti claims 6-10 day ice retention, and my wife and I have cooked food from start to finish in one of those lunchboxes. We forgot to bring about half of our pre cooked food (home cooked) with us one week and decided to try actual cooking in the lunchbox instead of just reheating. Chicken and cheese burgers both came out great.

Oops. Baked potatoes also.

The Yeti is expensive, but then you only need one bag of ice per week.

 

Yeti makes a great ice box but no insulated box can keep the interior cold, after repeatedly opening it. Those claims are assuming it's pre-cooled and not opened. Start opening them repeatedly during the day and then the best ones won't perform much better than the cheaper ones. Save your money.