I make a 90 mile trip to Costco abt once a month to
stock up on foods.... frozen foods mainly.

I tried using a medium size hard shell cooler to keep
the frozen foods in during the trip home, but it is a
pain in rear and just unworkable overall.

Now I'm looking for some really heavy duty insulated
grocery bags for this duty. Costco has some plastic
material ones that are plenty big but look like they
wont last more than a few trips.

Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?

On Apr 9, 8:10*am, wrote:
> I make a 90 mile trip to Costco abt once a month to
> stock up on foods.... frozen foods mainly.
>
> I tried using a medium size hard shell cooler to keep
> the frozen foods in during the trip home, but it is a
> pain in rear and just unworkable overall.
>
> Now I'm looking for some really heavy duty insulated
> grocery bags for this duty. Costco has some plastic
> material ones that are plenty big but look like they
> wont last more than a few trips.
>
> Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?

These are the best!!
http://www.norchill.com/servlet/StoreFront

On Sat, 09 Apr 2011 10:10:43 -0500, wrote:

>I make a 90 mile trip to Costco abt once a month to
>stock up on foods.... frozen foods mainly.
>
>I tried using a medium size hard shell cooler to keep
>the frozen foods in during the trip home, but it is a
>pain in rear and just unworkable overall.
>
>Now I'm looking for some really heavy duty insulated
>grocery bags for this duty. Costco has some plastic
>material ones that are plenty big but look like they
>wont last more than a few trips.
>
>Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?

I've always used a large hard-shell cooler with wheels filled halfway
with ice. It only takes me a few minutes to pack it with my purchases
and then only one lift to get it from the vehicle at home. Then I just
roll it into the house and unpack it. I carry two of them if I'm
getting a lot of cold or frozen items. It works great for me.

I'm thinking of buying this:
http://www.compactappliance.com/FP43...Travel_Coolers

Minus 8F and 12 volt. It would be perfect for long road trips,
camping, power outages and long store runs.

My van even has a power outlet in the back for it.

On Apr 9, 11:10*am, wrote:
> I make a 90 mile trip to Costco abt once a month to
> stock up on foods.... frozen foods mainly.
>
> I tried using a medium size hard shell cooler to keep
> the frozen foods in during the trip home, but it is a
> pain in rear and just unworkable overall.
>
> Now I'm looking for some really heavy duty insulated
> grocery bags for this duty. Costco has some plastic
> material ones that are plenty big but look like they
> wont last more than a few trips.
>
> Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?

Not to get off topic, but is that 90 miles roundtrip? How much do you
spend on a trip to offset that gas-wear-and-tear cost?? Have you
costed out the same food out at your local supmkt?

I'd stick with the cooler and ice method - otherwise, the price of
bags I'd have to factor in.

"Chemo the Clown" > wrote
>> Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?
>
> These are the best!!
> http://www.norchill.com/servlet/StoreFront

I bet they are the best. but for that kind of money, I can buy a lot of foam
coolers and after a dozen trips, put them in the recycle bin.

On Sat, 9 Apr 2011 13:15:16 -0400, "Ed Pawlowski" >
wrote:

>
> "Chemo the Clown" > wrote
> >> Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?
> >
> > These are the best!!
> > http://www.norchill.com/servlet/StoreFront
>
> I bet they are the best. but for that kind of money, I can buy a lot of foam
> coolers and after a dozen trips, put them in the recycle bin.

They're on sale now for $20. Think ahead... Mother's Day is coming!


--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

wrote:
> I make a 90 mile trip to Costco abt once a month to
> stock up on foods.... frozen foods mainly.
>
> I tried using a medium size hard shell cooler to keep
> the frozen foods in during the trip home, but it is a
> pain in rear and just unworkable overall.
>
> Now I'm looking for some really heavy duty insulated
> grocery bags for this duty. Costco has some plastic
> material ones that are plenty big but look like they
> wont last more than a few trips.
>
> Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?

If you want insulated, get the Rachael Ray set that the sell. It comes with
a lunch tote. Keeps food cold for hours.

On Apr 9, 12:15*pm, "Ed Pawlowski" > wrote:
> "Chemo the Clown" > wrote
>
> >> Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?
>
> > These are the best!!
> >http://www.norchill.com/servlet/StoreFront
>
> I bet they are the best. but for that kind of money, I can buy a lot of foam
> coolers and after a dozen trips, put them in the recycle bin.

Styrofoam doesn't recycle.

--Bryan

On Apr 9, 1:52*pm, Sqwertz > wrote:
> On Sat, 9 Apr 2011 11:24:22 -0700, Julie Bove wrote:
> > If you want insulated, get the Rachael Ray set that the sell. *It comes with
> > a lunch tote. *Keeps food cold for hours.
>
> Anything with Rachel's name on it is overpriced and can be found
> cheaper. *It's the #1 rule for any celebrity endorsed products (unless
> it's Pee-Wee Herman or Mike Tyson).

I got a great deal on a Michael Vick brand doghouse.
>
> -sw

--Bryan

wrote:
> I make a 90 mile trip to Costco abt once a month to
> stock up on foods.... frozen foods mainly.
>
> I tried using a medium size hard shell cooler to keep
> the frozen foods in during the trip home, but it is a
> pain in rear and just unworkable overall.
>
> Now I'm looking for some really heavy duty insulated
> grocery bags for this duty. Costco has some plastic
> material ones that are plenty big but look like they
> wont last more than a few trips.
>
> Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?

You might want to check your supermarket.
Here, Giant Food sells a large cloth bag, with a zippered top and
lined with a metallic-covered insulation, for $2.00. Bargain of the
year but I don't know how it would work if you're travelling a long
distance. From store to home it should be fine.

"Bryan" > wrote
>> I bet they are the best. but for that kind of money, I can buy a lot of
>> foam
>> coolers and after a dozen trips, put them in the recycle bin.
>
> Styrofoam doesn't recycle.
>
> --Bryan

Yes, it does. Look for the #6 in the recycle logo on many foam coolers.
My company recycles it every day. We take it from both consumers and
industry. It is 100% recyclable. Want a picture of the setup we have? It
was about $75,000 ten years ago when we put it in. The used foam is ground
and blown into a storage bag. It is then blended with virgin material for
molding into new items.

Oh, the coolers are not Styrofoam either. Styrofoam is the registered
trademark of the blue extruded EPS board made by Dow Chemical while coolers
are made from molded food grade expandable polystyrene.

Another method of recycling EPS is to densify it. It is compressed to about
30 pounds per cubic foot and sent to plastics processing plants that use the
styrene as an ingredient in either blends or pure general purpose styrene
molding grades.

http://www.epspackaging.org/
http://www.plasticsindustry.org/Abou...temNumber=1125

http://www.epspackaging.org/index.ph...=10&It emid=7
..The 2008 EPS Recycling Rate Report shows that over 69 million pounds of EPS
were recycled, including 34.6 million pounds of post-consumer packaging and
35.8 million pounds of post-industrial packaging.
..In 2008, more than 50% of all EPS collected for recycling was used to make
recycled-content packaging.
.In 2008, more than 50% of all EPS collected for recycling was used to make
recycled-content packaging.
..EPS is made of 98% air and is an inert material without harmful chemicals
that off-gas or leach during its use of disposal.
.EPS represents less than 1% of the solid waste stream by weight.

On Apr 9, 11:10*am, wrote:
> I make a 90 mile trip to Costco abt once a month to
> stock up on foods.... frozen foods mainly.
>
> I tried using a medium size hard shell cooler to keep
> the frozen foods in during the trip home, but it is a
> pain in rear and just unworkable overall.
>
> Now I'm looking for some really heavy duty insulated
> grocery bags for this duty. Costco has some plastic
> material ones that are plenty big but look like they
> wont last more than a few trips.
>
> Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?

Saw these on QVC last weekend and they looked like they held a lot.
Got great reviews... check them out.

http://tinyurl.com/455hdmw

They work with hot and cold foods, as well.

Kalmia wrote:
> On Apr 9, 11:10 am, wrote:
>> I make a 90 mile trip to Costco abt once a month to
>> stock up on foods.... frozen foods mainly.
>>
>> I tried using a medium size hard shell cooler to keep
>> the frozen foods in during the trip home, but it is a
>> pain in rear and just unworkable overall.
>>
>> Now I'm looking for some really heavy duty insulated
>> grocery bags for this duty. Costco has some plastic
>> material ones that are plenty big but look like they
>> wont last more than a few trips.
>>
>> Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?
>
> Not to get off topic, but is that 90 miles roundtrip? How much do you
> spend on a trip to offset that gas-wear-and-tear cost?? Have you
> costed out the same food out at your local supmkt?
>
> I'd stick with the cooler and ice method - otherwise, the price of
> bags I'd have to factor in.

My bags were not expensive at all. I can't remember the exact price. Maybe
$20 each but they also include a lunch tote. I used one of the lunch totes
at the last dance convention. Everything was cold even 10 hours later!
Well what was left in there. Which was only drinks. I use the large totes
not only when I go to Costco but when I go to the grocery store and am not
going straight home or if I go to a store far from my house and buy
something like ice cream.

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> "Bryan" > wrote
>>> I bet they are the best. but for that kind of money, I can buy a
>>> lot of foam
>>> coolers and after a dozen trips, put them in the recycle bin.
>>
>> Styrofoam doesn't recycle.
>>
>> --Bryan
>
> Yes, it does. Look for the #6 in the recycle logo on many foam
> coolers. My company recycles it every day. We take it from both consumers
> and
> industry. It is 100% recyclable. Want a picture of the setup we
> have? It was about $75,000 ten years ago when we put it in. The
> used foam is ground and blown into a storage bag. It is then blended
> with virgin material for molding into new items.
>
> Oh, the coolers are not Styrofoam either. Styrofoam is the registered
> trademark of the blue extruded EPS board made by Dow Chemical while
> coolers are made from molded food grade expandable polystyrene.
>
> Another method of recycling EPS is to densify it. It is compressed
> to about 30 pounds per cubic foot and sent to plastics processing
> plants that use the styrene as an ingredient in either blends or pure
> general purpose styrene molding grades.
>
> http://www.epspackaging.org/
> http://www.plasticsindustry.org/Abou...temNumber=1125
>
> http://www.epspackaging.org/index.ph...=10&It emid=7
> .The 2008 EPS Recycling Rate Report shows that over 69 million pounds
> of EPS were recycled, including 34.6 million pounds of post-consumer
> packaging and 35.8 million pounds of post-industrial packaging.
> .In 2008, more than 50% of all EPS collected for recycling was used
> to make recycled-content packaging.
> .In 2008, more than 50% of all EPS collected for recycling was used
> to make recycled-content packaging.
> .EPS is made of 98% air and is an inert material without harmful
> chemicals that off-gas or leach during its use of disposal.
> .EPS represents less than 1% of the solid waste stream by weight.

I didn't know you could recycle that stuff. I got it once when I ordered
those stuff from Omaha Steaks. Got another one when I ordered a
Thanksgiving meal. I got a lot of use out of those two. That year,
daughter and I did some lapidary and we used the coolers as work tables. If
I nicked it or spilled some glue on it, it didn't matter.

More recently I have gotten some with chocolate in them. But I broke them
up and threw them out. Next time I will recycle them.

Sqwertz wrote:
> On Sat, 9 Apr 2011 11:24:22 -0700, Julie Bove wrote:
>
>> If you want insulated, get the Rachael Ray set that the sell. It
>> comes with a lunch tote. Keeps food cold for hours.
>
> Anything with Rachel's name on it is overpriced and can be found
> cheaper. It's the #1 rule for any celebrity endorsed products (unless
> it's Pee-Wee Herman or Mike Tyson).

I disagree. I also have her pasta pot. It was expensive, but... It's the
only oval pot I know of. It's long enough to hold spaghetti without having
to bend or break it.

The bags were cheap. Costco sells them.

Dora wrote:
> wrote:
>> I make a 90 mile trip to Costco abt once a month to
>> stock up on foods.... frozen foods mainly.
>>
>> I tried using a medium size hard shell cooler to keep
>> the frozen foods in during the trip home, but it is a
>> pain in rear and just unworkable overall.
>>
>> Now I'm looking for some really heavy duty insulated
>> grocery bags for this duty. Costco has some plastic
>> material ones that are plenty big but look like they
>> wont last more than a few trips.
>>
>> Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?
>
> You might want to check your supermarket.
> Here, Giant Food sells a large cloth bag, with a zippered top and
> lined with a metallic-covered insulation, for $2.00. Bargain of the
> year but I don't know how it would work if you're travelling a long
> distance. From store to home it should be fine.

Those bags don't keep the food cold for long. Two hours max, and that's if
you put blue ice in them.

"Bryan" <wrote >Styrofoam doesn't recycle.

Of course it does. I used some styrofoam from my serger packaging to
protect pralines I shipped to our military in Afghanistan at Christmas.
They used it to pack a laptop being sent back home. When our Yorkie is
afraid of bad weather coming in, he retreats to his safe house built of
styrofoam packaging. (We don't know why it's safe - but he does.) It's
also great for stuffing a sack to kneel on when weeding the petunia bed.
Polly

"Sqwertz" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 9 Apr 2011 20:27:22 -0700, Julie Bove wrote:
>
>> Sqwertz wrote:
>>> On Sat, 9 Apr 2011 11:24:22 -0700, Julie Bove wrote:
>>>
>>>> If you want insulated, get the Rachael Ray set that the sell. It
>>>> comes with a lunch tote. Keeps food cold for hours.
>>>
>>> Anything with Rachel's name on it is overpriced and can be found
>>> cheaper. It's the #1 rule for any celebrity endorsed products (unless
>>> it's Pee-Wee Herman or Mike Tyson).
>>
>> I disagree. I also have her pasta pot. It was expensive, but... It's
>> the
>> only oval pot I know of. It's long enough to hold spaghetti without
>> having
>> to bend or break it.
>>
>> The bags were cheap. Costco sells them.
>
> Well, I've seen plenty of pots that are oval and can fit spaghetti.
> And I've never seen the bags at CostCo other than the CostCo brand
> blue bags.

I've not seen any blue bags. I have some Costco shopping totes. They are
multicolored but mainly green. Before I got the insulated bags, I would use
those, but wrap two or three around my items. I would not however keep them
in the van for long.

I have not seen any other oval pots but I have not really looked for them
either. I just saw her using the pasta pot on her show. I don't know why I
was watching it. I really can't stand her and normally would not watch the
show.
>
> ObFood: I ate a 1.5 quart container of ice cream the the last 28
> hours. Is that wrong? I didn't know it was "Light" ice cream until I
> got it home. So that's really only .75 quarts of REAL ice cream.
> Plus I've a temp of 101+ for 3 days and that seems to help
> temporarily.
>
> Beware "Light" Ice Cream. Dryers really disguises the package so it's
> hard to tell it's "Light"

Hmmm...

"Julie Bove" > wrote
> I didn't know you could recycle that stuff. I got it once when I ordered
> those stuff from Omaha Steaks. Got another one when I ordered a
> Thanksgiving meal. I got a lot of use out of those two.

If they are a decent size, keep on in the car in summer. Great for bringing
home frozen foods. I keep a 22 quart in the trunk.

resturant supply house, you want insulated delivery containers, look like
soft sided coolers, and imho smaller hard side coolers work well... when we
stock up, usually for the winter we just take the coolers in and have the
checker pack it in the coolers, means we don't have too its packed tighter
and no pesky bags to discard either,

Lee
> wrote in message
...
>I make a 90 mile trip to Costco abt once a month to
> stock up on foods.... frozen foods mainly.
>
> I tried using a medium size hard shell cooler to keep
> the frozen foods in during the trip home, but it is a
> pain in rear and just unworkable overall.
>
> Now I'm looking for some really heavy duty insulated
> grocery bags for this duty. Costco has some plastic
> material ones that are plenty big but look like they
> wont last more than a few trips.
>
> Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?

On Sat, 9 Apr 2011 22:52:39 -0500, Sqwertz >
wrote:

>On Sat, 9 Apr 2011 20:27:22 -0700, Julie Bove wrote:
>
>> Sqwertz wrote:
>>> On Sat, 9 Apr 2011 11:24:22 -0700, Julie Bove wrote:
>>>
>>>> If you want insulated, get the Rachael Ray set that the sell. It
>>>> comes with a lunch tote. Keeps food cold for hours.
>>>
>>> Anything with Rachel's name on it is overpriced and can be found
>>> cheaper. It's the #1 rule for any celebrity endorsed products (unless
>>> it's Pee-Wee Herman or Mike Tyson).
>>
>> I disagree. I also have her pasta pot. It was expensive, but... It's the
>> only oval pot I know of. It's long enough to hold spaghetti without having
>> to bend or break it.
>
>Well, I've seen plenty of pots that are oval and can fit spaghetti.

Any cheap oval porcelainized steel roaster, but why would anyone want
to... any 8qt stock pot will easily accomodate pisghetti without
having to break em... and they bend when cooked anyways... what, yer
gonna tie-wrap em in bundles and nail them to a board...

> > On Sat, 9 Apr 2011 11:24:22 -0700, Julie Bove wrote:
>
*I also have her pasta pot. *It was expensive, but... *It's the
> only oval pot I know of. *It's long enough to hold spaghetti without having
> to bend or break it.
>

Oval pot? Ya kin use yer oval roasting pan across two burners. Ya
know, that deep blue with white spots on it. Enamelware, is it?

On Apr 9, 3:57*pm, "Catmandy (Sheryl)" > wrote:
> On Apr 9, 11:10*am, wrote:
>
> > I make a 90 mile trip to Costco abt once a month to
> > stock up on foods.... frozen foods mainly.
>
> > I tried using a medium size hard shell cooler to keep
> > the frozen foods in during the trip home, but it is a
> > pain in rear and just unworkable overall.
>
> > Now I'm looking for some really heavy duty insulated
> > grocery bags for this duty. Costco has some plastic
> > material ones that are plenty big but look like they
> > wont last more than a few trips.
>
> > Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?
>
> Saw these on QVC last weekend and they looked like they held a lot.
> Got great reviews... check them out.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/455hdmw
>
> They work with hot and cold foods, as well.

I just read the reviews. Some beefs include zippers not completely
closing the openings, hot foods wrecking the lining, gap which let in
air, leaking, (they DO rec ice packs rather than ice cubes), etc.
The Made in China bit cured me. I'll stick with my Igloos, of which I
have from the 6 pack up to midget coffin size.

On Apr 10, 1:17*pm, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
> On Sat, 9 Apr 2011 22:52:39 -0500, Sqwertz >
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >On Sat, 9 Apr 2011 20:27:22 -0700, Julie Bove wrote:
>
> >> Sqwertz wrote:
> >>> On Sat, 9 Apr 2011 11:24:22 -0700, Julie Bove wrote:
>
> >>>> If you want insulated, get the Rachael Ray set that the sell. *It
> >>>> comes with a lunch tote. *Keeps food cold for hours.
>
> >>> Anything with Rachel's name on it is overpriced and can be found
> >>> cheaper. *It's the #1 rule for any celebrity endorsed products (unless
> >>> it's Pee-Wee Herman or Mike Tyson).
>
> >> I disagree. *I also have her pasta pot. *It was expensive, but... *It's the
> >> only oval pot I know of. *It's long enough to hold spaghetti without having
> >> to bend or break it.
>
> >Well, I've seen plenty of pots that are oval and can fit spaghetti.
>
> Any cheap oval porcelainized steel roaster, but why would anyone want
> to... any 8qt stock pot will easily accomodate pisghetti without
> having to break em... and they bend when cooked anyways... what, yer
> gonna tie-wrap em in bundles and nail them to a board...

Geez, this reminds me of the time a new bride asked us over for
supper. I walked into her kitchen and nearly shrieked. She'd put a
whole pound of spaghetti into a pan with all of an inch of water. It
stood in a bundle against the side of the pot. I couldn't believe
she'd never seen spaghetti cooked or read the side of the box. After
my lecture, she added a lot more water - before it turned into a
sodden mass. I have always been tempted to replicate this operation
at home, just to see what happens. Maybe she thought the spagh.
absorbed the steam or sumthin.

That marriage didn't last, by the way.

Sqwertz > wrote:

>I use the CostCo ones often. They're nto for carrying around your
>groceries 90 miles, but they are fine from taking them from the cart
>into the kitchen (you load them in the CostCo parking lot).

well maybe I will try the Costco ones after all

the price is right!

Bryan > wrote:

>I got a great deal on a Michael Vick brand doghouse.

Now THAT was funny! lol

"Julie Bove" > wrote in
:

>> Some stoves are not designed to handle cookware straddling
>> two burners, and some specifically carry a warning in the
>> user manual not to do that because damage can result. Glass
>> and ceramic cooktop covers can crack when this is done.
>
> This is not something that straddles 2 burners.

Two-burner cooktop griddles exist:

http://www.amana.com/accessories/cooking/cooks__tools/2
_burner_cooktop_griddle_4396096rb.pro

http://tinyurl.com/3tqbgwt

--

The Bible! Because all the works of science cannot equal the
wisdom of cattle-sacrificing primitives who thought every
animal species in the world lived within walking distance of
Noah's house.

On Apr 9, 10:10*am, wrote:
> I make a 90 mile trip to Costco abt once a month to
> stock up on foods.... frozen foods mainly.
>
> I tried using a medium size hard shell cooler to keep
> the frozen foods in during the trip home, but it is a
> pain in rear and just unworkable overall.
>
> Now I'm looking for some really heavy duty insulated
> grocery bags for this duty. Costco has some plastic
> material ones that are plenty big but look like they
> wont last more than a few trips.
>
> Anyone have advice on some really tough bags?

You might have really good luck looking at a camping/sports/outdoors
store.

N.

Michel Boucher wrote:
> "Julie Bove" > wrote in
> :
>
>>> Some stoves are not designed to handle cookware straddling
>>> two burners, and some specifically carry a warning in the
>>> user manual not to do that because damage can result. Glass
>>> and ceramic cooktop covers can crack when this is done.
>>
>> This is not something that straddles 2 burners.
>
> Two-burner cooktop griddles exist:
>
> http://www.amana.com/accessories/cooking/cooks__tools/2
> _burner_cooktop_griddle_4396096rb.pro
>
> http://tinyurl.com/3tqbgwt

Note that I did not write the above.

"Julie Bove" > wrote in news:invreo$d1s$1
@dont-email.me:

>> Two-burner cooktop griddles exist:
>>
>> http://www.amana.com/accessories/cooking/cooks__tools/2
>> _burner_cooktop_griddle_4396096rb.pro
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/3tqbgwt
>
> Note that I did not write the above.

Note that that in no way invalidates my comment :-)

--

The Bible! Because all the works of science cannot equal the
wisdom of cattle-sacrificing primitives who thought every
animal species in the world lived within walking distance of
Noah's house.