It is the first Saturday in September. It is warm. There is a patch of shade at the park and everyone is asking what is in the bag. Picnics seem easy, but the peace of the blanket starts before the bag is made. With some preparation, a bag will stay cold, and a calm system will land lunch on the grass crispy, chilled, and easily servable. September is the perfect month to build a routine for the rest of the Spring and Summer.
Build a fridge-to-cooler flow for reliable picnic food preparation
It is helpful to think of picnic preparation as a flow. Prep, chill, pack, serve. To protect texture and taste, keep the order simple.
• First, wash the berries, slice the cucumbers, and prep fresh items. If you do not want the bread to be soggy, do not let the fillings touch the bread.
• Freeze two ice packs the night before (and bring a bag of peas to use if needed as a block).
As the stated Beko fridge freezers have the ability to freeze ice packs, they also have the ability to quickly cool drinks and snacks down to serving temperature before leaving. Additionally, the NeoFrost Dual Cooling separates the fridge and freezer and reduces odour transfer between compartments. Some models have HarvestFresh lighting which will keep the vegetables crisp and the peepers fresh. For the purposes of the Beko models, the wire bottle rack will keep the bottles clean and prevent them from tipping.
If your model has a chiller drawer, use that compartment for foods like chicken, eggs, or seafood as they will require specific temperature control and will be ideal for the top of the cool bag.
Checklist for the Night Before
• Plan to freeze 2-4 ice packs and peas for a backup block.
• Portion and wash fruit before mixing.
• Freeze dip containers that are leak-proof.
• Quick freeze your wrapped bottle if you have that feature.
• Packed your clean food containers and cutlery, along with the napkins and roll of compostable waste trap as a liner for easy waste.
• Chill your cool bag for 30 minutes to cool.
The Food Standards Australia recommends keeping food in chill bags with ice packs and stored out of direct sunlight. It’s advised to eat any leftovers within two hours of them getting above 5 degrees Celsius.
Creative packing that maintains lunch order and safety
Packing your lunches and other items will ensure your picnic is a success. An organized packing system will prevent squashed fruit and leaks during transit while also maintaining a safe temperature for your food.
• Use a two-bag system: A chill bag for high risk cold food and a tote for bread, crisps, and a picnic blanket.
• Layer the cool bag like a lasagna. Place ice packs at the bottom, and put dense items directly above them. Newly prepared salads and fruits go above the top ice pack.
• Use small tubs to seal sauces, and place them in a side pocket or a rigid lunch box.
• Wrap tubs containing soft fruit in a tea towel to absorb shock from bumps.
• Keep your bag zipped. Open it once to serve, and close it again.
Using a few kitchen organizers will speed this process up. If your Beko fridge has a bottle rack, pre-chill drinks there the night before. The rack also decreases rolling and allows for easy transfer to the cool bag. If your Beko model has AeroFlow technology, it will help you achieve a consistent temperature around your wrapped salads and prepared foods once you’re ready to eat.
Enjoying a calmer morning
Preparing for an outing can get hectic. Sticking to a set routine in the morning can help avoid the mental load of on-the-go decisions, and also helps to keep your hands off food.
• Prepare an empty tray, and load each of the chilled boxes from the fridge onto it before putting the tray into the cool bag.
• To control the urge to access the main cool bag, keep one box “for the driver” in the car and save it until you arrive.
• Bring a small sponge, a foldable bin bag, and some biodegradable wipes for cleanup.
• Use baking paper or silicone bands to wrap and secure the tops of the wraps.
• Put breadstick or cracker in tall jars to keep them from breaking.
If you’ll be out for an all-day sports day or a long hike, consider adding a second set of ice packs from your freezer for the car ride home. Selected Beko freezers with Fast Freeze make overnight rotations of sets easy.
Once you find a spot on the grass
Once you find a spot on the grass, you can keep food fresh and hands clean while serving everyone quickly.
• Make a Chill Zone. Lay the cool bag on the side of the blanket that has the most shade. Zip it closed between servings.
• Choose one large board to use as a base for the tubs. This keeps the lids out of the grass and provides you with a clean surface to serve from.
• Serve potato salad or the coleslaw first, as those are the most wet. Then serve bread last as that’s the most fragile. Do it in that order.
• Put your dips into small bowls instead so that the main tub stays cold in the bag.
• Use a clean spoon for every dish to avoid mixing flavors.
If you want chilled drinks for picnics, the night before, place taller bottles in the door balconies of your Beko fridge. This way you can put them straight into the bag without having to do awkward reshuffling. For those who prefer sparkling water or iced tea, the wine rack on many Beko models is perfect for laying bottles flat to chill the full length.
Resetting when you get home
The last five minutes back in the kitchen set you up for the next sunny day.
When you come back home, immediately put leftover food in the fridge. If the food has been outside of the cool bag for 2 hours or more, throw that food away.
To avoid stains and smell, rinse the food containers immediately after use.
Don’t forget to refill water bottles for tomorrow’s school run and place them back in the fridge.
Cool bag linings should be dried out before putting it away. Wipe it clean and leave the bag open.
Ice packs should also be in the freezer, ready for the next trip.
With Beko’s thoughtful storage and helpful features, you can focus on special moments during the picnic.
