KEY POINTS:
The Herald gave everyday holiday items a road test with a typical New Zealand family - and got a little expert advice too.
Our voting panel - The Hancocks of Whenuapai
The Verdicts
Cheapest: Red Stamp, The Warehouse ($19.95)
"This was a 25-litre chillibin with a removable lid and cup holders. It was deep but narrow and ideal for a couple, not a family. Not bad value for money."
Best Value: Esky, Mitre 10 ($49.98)
"A 27-litre chillibin - nice and light, a good shape and easy to use and clean out. It's wider, but not as deep as the Red Stamp and much easier to pack for a family. The lid stayed open and attached."
Other: Thermos, Plastic Box ($62.99)
"Another 27-litre model, which was longer and shallower. I prefer the shape for packing food. The only problem was the lid didn't stay open."
Expert tip
When keeping cool in summer, don't forget about food.
Number 10 in the NZ Food Safety Authority's 12 Foodsafe Days of Christmas tips is a reminder:
"If you're taking food to a party, use a chillibin with plenty of slicker pads to ensure cold foods stay chilled, and if you need to reheat anything, make sure it's piping hot all the way through before you serve it."
The authority last month released results of an experiment examining the effect on meat of being left in a car.
After 90 minutes in a bag on the back seat on a hot day, the temperature of the meat soared to ideal conditions for bacteria to grow.
That compared with just a slight rise in temperature for meat stored in an insulated bag with ice.
"Ready-to-eat food, such as ham and deli meats, would not undergo further cooking to destroy bacteria," ESR scientist Sue Gilbert said of the experiment. "This is a concern."
