The Best Thermoelectric Coolers of 2023

If you’re on the road and need to keep food and drinks cold, look no further than these plug-in coolers for the car. Upon gathering our data and testing notes, we set to work deciding which coolers were the best for certain situations. We believe in offering the very best value, quality, and selection. Refunds are issued to the original form of payment, unless returned in store
where some exclusions may apply. Refunds are issued to the original form of payment, unless returned in store where some exclusions may apply.

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That’s enough space to store the essentials for one to two people for several days. It can keep food at a safe storage temperature in climates as hot as 72 °F. After thoroughly testing these electric coolers side-by-side with our best-in-class ice-filled cooler, we’re fairly disappointed in all of them. When we looked at the temperatures from the two data-log thermometers, it was clear that the insulation and cooling power of these coolers is insufficient for use outside on a hot day. As soon as the sun hit the spot they were sitting at around 10 a.m., the temperature would climb above 50 in a better cooler or all the way up to 70 in a cheaper cooler.

igloo electric cooler

A lot—giving us a great idea of just how these coolers adapt in real-life situations. Finally, we took notes on design features like portability, the handles, the wheels, interior baskets or accessories, and whether or not each was cumbersome to haul. For retail purchases returned without a receipt, the refund will be issued lgloo Cooler as a store merchandise
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They are generally larger, heavier, and more expensive than thermoelectric models. Next, we pulled out Car and Driver’s Kia Sorento to investigate the size and storage for each unit. Starting with the trunk and moving forward, we checked each row of seats and the cargo hold for possible easy-access storage space. Lastly, we verified the manufacturer’s capacity claim, testing just how many standard 12-ounce soda cans fit into each cooler. For this test, we picked out seven of the top portable electric coolers on the market. We collected both objective and subjective data on a variety of parameters to arrive at our conclusions.

This type of approach means that you can enjoy an extended cooling performance that a traditional cooler can’t match. That’s a pretty big detriment for anyone hoping to achieve USDA food-safe temperatures if it’s warmer than 76º F outside. That fairly major flaw notwithstanding, the Igloo does have a decently large capacity of 60 cans — and beers or sodas don’t need to be 40º F. The Igloo is also one of the only coolers we tested that comes with a fuse replacement, which is handy.

This way, your portable cooler is maintaining a cold temperature, which is far more efficient and uses less power than cooling down items. If you’re looking for a larger thermoelectric cooler, this one from Coleman worked really well. It’s about a third larger than the Igloo for just a bit more money. Better yet, it can be stored with the lid up (like in the photo) or on its side with the lid facing out, like a mini-fridge. One of the industry leaders in portable cooling and refrigeration, Dometic is renowned for its RV air conditioners. That said, if you want to splurge on a top-of-the-line electric cooler/freezer to take along in your car or truck, this is the one you want.

With a simple flip of the power cord, these units turn into warmers. However, to increase its efficiency, you can pre-chill or pre-warm the food. Also, for most of them, the plug tends to overheat with extended use. In such a scenario, you could replace the plug with a higher quality one as long as it pertains to the manufacturer’s power rating and power source recommendations.

Thermoelectric coolers are an excellent choice for drinks, but milk and other quick-spoiling food will need extra ice packs or some different kind of cooling solution. This brand appears to be quite new to the thermoelectric cooler game. However, after research and testing, we have determined that the performance just isn’t there and is powered by the 12V source we are used to seeing. While this is quite large, you may struggle to keep your items properly chilled or warm. There are also some notable quality control issues that can result in the product breaking shortly after purchase. Coleman is another brand that is very recognizable by most cooler enthusiasts.