A good cooler also retains heat, so it’s useful if you need to keep side dishes warm while the oven is in use. The first big assist during the off-season was to use my cooler as a brine bath for a Thanksgiving turkey. Fortunately, it’s been cold enough to grab a beer straight from the cooler without having to chill it in the fridge. I’m not about to say using your cooler is a viable alternative to something like a mini fridge, but it’s far more versatile. It can be your portable camping buddy during the summer months and your temporary kitchen helper in the fall and winter.