# Cooler Cooker **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Tags:** frankencooler\ **Created:** [November 15, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361 "2017-11-15T19:54:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cooperd166](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Cooperd166](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Cooperd166)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/1 "2017-11-15T19:54:45Z")
I have altered one of my small coolers into my primary container. Cut a hole in the top (2 3/8" and then the gasketed lid seal works perfect for holding bags in place while cooking. I also have a pvc holder I made for a larger cooler for doing racks of ribs and briskets. If you are interested I can post a pic of that too. ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/anova/original/2X/e/e3e466445378788dba5b04d8d168e12ae18cfb7f.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![Ember](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.anovaculinary.com/ember/32/729_2.png) [@Ember](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Ember)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/2 "2017-11-15T20:38:52Z")
Please share pics. It may inspire someone else to take the plunge. ---
**Author:** ![fischersd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.anovaculinary.com/fischersd/32/5594_2.png) [@fischersd](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/fischersd)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/3 "2017-11-15T21:30:50Z")
The size of that looks like it would accommodate a lot of the sous vide racks that are out there as well (if you want to maximize how much you’re cooking at once) 🙂 Looks like a great job!!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AlyssaWOAH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.anovaculinary.com/alyssawoah/32/2946_2.png) [@AlyssaWOAH](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/AlyssaWOAH)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 10:14pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/4 "2017-11-15T22:14:45Z")
Nice, looks great!!! ---
**Author:** ![michihenning](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.anovaculinary.com/michihenning/32/1655_2.png) [@michihenning](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/michihenning)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 9:45am UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/5 "2017-11-16T09:45:48Z")
That cooler looks very cool, if I may say so 😉 Michi. ---
**Author:** ![Ron1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.anovaculinary.com/ron1/32/2991_2.png) [@Ron1](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Ron1)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/6 "2017-11-17T02:10:44Z")
What is the Brand, and Type and Size of the Cooler? ---
**Author:** ![Cooperd166](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Cooperd166](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Cooperd166)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 3:11am UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/7 "2017-11-17T03:11:02Z")
Engle 19qt. ---
**Author:** ![charlieboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@charlieboy](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/charlieboy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 11:16am UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/8 "2017-11-17T11:16:45Z")
can I use a styrofoam cooler as well or do you know ---
**Author:** ![michihenning](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.anovaculinary.com/michihenning/32/1655_2.png) [@michihenning](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/michihenning)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 11:44am UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/9 "2017-11-17T11:44:32Z")
We just talked about this here: [Coleman Party Stacker alternative for UK users and steam question? - #6 by michihenning](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/coleman-party-stacker-alternative-for-uk-users-and-steam-question/10274/6) I’m pretty sure you can use a styrofoam one. Michi. ---
**Author:** ![jimbop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8edcca/32.png) [@jimbop](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/jimbop)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/10 "2017-11-17T23:07:33Z")
I have the same setup. (Well maybe my hole is more towards the middle). I love it. I can plug it in outside and run it for a few days doing ribs or other large pieces of meat. My buddy has a similar setup, but his cooler has a split top. One half of the cooler top lifts up independently of the other and I like his a lot more. With the single lid, if you want to check on things, you have to pull the cooker out and lift the top. With the split top set up, you can put the cooker on one side and then lift the other side to check on things. Minor improvement, but definitely intend on doing it in my next cooler. ---
**Author:** ![jimbop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8edcca/32.png) [@jimbop](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/jimbop)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/11 "2017-11-17T23:10:51Z")
My friend bought his cooler at Walmart [https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubbermaid-5-Day-50-Quart-Wheeled-Cooler/11974453](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubbermaid-5-Day-50-Quart-Wheeled-Cooler/11974453) The one piece of advice is to not drill in the can holes on top. My buddy did and it looks great (and fits) but because of the way it works, it opens a channel into the rest of the lid and that does fill up with condensed water. ---
**Author:** ![fischersd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.anovaculinary.com/fischersd/32/5594_2.png) [@fischersd](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/fischersd)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/12 "2017-11-19T19:54:49Z")
The other problem with using a drink holder recess is that you’ll likely have the exhaust vent in the recess - which can overheat your APC due to insufficient air flow. You need to ensure the vent is above the lid of the cooler (which is why cutting the hole the size of the stainless cylinder works so well - the circumference of the vent being wider holds it above). ---
**Author:** ![Corey\_Scarpa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.anovaculinary.com/corey_scarpa/32/1963_2.png) [@Corey\_Scarpa](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Corey_Scarpa)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/13 "2017-11-21T20:37:12Z")
I just bought a see through rubbermaid one myself with a hinged lid and precut hole up top although I’d be more interested in a more insulated environment. Anyone have suggestions of something like this but see through? ---
**Author:** ![Ember](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.anovaculinary.com/ember/32/729_2.png) [@Ember](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Ember)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/14 "2017-11-22T00:45:09Z")
You could get clever and cut a viewing window in a cooler and install some polycarbonate sheet using silicone to reseal. ---
**Author:** ![Corey\_Scarpa](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.anovaculinary.com/corey_scarpa/32/1963_2.png) [@Corey\_Scarpa](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Corey_Scarpa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/15 "2017-11-22T03:09:41Z")
Thanks, I enjoy your feedback. I suppose I could get creative considering I’m an engineer. I’ll be sure to post if I make something of the nature. ---
**Author:** ![Scorica](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.anovaculinary.com/scorica/32/1982_2.png) [@Scorica](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Scorica)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/16 "2017-11-22T18:43:13Z")
Please post others pics and thank you for sharing I’m very interested ---
**Author:** ![Cooperd166](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Cooperd166](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Cooperd166)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 1:55pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/17 "2017-11-26T13:55:48Z")
It is an Engle 19qt cooler ---
**Author:** ![Cooperd166](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Cooperd166](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Cooperd166)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/18 "2017-11-26T14:00:27Z")
![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/anova/original/2X/f/f6add62d0ab7dafd5fb7d9a07c4e1c92bd831457.JPG) ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/anova/original/2X/1/1b01ec52cf13ae91d9c60a060ee67f80a10b4d57.JPG) Nothing is glued so it is very adaptable to other coolers. ---
**Author:** ![Scorica](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.anovaculinary.com/scorica/32/1982_2.png) [@Scorica](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/Scorica)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/19 "2017-11-26T14:13:06Z")
Thank you very much for posting you did an excellent job well thought 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![charlieboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@charlieboy](https://community.anovaculinary.com/u/charlieboy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361/20 "2017-11-29T14:24:40Z")
I started to use a styrofoam cooler but as I added water to it to cook a whole beef tenderloin, the styrofoam started to crack at the top. And it leaked at the bottom. Do not recommend it. Too flimsy [Next page](https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/cooler-cooker/10361.md?page=2)