A cooler with an insulated housing comprising an encircling wall, base and lid, the insulated housing defining a storage cavity and having an air channel communicating from the storage cavity to outside the insulated housing, the air channel being defined by channel walls and forming at least in part a cylinder; and a vacuum pump integral with the insulated housing, the vacuum pump comprising a piston arranged to reciprocate within the cylinder under manual control from outside of the insulated housing. A method including placing material within a storage cavity of an insulated cooler, the material having an average temperature different than an ambient temperature; closing a lid over the storage cavity; and operating a vacuum pump to reduce the air pressure within the storage cavity. A combination of the cooler and ice within the storage cavity.