A portable container including an integral controlled evaporative cooling system, comprising: a storage container wall sealed to a storage container bottom , the storage container wall and storage container bottom positioned to form a storage container with an access aperture ; an evaporative region wall sealed to an evaporative region bottom , the evaporative region wall positioned adjacent to an exterior of the storage container wall and the evaporative region bottom positioned adjacent to an exterior of the storage container bottom, a top edge of the evaporative region wall sealed to the exterior of the storage container wall at a position below a top edge of the storage container wall to form a vapor-sealed evaporative region between the evaporative region wall and the evaporative region bottom and the storage container wall and the storage container bottom; an insulation wall positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the evaporative region wall and the storage container wall, a top of the insulation wall sealed to the exterior surface of the storage container wall at a position above the evaporative region wall to form a vapor-sealed insulation region external to the storage container and to the evaporative region; a desiccant region wall positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the insulation wall and sealed to the exterior surface of the insulation wall to form a vapor-sealed desiccant region , the desiccant region wall positioned to form an exterior surface of the portable container; a vapor conduit with a first end positioned within the vapor-sealed evaporative region and a second end positioned within the vapor-sealed desiccant region; and a vapor control unit attached to the vapor conduit, characterized in that the vapor control unit comprises: a valve of a size, shape and position to reversibly inhibit flow of gas through the vapor conduit; and a controller operably attached to the valve. a storage container wall sealed to a storage container bottom , the storage container wall and storage container bottom positioned to form a storage container with an access aperture ; an evaporative region wall sealed to an evaporative region bottom , the evaporative region wall positioned adjacent to an exterior of the storage container wall and the evaporative region bottom positioned adjacent to an exterior of the storage container bottom, a top edge of the evaporative region wall sealed to the exterior of the storage container wall at a position below a top edge of the storage container wall to form a vapor-sealed evaporative region between the evaporative region wall and the evaporative region bottom and the storage container wall and the storage container bottom; an insulation wall positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the evaporative region wall and the storage container wall, a top of the insulation wall sealed to the exterior surface of the storage container wall at a position above the evaporative region wall to form a vapor-sealed insulation region external to the storage container and to the evaporative region; a desiccant region wall positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the insulation wall and sealed to the exterior surface of the insulation wall to form a vapor-sealed desiccant region , the desiccant region wall positioned to form an exterior surface of the portable container; a vapor conduit with a first end positioned within the vapor-sealed evaporative region and a second end positioned within the vapor-sealed desiccant region; and a vapor control unit attached to the vapor conduit, characterized in that the vapor control unit comprises: a valve of a size, shape and position to reversibly inhibit flow of gas through the vapor conduit; and a controller operably attached to the valve. a valve of a size, shape and position to reversibly inhibit flow of gas through the vapor conduit; and a controller operably attached to the valve. <EOS>