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Plus, how much dry ice you'll need for your cooler size
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Filling your cooler with dry ice is a great alternative to using regular ice—it keeps your food and drinks colder for longer and doesn’t create a soggy mess as it evaporates. Simply choose a cooler that lets the gas escape, wrap the dry ice in newspaper, and stack your food and drinks on top. Keep reading to learn how to pack your cooler with dry ice, how much dry ice you need for your cooler, and important safety tips for handling, storing, and disposing of dry ice.
Using Dry Ice in a Cooler
Use a cooler that has a drainage cap or doesn’t seal all the way closed. Then, line the cooler with styrofoam or cardboard. Wrap the blocks of dry ice in newspaper and add them to the cooler. Place cardboard or regular ice on top and then add your food and beverages.
Steps
Section 1 of 3:
How to Pack a Cooler with Dry Ice
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Choose a cooler with ventilation. Dry ice is safe to use in most coolers as long as there's a way to ventilate them. Make sure the cooler has a lid that doesn't seal completely shut or a drainage cap (which is usually located near the bottom of the cooler). If you need a small cooler or just want to use the dry ice for a day, choose a styrofoam cooler or urethane-insulated box . To keep the dry ice for longer, use a large roto-molded or plastic cooler . [1] X Research source
- If you're using a urethane-insulated box, buy one that's at least 3 inches (7.6 cm) thick.
- Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide. As it “melts” (which is called sublimation), it turns back into carbon dioxide gas.
- Warning : It’s important to choose a cooler with ventilation because if carbon dioxide gets trapped inside a container, it can potentially explode. [2] X Research source
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Cover the bottom of the cooler with styrofoam or cardboard. If you aren't using a styrofoam cooler, protect the plastic interior of your cooler from the extreme cold of the dry ice. Simply cut pieces of styrofoam or cardboard and lay them on the bottom of the cooler. [3] X Research source
- Place styrofoam or cardboard along the sides of the cooler if the dry will touch the walls of the cooler, too.
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Put on insulated gloves and wrap the dry ice in newspaper. To make the dry ice last longer, wrap the blocks of dry ice in newspaper while wearing insulated gloves. The newspaper insulates the ice and helps slow down how quickly it evaporates. It also helps prevent you from accidentally touching the dry ice with your bare hands. [4] X Research source
- If you’re using small chunks of dry ice, you may not be able to wrap them in newspaper. Instead, surround the chunks with newspaper to slow evaporation.
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Add the dry ice and some insulation, then arrange the food on top. To keep food and drinks cold, place the wrapped dry ice on the bottom of the cooler. Then, set a piece of cardboard on top or add a layer of newspaper or regular ice. Simply arrange the food or drinks on top of the cardboard, newspaper, or regular ice. [5] X Research source
- Food and drinks will freeze if they touch the dry ice directly . The cardboard, newspaper, or regular ice acts as a barrier to keep the items cold instead of frozen. As a plus, it also prevents you from accidentally touching the dry ice.
- Tip : Cut a hole about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide in the cardboard so the gas is better able to escape as the dry ice evaporates.
- When you need to get the food or drinks, simply open the cooler and remove the items.
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Put the dry ice on top of food and drinks to freeze them, if you prefer. If you want to use the cooler as a portable freezer, place the items you want to freeze at the bottom of the cooler. For example, place meat from a hunting trip in storage bags at the bottom of the cooler. Then, wrap the dry ice in newspaper and set it directly on top of the food to get it to freeze quickly. [6] X Research source
- Avoid putting the dry ice on top if you plan on getting in and out of the cooler often since it can be difficult to move the dry ice out of the way.
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Pack the gaps with newspaper. To help the dry ice last longer, take a few sheets of newspaper and wad them into loose balls. Place the newspaper between the chunks of dry ice or wherever there are any gaps. This helps insulate the dry ice, as extra space can make it evaporate faster.
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Crack open the lid or loosen the drainage cap on the cooler. As the dry ice evaporates, gas can build up within the cooler. To prevent damage to the cooler, leave the lid slightly cracked (if you're using styrofoam or the urethane box). If you're using a plastic or roto-molded cooler, unscrew the drainage cap a little. [7] X Research source
- If the gas has no way to escape, pressure can build up within the cooler and weaken the plastic or even cause the cooler to explode.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I use a gel cool pack to prevent it from evaporating as well?Community AnswerGel cook packs are nowhere near cold enough to keep dry ice from evaporating, so I’ll say no, you can’t use them to prevent evaporation.
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QuestionHow do I keep dry ice from evaporating?Community AnswerLiquid nitrogen is your best answer. Keep the dry ice in a sealed container that has the nitrogen cooling it.
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QuestionIs dry ice expensive?IsoldeTop AnswererIt is quite pricey at $1 to $3 a pound, meaning that a block can be around $60 to $100, depending on its size. You can bring down the costs if you buy it in bulk. For more help, see How to Buy Dry Ice .
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Warnings
- Do not eat or drink dry ice. Not only is it extremely cold, but it is solid carbon dioxide, which can be toxic to consume and inhale. [13] X Research sourceThanks
- Seek medical attention if you start to feel dizzy, have difficulty breathing, or have an elevated heart rate. These can be symptoms of carbon dioxide toxicity. [14] X Research sourceThanks
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Things You'll Need
- Styrofoam cooler , urethane-insulated box , roto-molded cooler , or plastic cooler
- Pieces of cardboard or styrofoam
- Dry ice
- Newspaper
- Insulated gloves or tongs
- Regular ice
References
- ↑ https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/7081/
- ↑ https://www.ehs.washington.edu/system/files/resources/dryice.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/oAOdMvEmis8?feature=shared&t=35
- ↑ https://youtu.be/YqcKz84JtgE?feature=shared&t=13
- ↑ https://youtu.be/YqcKz84JtgE?feature=shared&t=18
- ↑ https://ehs.fiu.edu/_assets/docs/lab-safety/dry-ice-usage-guidelines.pdf
- ↑ https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/7081/
- ↑ https://www.safety.rochester.edu/ih/dryicehandle.html
- ↑ https://www.ehs.washington.edu/system/files/resources/dryice.pdf
About This Article
Article Summary
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Before putting dry ice in your cooler, prepare your cooler by lining the bottom and sides with styrofoam or cardboard so it doesn’t get damaged from the extreme cold. Then, purchase 10 to 20 pounds of dry ice for every 24 hours you need to keep your cooler cool. After you purchase it, wrap the ice in newspaper so it lasts longer. Then, place the ice on the bottom of the cooler if you want to keep food and drinks cold or on top if you want to freeze the food below it. Once the cooler is filled, leave the top slightly ajar or open the drainage cap so gas can escape. For more tips, including why your cooler must have a drainage cap before you can use it, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I need to transport iced cakes and cupcakes for two/three hours. In our desert heat, the icing will melt. Now I can buy dry ice and follow your steps to keep my cakes cool in my 58qt container without the icing melting during transport between homes." ..." more
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"I need to transport iced cakes and cupcakes for two/three hours. In our desert heat, the icing will melt. Now I can buy dry ice and follow your steps to keep my cakes cool in my 58qt container without the icing melting during transport between homes."
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"I plan to use dry ice for both frozen and refrigerated food. Article told difference in where dry goes in cooler. Most other stuff I knew, but that part I had forgotten."
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