Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

What is the best way to use dry ice in a cooler? Can you throw it in there like normal ice? Dunno, never used the stuff.

Thanks
John

Keep it wrapped in brown paper and protect it from water.

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Also, try to minimize how often you open that cooler if you can.

Handle with gloves if not wrapped. If you handle a lot of it wrapped, gloves are still a plus.

As Roger said do not handle dry ice with bare hands, it will freezer burn your fingers and is very painful, much like a real burn.

Dry ice will freeze anything in direct contact with it rock hard.

If you want to keep things frozen:

Pre cool the ice chest with ice and let it get cold.
Remove the ice and place frozen stuff on the bottom of the cooler.
Place the dry ice on top of the frozen stuff. (cold air sinks)
Frozen stuff may stay rock hard frozen for days (1-2 weeks), especially if the cooler is high quality and not opened.
I usually place a few pieces of insulation material (cardboard, Mylar, heavy towel, etc.) over the dry ice to prevent loss when opening the cooler and to prevent cooling the open space.

To keep things cold and to extend ice life:

Place the dry ice on the bottom of a pre-cooled cooler.
Place something over top of it to prevent items from sitting directly on the dry ice.
Pack cooler as normal.
This will add at least a few days to the life of the ice.

You may want to practice once or twice before you need it for real. Pack some ice cream and haul it around a few days, then break it out when people are least expecting it.

Also check out Penguin's Dry Ice web-site http://www.airgas.com/content/products. ... 2008002008" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , it has some tips.

Dry ice is typically available in blocks or small cubes. I have only found blocks in Arkansas. It is around $1.00 per pound.

Dry ice evaporates rather than melts so it doesn't get food wet. It evaporates CO2 and large amounts should not be stored in small areas with living animals that breathe oxygen or affixation can occur.

5 lbs. per day is conservative and about right. Some recommend 10 or more per day to keep things in the safe zone. Depends on conditions.

Mike B, open up that chest with ice cream and have some of your home-made root beer!!!! (NA)

I figure about 5 pounds of dry ice per day on a float.
Seems to work out about right.

agree with every thing posted so far.

only thing to add is make sure your cooler can handle the dry ice by checking with the manufacturer. Some coolers work and some do not.