Dry ice smoke coming out of a glass

How To Store Dry Ice To Extend Its Shelf Life

 

For years, dry ice has been used to ship food, make gourmet cocktails and desserts, and create special effects. But when not in use, it needs to be stored properly to avoid any sort of safety hazards. In this blog post, we will discover how to store dry ice as well as the best alternative to dry ice.

 

What Is Dry Ice?

 Some dry ice in a clear glass with smoke around it with a black background

Credit: Envato Elements/ hannievanbaarle

 

Dry ice, which is frequently confused with liquid nitrogen, is merely carbon dioxide that has been cooled and condensed. It acquires this name because, it does not transform into a liquid; rather, when it reaches room temperature, it sublimates and directly transforms into a gas. The average temperature of dry ice is -109.3 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

How To Store Dry Ice

 

To avoid safety risks and increase the shelf life of dry ice, appropriate storage is essential. When storing dry ice, follow the steps below:

 

1)  Wrap the Dry Ice in a Towel

 Five off white towels in a pile on top of each other

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Before starting the storage process, wrap the dry ice in a towel. Similar to regular ice blocks, dry ice maintains its consistency longer when covered in a towel or other piece of fabric. Remember to put on insulated gloves before handling dry ice; otherwise, the extremely low temperature could cause your skin to burn.

To make sure that it lasts longer, purchase dry ice close to the time you're going to use it and from a reputed dry ice manufacturer.

 

2)  Place the Dry Ice in a Well-Insulated Container

 A blue and white cooler that is hard and closed

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Put the dry ice in an insulated container after covering it with a towel. Dry ice won't evaporate as quickly in a well-insulated container.

When picking an insulated container, make sure that it is not completely airtight. When dry ice evaporates, it releases carbon dioxide. If there is no space for the carbon dioxide gas to escape, the sealed container could expand and possibly even explode. Instead of using a completely airtight container, consider using a thick styrofoam cooler with a loose lid or similar materials that can handle the extremely cold temperature of dry ice.

 

3)  Fill the Container With Crushed Paper

 Brightly colored paper that has been crushed into balls

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Similar to how you fill up any space in a cooler when keeping food or beverages to reduce evaporation, you must do the same with the insulated container you're using to store the dry ice. You can use crumpled newspaper or regular paper to fill any empty spaces.

 

4)  Store the Container in a Well-Ventilated Area

 Some dry ice that is in a blue container in a well ventilated area

Credit: iStock

 

When storing dry ice in an insulated cooler, be sure to keep the cooler out of the sun and away from hot areas like next to a fireplace or in the kitchen. Additionally, make sure the space is properly ventilated. This is especially crucial if you plan on storing dry ice indoors. In poorly ventilated areas, the carbon dioxide that is released by dry ice can result in asphyxia and death. To prevent any accidents from happening, never leave dry ice unattended for extended periods.

 

Can Dry Ice Be Stored in a Freezer?

 An open empty freezer with ice on the bottom and a grill inside

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You might think of storing unused dry ice in a freezer so that it does not melt. When dry ice is created, it immediately begins to sublimate (or turn from a solid into a gas). Due to how cold it is, there are no commercially accessible freezers that can hold dry ice and prevent it from sublimating.

Storing dry ice in a freezer will dramatically lower the freezer's interior temperature and turn off the compressor that maintains the freezer's frigid temperature. Additionally, the extreme cold should shatter the freezer and cause a major breakdown. Therefore, it is never recommended to store dry ice in freezers.

 

The Best Alternative To Dry Ice

 Nice Packs Maxi ice packs that can be used as a substitute for dry ice

Credit: Nice Packs

 

When handling and storing dry ice, the numerous safety requirements can seem daunting. What if there was a solution that is as cold as dry ice, but lasts longer and doesn't require as many safety measures?

Introducing: Nice Packs Dry Ice Packs. Although these packs may have the name "dry ice," they do not contain any dry ice at all. They are made of a unique substance that expands when submerged in water and maintains an intense cold after being frozen for a few hours. These packs don't need to be stored in specially designed coolers or well-insulated rooms, and they last three to four times longer than conventional ice. 

 

Summary

 

To ensure that the quality of dry ice is always at its best, you must adhere to specific directions and utilize a high-quality insulating container while storing it. Since you need to follow so many precautions when using dry ice, it is suggested that you use dry ice packs. Consider checking out Nice Packs if you're seeking a reliable, trustworthy seller of dry ice packs. In addition to dry ice packs, Nice Packs is your one-stop shop for all of your food shipping requirements. Check us out today.