Using dry ice in a cooler

[a70eliminator]

Here up north I don't hear much about using dry ice, I figured I would ask here in hopes you Southerners have more experience.
I have access to a dry ice chest in the Science lab where I work, it's always full of pieces that look haphazard in size and shape, triangle slivers rectangles ect ect. There is a heavy leather pair of gloves kept on the cooler for handling the ice which look to be individually wrapped in meat paper.
I heard if I put a chunk of this stuff in my cooler it will freeze everything in there like beer and pop, is this true? can I damage my cooler and what if I just use a little piece with some regualar ice?
My thinking is more room in the cooler less weight and colder beer for a longer time.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

Here up north I don't hear much about using dry ice, I figured I would ask here in hopes you Southerners have more experience.
I have access to a dry ice chest in the Science lab where I work, it's always full of pieces that look haphazard in size and shape, triangle slivers rectangles ect ect. There is a heavy leather pair of gloves kept on the cooler for handling the ice which look to be individually wrapped in meat paper.
I heard if I put a chunk of this stuff in my cooler it will freeze everything in there like beer and pop, is this true? can I damage my cooler and what if I just use a little piece with some regualar ice?
My thinking is more room in the cooler less weight and colder beer for a longer time.

I use dry ice for camping. Wrap it up in a cotton towel, and put at one end of the cooler. Put the food in the rest, but try not to let the bottles get too close to the dry ice. I don't stack anything on the dry ice unless I want it to be frozen solid. I ususally keep the food in one cooler that doesn't get opened much (w/ dry ice) and the beverages in another with regular ice, since it gets opened and closed more often.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

I sometimes buy a pound of dry ice when I am bringing frozen fish down to the Vancouver area for friends and family. It usually last about 2 days in a plastic Coleman cooler, with no damage to the cooler that I have never noticed but it is wrapped in newspaper sitting on top of the fish.

I'm no expert but I would hesitate to use it with regular ice unless the ice was frozen rock hard as dry ice will "boil" if it comes in contact with water and I'm sure it would freeze your beverages.

 

[Droopy]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

I've used dry ice for years and it works well as long as you take care handling it. You don't want you food/beverages/whatever touching it. If you want to keep things cold but not frozen, put the dry ice in a plastic bag. Put this on the bottom of the cooler and cover it with normal ice. Should keep things cold for a couple days. If you want to freeze something, put it in the bottom of the cooler, put a towel or some paper on top of it, and put a good sized chunk of dry ice above it.

Dry Ice also works real well in those upright fake fridges you find on some boats. Put a chunk on a shelf and it'll keep your drinks cold. i don't think I'd trust food in there tho...

Good luck,

John

 

[j_martin]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

I have brought fish back from Canada frozen solid using ordinary ice and salt, mixed about 10:1 The ice melts at about 0 F, but it does melt much faster.

When I used to go camping with 7 kids and had to pack quite a bit of meat to stay in budget, I'd pack a cooler half full of frozen meat, and put zip lock bags of the ice/salt mix on top. It would stay frozen as long as you kept the ice/salt supply up.

Dry ice sublimates at about -100F, and is usable for keeping something frozen solid, It's convenient for shipping because it gasses into a common air component, and does not have a liquid phase and it's problems.

hope it helps
John

 

[gstanton]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

One word of caution... do not handle dry ice with your bare hands. It will burn your fingers in literally seconds! Even in a plastic bag.

We use it to bring shrimp/fish back from FL and it will last 2-3 days. We freeze the shrimp/fish and then put dry ice on top wraped in a layer of newspaper - then seal the styrofoam cooler with duct tape. It's the best!

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

I just got back from a fishing trip to Northern Quebec at a remote outpost camp with no freezer facilities. For the last couple of years we have used dry ice, as it freezes the fish solid and will last all week if covered with a towel and kept in a regular cheap styrofoam cooler. By the end of the week, we can transport without a problem. CAUTION-always wear gloves.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

I used it once to keep a couple of gallon containers of ice cream cold for a Boy Scout outing. A day later, you had to saw the ice cream into to chunks to be able to serve it. It is cooooooold stuff!

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

what about a small amount......that kinda sounds like a neat idea.

 

[PGFISHER]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

Dry ice is frozen co2. Keep it covered (better yet sealed) or it will gas out very quickly. Here on Lake Mead, the temperature will melt ice in short order. A small amount of dry ice in a zip lock bag or just covered with newspapers will keep bait or food cold if ice is loaded on top of it.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

Now, the question is, how can I make dry ice at my house, that won't cost much?

 

[phwrd]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

It is C02 under pressure. Used to do this as part of a job.

Really just a rectangle box with a pressure fitting. Screwed it together, attached a CO2 tank to the fitting and turned it on. Wait 5 minutes and you had a block of dry ice.

Get some good thick gloves to remove it.

Used to play with Liquid Nitrogen too. Throw a soda in there and in 3 minutes, bang....

 

[KRS]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

Be aware that the off-gas can suffocate you. If you're in a breezy tent you're fine, no worries. But if you have a few coolers in the camper of your truck and it's closed up you can suffocate.

KRS

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

Be aware that the off-gas can suffocate you. If you're in a breezy tent you're fine, no worries. But if you have a few coolers in the camper of your truck and it's closed up you can suffocate.

KRS

Yup I have read a couple of deer camp nightmare stories where the guys bagged a deer dry iced it in a big cooler under a bunk in the camper and never lived to get it processed.

 

[salty87]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

in the least, it will freeze your sodas/drinks and will freeze the water in the beer. if you have enough dry ice, it will freeze the alcohol in the beer too.

a keg on dry ice can play tricks on unsuspecting drinkers....be careful.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

Where can you find dry ice? sounds like fun!!!

 

[Outsider]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

Canon City, CO has it, if that helps ...

 

[Shamus O'toole]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

Where can you find dry ice? sounds like fun!!!

here in FLA we can buy it at almost any Publix supermarket.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

If you put small chunks in a capped bottle then put the bottle in water, would the bottle explode?

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Using dry ice in a cooler

If you put small chunks in a capped bottle then put the bottle in water, would the bottle explode?

Yes it will make a plastic soda bottle go blooey! Careful with that .