How to Use Dry Ice in a Cooler

Dry ice is solidified carbon dioxide gas. If you are going on an extended camping trip, road trip, or to a weekend concert, dry ice can keep your food cold in your cooler for several days. Dry ice can be used alone or with regular ice. When used alone you will have all of the benefit of regular ice with none of the melt.

Things You'll Need

• Cooler Newspaper Dry ice Gloves, towel or tongs

Instructions

1. Order dry ice in the size that you plan on using it. Dry ice is not easy to cut and exposure to dry ice on bare skin will cause frostbite-like burns. On average, if you purchase 5 to 7 pounds of dry ice it will last you 18 to 24 hours. If you are going to be gone for 3 days you will want to purchase 15 to 21 pounds of dry ice.

2. Line your cooler with newspaper. Dry ice placed directly on a plastic cooler will cause it to crack.

3. Pick up the dry ice. The dry ice will be wrapped in newspaper or a paper bag. You do not want to unwrap the dry ice unless you are wearing gloves or handling the dry ice with tongs or a towel.

4. Cover the dry ice with newspaper or towels before placing food on top of the dry ice. Pack your cooler accordingly. Never place food directly on top of dry ice without some sort of covering between the two items.

5. Close the cooler, but make sure that you are using a cooler that has some form of ventilation. If it does not naturally have ventilation you will want to leave the cooler slightly ajar so that the gas can be released as the dry ice evaporates.

Tips & Warnings

• If traveling with a cooler full of dry ice, slightly crack open your windows.

• Do not breathe in dry ice gasses. Do not put dry ice in your drinks. To dispose of dry ice you will want to allow it to evaporate in a well ventilated area on its own.