Dry Ice and Food Storage

[5stljayhawks]

Headed down for a couple weeks in Dec. and wanted to pre-cook and bring a cooler of frozen food. Has anybody used dry ice? If so please provide details such as how many #LBS of dry ice you used, Cost of Ice, length items stayed cold......


THanks

 

[medic9016]

As a general rule, Dry Ice will sublimate at a rate of five to ten pounds every 24 hours in a typical ice chest. This sublimation continues from the time of purchase, therefore, pick up Dry Ice as close to the time needed as possible. Bring an ice chest or some other insulated container to hold the Dry Ice and slow the sublimation rate. Dry Ice sublimates faster than regular ice melts but will extend the life of regular ice.

 

[Goofyseven]

When we tent camped, we used two coolers, one with regular ice and one with dry ice. The Dry Ice cooler was packed with items we would use later in the week and we used duct tape to seal the cooler as much as possible. It worked great!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Dumb question maybe, but where do you get dry ice?

 

[ORLCampers]

Publix Grocery stores in the SE sell it. You can also try to find a Carbonics business in your area. In Florida, Florida Carbonics sells it and is located Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville.

 

[retired and happy]

Maybe a dumb question...Is it dangerous to carry a cooler with dry ice inside a closed vehicle? Is there enough CO2 given off to displace the O2?

 

[homebrew2]

Maybe a dumb question...Is it dangerous to carry a cooler with dry ice inside a closed vehicle? Is there enough CO2 given off to displace the O2?

http://www.dryicesource.com/dryice/dryicesafety.php

 

[Goofy-dad]

We always get our dry ice at Kroger or Harris Teeter. It is usually up by the registers in a big floor-type cooler.

Also, do not let your food touch the dry ice directly. We had some in the bottom of our cooler with a piece of cardboard over it to separate our food. However, some fruits and veggies slipped under and ruined them! They turn brown and shrivel up! Also any frozen food will be VERY, VERY, VERY frozen if it touches it as well, so be careful with it!