Dry Ice is the hit of a Halloween celebration from drinks to decor. This guide gives all the details of where to buy it, how to use it, how to handle it and store it.
It’s that time of year. Halloween parties are in the planning and class parties too. There is no more ghostly affect than dry ice but are you ‘in the know’ about where to buy it, how to use it and how to handle it?
This easy primer will give all the dry ice facts needed to ensure a safe, ghoulishly great experience. Dry ice does take special handling!
What Is Dry Ice?
Dry Ice is solid carbon dioxide frozen to -109 degrees (which will cause frostbite hence special handling needed). When added with liquids it creates a ghostly fog effect and bubbling like a Witches’ Brew!
Where to Buy Dry Ice
Dry Ice is available at most grocery stores: Safeway, Kroger/King Soopers, Walmart, Costco.
Call ahead to ensure your store carries it (and if they don’t ask if they know who does; you won’t be the first person asking).
Go to the Customer Service department where they will ring up your purchase and retrieve the dry ice from a special freezer not available to the public.
How Much to Buy?
Dry ice comes in blocks usually of between 1 to 5 pounds. You’ll be asked how much you want when purchasing.
When using it for punch I generally buy a 1-pound block which costs between $1-$3. It’s often well more than is needed.
Buy Dry Ice the Same Day You’ll Use It
It immediately begins to evaporate so plan to use in within a few hours. By the next day it will have completely evaporated.
Fun Fact: technically dry ice ‘sublimates’ not evaporates. But since most people have forgotten high school chemistry I’ll use ‘evaporated’ to convey the point.
Halloween is a very popular time to buy dry ice. Should you be looking for some in October definitely call ahead to ensure your store has it in stock.
This Smokin’ Volcano cake is contrusted with a paper cup of water inside so dry ice can be added to create the smoke effect.
Supplies to Take When Buying Dry Ice
Take a hard-sided cooler and towel to wrap it in. Do not store it in glass or metal containers.
If you will handle it there, you’ll also need work gloves.
Transporting Dry Ice
Do not plan to keep the cooler in a car for a lengthy trip.
The evaporation begins immediately and the cooler will not contain all the carbon dioxide.
If traveling more than 15 minutes, keep windows open for good ventilation.
Do not leave a person or pet in a closed car with dry ice.
The CO2 gas evaporating from the dry ice could displace the oxygen and asphyxiate them.
How Does Dry Ice Work?
Adding dry ice to liquids, water or drinks, causes the chemical reaction making the smoke. It must be added to liquid for the smoke to occur.
How Long Does Dry Ice Last?
Dry Ice begins to smoke immediately when put in liquid. It’s great in a Halloween punch for that reason though the smoking only last 10-15 minutes’ish.
Left unused it will evaporate within 24 hours.
How to Break Up a Block of Dry Ice for Use?
Break up the block by hammering it through the towel it’s wrapped in while wearing work gloves.
CAUTION: IT WILL BURN YOU so you can NEVER HANDLE IT WITH BARE HANDS. Please also if working around children be very careful of this as well.
Are Food and Drinks Exposed to Dry Ice Safe to Consume?
I have several friends who are doctors and have consulted about any ill effect of food or drink that has been around dry ice.
There is no issue with any sort of contamination though if drinking punch that has had dry ice in it be sure no little piece remain in the cup which could cause a burn.
Shipping with Dry Ice
I’m often asked about shipping with dry ice. I recommend contacting the shipping carrier you plan to use for specific instructions.
A special container is needed to prolong the dry ice, as well as an outer shipping box and special labeling.
This tutorial from UPS is an example of the requirements.
Storing Dry Ice
Store the dry ice in the cooler and towel used to buy it in a well-ventilated area.
Coolers are not airtight so as the dry ice evaporates some of the gas will escape.
Do not store the dry ice in your refrigerator or freezer.
Do not store it in a tightly enclosed area. Do not leave dry ice out where people or pets can come into contact with it.
Disposing of Dry Ice
Simply allow the dry ice to evaporate in the cooler if you don’t use it all.
Do not flush it down a toilet or drain (it can freeze pipes). Do not leave it open to evaporate where the gas could be inhaled in large quantities.
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Kelly says
If I am needing to keep popsicles frozen for a party, will dry ice do the trick? There is not a freezer where the event is taking place. Any suggestions?
Toni Dash says
Hi Kelly. I have personally not used dry ice in this way. Based on my research there are several ‘it depends’ for this. Dry ice would keep the popsicles frozen but there are multiple considerations around handling. First touching dry ice will result in serious burns and placing dry ice directly in a cooler will crack the inside of the cooler. If you plan to just keep them frozen (but not have smaller children or multiple people going into the cooler to grab popsicles) you would need to wrap the dry ice in multiple layers of newspaper then place a towel around it before adding the popsicles. You’d also need to vent the cooler to allow the vapors to escape and could not do that in an enclosed location. If your hope is to have the popsicles in the cooler for people to grab them unsupervised I personally would be concerned about that. If you read through the article (which you may have done already) there are details on safe handling of dry ice to prevent issues. Hope that helps.
Egg says
So like, even if it’s not in liquid it’s releasing Co2? Okay good to know. So If i’m driving this stuff back home (it rains frequently where I am) and need to roll up the windows, how long could I do that without it becoming dangerous? Also, what’s the rate of off gas?
Toni Dash says
Unfortunately I would not be able to answer your questions. I would contact the dry ice manufacturer for these safety related questions.
David says
Rate of off-gas is going to be dependent on how much you have and how much heat is getting to the dry ice. In a cooler, the rate of sublimation is going to be slower than out in the open. The better the insulation, the slower the off-gassing.
Honestly, just keeping the fan on while driving (not in the recycle air mode!) should be enough ventilation. Leave the dry ice in the back without any pets in the car. Carbon dioxide is heavier than air and sinks, so pets are particularly vulnerable as they are closer to the floor.
Red says
I cannot suggest a method, just CYA, but I can tell you what I do.
I leave it on the floorboard, turn on floorboard air on lowest speed and coldest temp, and crack the windows. My theory is that the air from the floorboard will push the CO2 up faster(thus lower concentration), and air pressure from windows will pull it out, creating a current that should prevent accumulation/concentration.
But again, I don’t recommend this, it’s just the method I use.
Tammie Houston says
Thanks for your tips on how to store dry ice. I’ll check around to see if I have a hard-sided cooler in which I can store them in or buy one if I don’t. My friends and I are planning on trying out some cocktails we saw online over the weekend and quite a few of them made use of dry ice so I’m planning on hiring ice delivery services to get some delivered to us. I heard that dry ice was special and required some specific things to be considered when being stored though, so it’s good that I found your article when I did. I’ll be sure to follow your tips, thank you.
Dee says
Hi I wanted to sell pop sickles and use dry ice to keep frozen how would I be able to do so with out hurting my self???
Toni Dash says
Hi Dee. It’s difficult for me to answer that question for you. As you can see from this article dry ice needs to be used very carefully and does have risks for the type of use you described. If you plan to keep the popsicles in a cooler for instance that you’ll be going in and out of, I personally thing ice mats or regular ice may be a safer choice.
Tim says
If I put a cube of dry ice in both of my pockets while wearing them for at least 4 hours how much Viagra would it take to regain my manhood and dignity
Toni Dash says
Excellent question Tim. Will you let us know when you find out?
Only Tim would know says
Well Tim…Glad to know you are being cautious. Putting dry ice in your pants pockets probably would have no effect on your man hood. Unless…Hmm…you had a pocket in your pants that would put the dry ice in direct contact with your man hood. If I compared you to another Tim I know who tucks and ducts, there would be no issue at all unless you put it in your back pockets. 😉 Hope this helps!
Artie Johnson says
We are moving from Denver to Florida. We have a 5’ deep freeze, can we put dry ice in it to keep our food still good.
Toni Dash says
Hi Artie. I think there are many ‘it depends’ with your question. Are you driving? How long are you expecting the drive to take? Will the freezer be in an enclosed space?
Here is some information from North Dakota State University addressing something similar: “Allow 2½ to 3 pounds of ice per cubic foot of freezer space. A 50-pound block of dry ice should keep food safe in a full 18-cubic-foot freezer for at least two days. More will be needed in upright freezers, and ice should be placed on each shelf. Your supplier may be able to cut blocks into slabs.”. Click here for the whole article.
Masefield.Estelle says
Old people who rely on the encouragement of others to fight are not strong; those who are encouraged by others to struggle are simply cowards