Using Dry Ice

[MotherNature]

Hello Everyone!

I'm thinking of using dry ice in my cooler and, being a newbie about it, thought I'd ask around first since everyone's expertise here has saved me from many past troubles!

I went to the website dryiceinfo.com, and while it's very helpful, I was wondering what people's personal experiences were.   The site said that a standard 10-pound block will keep frozen food frozen - I understand that, that's not what I need to do.

I am wondering if the dry ice will take the place of 'standard' ice in a cooler during a 3-day period.  We're going to be dry camping and I don't want to drive 1/2 hour every day to get ice to keep drinks cold (I use the fridge to defrost food that I make at my stationary home    and freeze ahead of time).  

Will the dry ice alone keep us supplied with cold soda (and beer! :!) for 3 days?

Thanks everyone!

[wavery]

Hello Everyone!

I'm thinking of using dry ice in my cooler and, being a newbie about it, thought I'd ask around first since everyone's expertise here has saved me from many past troubles!

I went to the website dryiceinfo.com, and while it's very helpful, I was wondering what people's personal experiences were.   The site said that a standard 10-pound block will keep frozen food frozen - I understand that, that's not what I need to do.

I am wondering if the dry ice will take the place of 'standard' ice in a cooler during a 3-day period.  We're going to be dry camping and I don't want to drive 1/2 hour every day to get ice to keep drinks cold (I use the fridge to defrost food that I make at my stationary home    and freeze ahead of time).  

Will the dry ice alone keep us supplied with cold soda (and beer! :!) for 3 days?

Thanks everyone!

Dry ice is very dangerous to handle (you can get very bad burns from it). It emits carbon dioxide in large amounts so it must not be kept in the camper.

It is not good for keeping drinks cold because of the extremely low temperature. It can explode sealed drink containers and freeze the contents solid . However, you could put it in an ice chest full of ice to keep the ice frozen longer, then transfer the ice to your drink ice chest.

Most good quality ice chests should keep ice for 3 days (with 90 degree outside temps) without a problem.

I don't recommend using dry ice for anything but keeping meat frozen.

[ltrcrr]

I purchased 100 lbs of dry ice in the pellet size in June for a trip down to Bonnaroo in Manchester Tn. I picked it up on Wed nite, packed my foods and drove down. It lasted until sun nite. I kept my food FROZEN SOLID. I used several coolers. I dumped the ice into the cooler , then put down several layers of newspaper, then loaded the food.  Don't  latch the coolers, as the dry ice evaporates,   the gases need to escape. Just close the lid but don't push it all the way down to the lock position or there may be a chance of a mini explosion as the gas tries to escape. Use common sense when handling. Don't pick it up without protection, don't keep it in a closed area during transportation...IE..the back seat of your car, inside your camper while you are camping.Don't breath the vapors... Keep it outside ...water bottles or cans of pop WILL EXPLODE...anything you put in there WILL FREEZE SOLID!!!!
Hope this helps,  have fun

[tlhdoc]

I have used dry ice when camping.  It is not for keeping drinks cold.  It is for keeping food frozen.  For a 3 day trip I wouldn't use dry ice, unless I had to keep something frozen.  Cool your drinks at home and pack them in a cooler with a lot of ice.  Your cooler should be able to keep them cool for 3 days.