Dry Ice FAQs

If you’ve got a question about dry ice, find the answers you need here

Question:

Where can I buy Penguin Brand Dry Ice®?

Answer:

You can find Penguin Brand Dry Ice at more than 5,000 retail locations nationwide. To find a store near you, use our dry ice store locator.

Question:

What is dry ice?

Answer:

Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide (or CO2). Carbon dioxide naturally occurs in our atmosphere as a gas, but it can be solidified into hard, white blocks with an extremely low surface temperature. It is colorless and non-flammable with no odor. Rather than melting due to heat, dry ice slowly reverts to a gaseous carbon dioxide form through a process called sublimation.

Question:

What is dry ice used for?

Answer:

For commercial use, dry ice is used to cool materials in food production, healthcare, the life sciences, home delivery, shipping and other industries. It’s also used for dry ice blasting, which cleans surfaces in a variety of industries. Recreationally, dry ice can be used for school science experiments, keeping food cold for outdoor activities, creating fog for Halloween decorations and many other fun activities.

Question:

How much dry ice do I need to produce fog?

Answer:

As a general rule of thumb, use five pounds of dry ice for every four gallons of warm water—but there are other factors at play. Read our detailed article for more information about creating long-lasting fog effects.

Question:

Is dry ice dangerous?

Answer:

If not handled properly, dry ice can be dangerous. Dry ice is toxic to ingest and must never be eaten, swallowed or consumed in any way. Because of dry ice's extremely cold temperature, it should also never be touched directly--always use protective gloves or tongs when handling – and it should never come into contact with bare skin.

Use an insulated container that’s not tightly sealed. As dry ice sublimates, it reverts to its original form of carbon dioxide gas. In a confined space, this gas will build up into a concentrated form that can be dangerous to breathe – or could even cause an explosion.

But if dry ice is handled with care and awareness, it is perfectly safe. Always make sure there is an adult present, and that it’s only moved with protective gloves or tongs. Learn more about proper handling with our comprehensive dry ice safety guide.

Question:

Can I eat dry ice?

Answer:

DO NOT eat dry ice and DO NOT drink any beverage with dry ice in it under any circumstances. Dry ice is not edible and can cause severe damage to your mouth, esophagus and stomach if consumed.

Question:

Can I put dry ice in drinks?

Answer:

DO NOT place dry ice in any drink. DO NOT eat or consume dry ice under any circumstances. Dry ice is toxic to ingest and must never been eaten, swallowed or consumed in any way. Any direct contact with dry ice will cause severe burns and skin damage.

Question:

What happens if I touch dry ice?

Answer:

Dry ice should never come into contact with bare skin – always use protective gloves or tongs when handling dry ice. Because of dry ice's extremely cold surface temperature, if it comes into direct contact with unprotected bare skin for even a few seconds, it could cause serious damage.

Question:

How can I handle dry ice safely?

Answer:

Even a few seconds of dry ice contacting unprotected skin could cause skin contusions.

Only handle dry ice with protective gloves or tongs. Since any direct contact with bare skin could result in burns, cover up any part of your body that could potentially touch the ice. When storing dry ice, never use an airtight container; since dry ice is always reverting to carbon dioxide gas, this can cause a buildup of pressure and even an explosion.

Never store dry ice in a small and unventilated space, such as a cellar, automobile or boat hold. Due to sublimation, the gas released will continue to concentrate and displace oxygen over a relatively short amount of time. If you must store dry ice in these areas, make sure to have adequate ventilation to disperse the buildup of CO2 gas. Never put dry ice in an airtight container because the concentrating gas will build pressure and possibly cause an explosion.

Question:

How much does dry ice cost?

Answer:

For more information about pricing and availability, find your nearest Penguin Dry Ice® retailer here.

Question:

How long does dry ice last?

Answer:

Stored in a 25-quart cooler, dry ice sublimates at a rate of 10 pounds every 24 hours.

Question:

How does dry ice work?

Answer:

Dry ice maintains a surface temperature of -109.3 degrees Fahrenheit, making it extremely effective as a cooling agent. It slowly reverts to a gaseous form in a process called sublimation. When placed in water, this sublimation process will speed up, creating thick, smoke-like fog commonly used for special effects and decorative Halloween displays.

Question:

How do I store dry ice?

Answer:

Store dry ice in a well-insulated container, such as a Styrofoam cooler. Dry ice naturally sublimates into carbon dioxide (CO2). Since open space around the dry ice in the container can contribute to the sublimation process, place crumpled paper around the dry ice in the container to slow the sublimation process. Store the container in a cold place to help further slow sublimation. The storage unit should not be completely airtight so that the buildup of carbon dioxide from sublimation doesn’t cause the container to burst. To avoid possibly breathing elevated carbon dioxide levels, which can cause asphyxiation, do not store dry ice in unventilated rooms, such as cellars, automobiles or boat holds.

Question:

How do I use dry ice in a cooler?

Answer:

There are multiple ways to use dry ice in a cooler, depending on whether you’re using it to freeze or chill items. Generally, make sure it’s properly insulated and the dry ice isn’t directly touching anything you’re freezing.For more information, read this article as well as check out our videos for packing a cooler with dry ice and using dry ice to transport food.

Question:

How much dry ice do I need for food storage?

Answer:

Use 10 to 15 pounds of dry ice per day for a standard 25-quart cooler. For use during emergencies such as power outages, use 1.5 pounds of dry ice per cubic foot of freezer space.

Question:

How cold is dry ice?

Answer:

A block of dry ice maintains a surface temperature of -109.3 degrees Fahrenheit or -78.5 degrees Celsius. Comparatively, normal ice freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius.

Question:

Will dry ice freeze water?

Answer:

No. Dry ice placed in water will sublimate through the water, producing a fog-like effect.

Question:

How long does dry ice last in a refrigerator-freezer?

Answer:

Do NOT store dry ice in a working refrigerator-freezer. Since dry ice’s temperature is colder than the temperature in a freezer, the dry ice could cause the freezer’s refrigeration unit to not function properly or shut down. Dry ice should only be placed in a freezer if it’s not functioning. In this instance, 10 pounds can last up to 24 hours.

Question:

Can I make dry ice at home?

Answer:

It’s possible to make dry ice at home, but much safer and more cost effective to purchase Penguin Brand Dry Ice from your local retailer.

Question:

How do I dispose of any unused dry ice?

Answer:

Place the unused dry ice in a well ventilated area. We recommend that you leave the dry ice in the original packaging and place it on a towel. It will sublimate away in a short amount of time.

Question:

Is dry ice the same as liquid nitrogen?

Answer:

No. Dry ice is the solid state of carbon dioxide. Safer to use and easier to come by, dry ice is commonly considered a better option than liquid nitrogen for personal projects and in-home use.