Dry Ice for a Road Trip?

Question

My family and I are planning a weekend getaway (4 days) and are looking for the best way to transport and keep food for the weekend. I don't want to keep frozen food frozen - I would like to keep cold food cold.

Is dry ice a good way to go? We'll be staying in a hotel but won't have a refrigerator. I'd like to avoid using ice since it melts and needs to be replenished. We can buy dry ice at our local grocery store, but I want to make sure I'm using it correctly and plan accordingly.

Thanks so much!

Answer 1

it is great for that. if you want to freeze anything put it under the dry ice, to keep it cool put on top of the ice.

Answer 2

HANDLING
Dry Ice temperature is extremely cold at -109.3°F or -78.5°C. Always handle Dry Ice with care and wear protective cloth or leather gloves whenever touching it. An oven mitt or towel will work. If touched briefly it is harmless, but prolonged contact with the skin will freeze cells and cause injury similar to a burn.


Plan on using 10 to 20 pounds of dry ice for every 24 hour period depending upon the size of the ice chest. Dry Ice will keep everything frozen in this ice chest, including extra ice, so keep non-frozen goods to be refrigerated with regular ice in a separate ice chest.

Dry Ice normally comes in 10 inch squares, 2 inches thick weighing about 10 pounds each square. Plan to put one square per each 15 inches of ice chest length. This will work out to 2 squares (20 pounds) for an average 40 quart cooler. For larger containers and longer camping or traveling times, multiply dry ice quantities by these rates.

Dry Ice will freeze and keep frozen everything in its container until it is completely sublimated. These frozen items will take some extra time to thaw because they have been so cold.

HOW TO PACK DRY ICE

If the Dry Ice is placed on top of the food (cold sinks), it will work better. Many people prefer to keep the Dry Ice on the bottom of the ice chest for convenience. When packing items in the container fill the empty space with wadded newspaper or other filler. Any "dead air space" will cause the Dry Ice to sublimate faster. The best storage container is a three inch thick urethane insulated box. Lining the inside of your ice chest with sheets of Styrofoam will increase the life of Dry Ice. Dry Ice sublimation (changing from a solid to a gas) will vary depending on the temperature, air pressure and thickness of insulation. The more Dry Ice you have stored in the container, the longer it will last.

TRANSPORTING

Plan to pick up the Dry Ice as close to the time it is needed as possible. If possible pack insulating items such as sleeping bags around the ice chest. This will stretch the time that the Dry Ice lasts. If it is transported inside a car or van (not in the trunk) for more than 10 minutes make sure there is fresh air.

ERad the website for more info and be careful not to get burned

Answer 3

This is a good site to answer that question.
roadtripamerica.com

have a good trip.