When stored in a Styrofoam cooler, how long does dry ice last?

When transporting frozen or chilled goods, Styrofoam coolers are frequently used in conjunction with dry ice. The question is, however, how long dry ice lasts in a styrofoam cooler, when does it run out, and are there any tricks to extend its life.

When placed in a standard-sized Styrofoam cooler with 1-2 dry ice blocks, dry ice lasts roughly 18 to 24 hours. In a larger cooler and when more dry ice blocks are used in tandem, dry ice can last up to three or four days.

As frozen carbon dioxide, dry ice has a temperature of about -109. 3°F (-78 Regular ice is only 32°F (0°C) in temperature, so this is significantly colder. Dry ice is even colder than a freezer because a standard freezer is typically set to 0°F (-18°C).

Additionally, because dry ice instantly transforms from a solid into a gas, it doesn't cause any mess or make anything wet.

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What Impacts the Duration of Dry Ice in a Styrofoam Cooler

Several variables affect how long the dry ice lasts in your styrofoam cooler. All of these factors affect how long the dry ice will last, and it is comparable to how long regular ice lasts in a styrofoam cooler.

Size of the Dry Ice Used

Dry ice won't keep well in your cooler if you only use a small amount of it. Possibly a few hours at most

However, if you use a lot of dry ice, it can last for days.

This is due to the fact that more heat overall is needed to completely transform all of the dry ice into gas. In general, less heat is needed the less dry ice there is.

Therefore, use more dry ice if you want it to last longer.

How thick a Styrofoam cooler is

Due to the millions and even billions of tiny air bubbles that prevent heat transfer, Styrofoam makes a good insulator.

The longer the dry ice stays frozen, the more insulating capacity and thickness the cooler has.

Because of this, coolers like the Yeti have up to three inches of insulation and can maintain ice for several days or even weeks. Check out the best coolers for keeping ice.

Therefore, using a thicker Styrofoam cooler will extend the life of your dry ice. If you don't have a thicker cooler, you can stack coolers inside one another or use broken pieces of Styrofoam taped or glued together to create a thicker cooler.

How Much Produce Dry Ice Can Keep Cold

You will require more dry ice if you are trying to keep a larger quantity of product frozen. Although a large amount of dry ice and a small amount of food will last for a long time, it won't be economical.

A little dry ice and a lot of food won't keep for very long.

For shipping, this dry ice calculator is also useful.

Where Is the Dry Ice Located?

Your cooler's dry ice will dissipate more quickly if you place it on top of the container rather than at the bottom.

This is because the cooler's top is where it is exposed to the most heat, and as cold air sinks, it moves away from the dry ice, allowing it to warm up more quickly.

Dry ice will last longer if you place it on the bottom where the cold air will primarily stay down and receive less heat.

Size of the Cooler's Free Space

When trying to make dry ice last as long as possible, empty space or air is your adversary. When I looked into how long a Yeti cooler keeps its cold, I discovered this.

Dry ice will last longer in a smaller cooler with less air space than it will in a larger cooler with more air space if you use the same amount. The dry ice sublimates more quickly due to the air.

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How to Extend the Life of Dry Ice in a Styrofoam Cooler

Here are some suggestions on how to extend the lifespan of dry ice in a styrofoam cooler if you're shipping something far or you want to be absolutely certain that it lasts as long as humanly possible.

Employ more dry ice

The duration will increase as you use more dry ice. Dry ice is typically sold in 1 pound bags, though larger 5 pound bags and even large quantities are sometimes available from specialized suppliers.

One pound of dry ice will remain frozen in a styrofoam cooler for 12 to 24 hours, but the video below shows someone keeping it for about 2 days. When they used 28 pounds of dry ice, they claimed it lasted "several days" in the cooler.

Cover it with newspaper or cardboard.

By wrapping your dry ice in cardboard or newspaper, you can protect it from the warmer items in your cooler. Additionally, it slows down how quickly the gas is removed from the ice.

Your dry ice will last longer if you wrap it in newspaper or place a layer of newspaper or cardboard on top and bottom of your dry ice blocks.

Additionally, it's a good idea to keep the dry ice in the plastic bags it comes in because these bags act as an insulator and will extend the dry ice's shelf life.

Invest in a Thicker Cooler

As we previously mentioned, the more insulation your styrofoam cooler has, the longer the dry ice will last.

Because of this, even when only a small amount of dry ice is used, coolers like the Yeti with 2-3 inches of insulation can easily keep dry ice for 2-3 days or even longer.

So if you want the dry ice to last longer, get a thick styrofoam cooler, stack styrofoam coolers on top of one another, or add more styrofoam to the walls of your cooler.

Amazon has sturdy styrofoam coolers.

When Used Along With Water Ice or Gel Packs

In addition to filling up empty space in your cooler, adding water ice or pre-frozen gel packs can also keep the produce there cold for hours or days after all the dry ice has been used up.

The dry ice will melt first, but it will have maintained the water ice's freezing temperature. The water ice will then take longer to melt, keeping your food cold throughout.

The ideal ice packs to purchase from Amazon are these.

Before putting items in your cooler, freeze them.

If you put items that are at room temperature in the cooler, the dry ice will melt more quickly because the heat from your items will warm it up.

Pre-freeze everything before placing it in the cooler with the dry ice to prevent this.

Utilize aluminum foil to line your cooler

Styrofoam does a good job of blocking heat transfer, but it does a poor job of reflecting heat radiation.

There are many different types of heat, so this gets a little technical, but aluminum is excellent at reflecting radiant heat.

Therefore, using aluminum foil and Styrofoam together will increase the insulating power of your cooler. To improve insulation and prolong the life of your dry ice, line the inside or outside of your cooler with aluminum foil.

Amazon has aluminum foil you can purchase.

Important Factors to Take into Account Before Using Dry Ice in a Styrofoam Cooler

When handling, packing, and using dry ice for the shipping and storing of cold goods, you must keep in mind a few key factors because it differs from regular ice.

Avoid sealing it completely

Direct transformation of dry ice from a solid to a gas This indicates that it is constantly expanding and that the gas needs to escape in order to prevent an explosion in your cooler.

Therefore, make sure there is a way for all of the pressure that is building to escape and avoid sealing off your cool air.

Don't use bare hands to handle the dry ice

The temperature of dry ice is -109. 3°F (-78 In fact, if you don't handle it carefully (below 5°C), it can result in frostbite.

Avoid handling it with bare hands and whenever possible, wear gloves. You can also use a cloth, piece of plastic, or other insulator.

Additionally, try to avoid holding it for extended periods of time to reduce your exposure to the cold.

Avoid placing food directly on dry ice.

Food can become so cold from being placed directly on the dry ice, especially meat, that it becomes ruined. Meat can develop freezer burn, which causes it to become tough and lose its flavor.

Instead, place some insulation between the dry ice and your food by using a layer of cardboard, plastic, or newspapers. This will prevent your food from becoming irreparably frozen.

Avoid Using Dry Ice With Soda or Other Drinks

If you put drinks in your cooler with dry ice, it will quickly freeze those drinks unless you keep the drinks far enough away from the dry ice to prevent contact.

This will result in the drinks freezing, expanding, and possibly even breaking or exploding the can or bottle.

Since soda cans expand a LOT when frozen, this is especially true for them. Use dry ice sparingly when serving beverages.

Visit Amazon to view the various styrofoam cooler options.