Utilize Dry Ice To Ship And Pack Seafood
You may be shipping a fishing trip prize or sending commercial amounts of seafood. Regardless, your goal is the same and equally challenging: keeping your shipment live or preventing spoilage during the shipping process. There are several methods this can be completed. However, the most common methods involve dry ice or gel packs. Should you use gel packs or dry ice to ship seafood? But which one should you choose for your specific application? We compare the two materials and a few tips to help ship seafood.
Which Coolant?
Dry ice and gel packs are two options for shipping seafood, each with advantages and disadvantages. If you need to maintain the frozen state of your seafood during shipping over short durations, dry ice is a good candidate, as it can reduce the temperature even below freezing. On the other hand, gel packs are a better choice if you ship live shellfish, as they can keep them alive without melting. Gel packs are also a more cost-effective option.
However, there are situations where you can use both. Combining gel packs and dry ice can stabilize the dry ice and slow down the sublimation process, extending your product’s shelf-life while in transit. This can be useful if the product will be in transit for several days and it’s acceptable for the frozen seafood to thaw before it reaches its destination.
Coolant & Product Ratios
No matter what coolant you choose, it will eventually become less effective. For instance, dry ice gradually turns from solid to gas through sublimation, whereas gel packs turn into liquid within their bags. This is why it’s crucial to use adequate coolant to keep your products fresh. If you’re using dry ice to ship seafood, you’ll need anywhere from 5 to 10 pounds per 15 quarts within a 24-hour. Similarly, for 24 hours, you’ll require roughly one pound of gel packs per cubic foot.
Separate Coolant & Product
When shipping products, coolants are used to keep them fresh. However, if they come into contact with products, they can cause damage, particularly when dry ice is used. Dry ice can create extremely low temperatures that may alter the taste and texture of seafood products. To prevent this, it is recommended to seal the products, preferably using vacuum sealing.
Order Your Dry Ice Online Today!
Dry Ice Corp is the largest regional supplier of dry ice and related products in the Northeastern United States. Our ice is fresh and delivered right to your doorstep. We are happy to help you determine the best way to ship your goods, whether you have a huge number of cookies or a single pie, and help you select the perfect amount of dry ice for the job. Give us a call at (201) 767-3200, or contact us online for a quote. To connect with us online, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
