How to Ship Food with Dry Ice

Whether you’re going fishing or want to ship a fish cross country, dry ice is here to help.

In the heat of the summer, you’ll want to find ways to keep your perishable goods cold. Whether you are taking a road trip to go fishing, or you are sending your just-caught lobster across the country through the mail to a friend, dry ice will be your refrigerant of choice. Here’s how to do it.

Get a Storage Unit

For personal use, a cooler may work just fine. However, be sure that it is not airtight, as this will cause the gas sublimating from the dry ice to get pent up and possibly explode. The same goes for shipping; FedEx suggests expanded polystyrene foam, rigid polyurethane foam, and reflective materials. Just make sure that your storage unit for your perishable goods is not completely sealed.

Get Your Dry Ice

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide, which turns directly back into its gas form rather than melting (this is called sublimation.) Pellets or small blocks of dry ice layered a few inches deep at the bottom of your container will work well. Dry ice sublimates about 5-10 pounds per 24 hours, so be sure you get enough for the time the goods need to be transported.

Get Your Divider

Once the dry ice is layered down in the proper storage unit, place a sheet of newspaper, cardboard, or tin foil over the dry ice to protect the goods. Again, you won’t want to entirely seal the dry ice off from the outer air.

Place in Your Goods

Then, you can place your perishables on top. For those who are fishing or transporting seafood, dry ice is a far better solution than regular ice, since no water will seep into the day’s catch and so dilute the flavor. Some choose to place the fish in a plastic bag before putting it into the container, and some just put it in as-is. Perhaps depending on how messy the seafood is, you will want to seal it up first.

There you have it! When shipping through the mail, the FedEx will place a dry ice label on the package and other identifiers. You will also want to insulate your box with foam all around as a kind of cooler. Because dry ice is a hazardous substance, the package will need special handling. If you are transporting the goods yourself, make sure to keep the car ventilated to avoid toxic levels of carbon dioxide gas. 

Dry Ice For All Your Needs

Dry Ice Corp is the largest regional supplier of dry ice and related products in the Northeastern United States. Our dry 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 amount 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, Google+, Pinterest, and Twitter.