Using Gel Packs or Dry Ice to Ship Seafood
Should you use gel packs or dry ice to ship 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 have a comparison between the two materials and a few tips to help ship seafood.
Which Coolant?
Dry ice and gel packs have their pros and cons. You might want to use dry ice to ship seafood when your product is frozen, as the temperature will go even below freezing. That makes it a good candidate if you’re shipping seafood over short durations but need to maintain that frozen state the whole time. However, gel packs are good at keeping seafood like live shellfish alive without worrying about them melting. Gel packs are also cost-effective.
There are reasons you might want to use both: gel packs can stabilize your dry ice, making it sublimate at a slower rate. That extends the shelf-life of your dry ice and the product you’re shipping, so if your product is going to be in transit for several days, and it’s okay if the frozen seafood thaws before it reaches its destination, that combo may be the key.
Coolant & Product Ratios
Regardless of what coolant you use, they become less effective over time. In the case of dry ice, it slowly turns from solid to gas via sublimation. Gel packs, on the other hand, begin to turn back into liquid within their bags. That’s why it’s essential to pack your product with enough coolant to keep it going. If you’re using dry ice to ship seafood, you may need 5 to 10 pounds per 15 quarts within 24 hours. You also need around one pound of gel packs per cubic foot for 24 hours with gel packs.
Separate Coolant & Product
The whole point of using coolants is to keep your products fresh during shipment but they can also end up damage products if they get too close, especially with dry ice. Dry ice can end up causing shallow temperatures that may change the taste and texture of your seafood. Keep products sealed, ideally using vacuum sealing.
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 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.
