Is It Possible for Dry Ice to Go Bad?
Dry ice is a fascinating product, but can it go “bad?”
You may think that just like any other food product, dry ice may have the possibility to go bad, spoil, or rot. This ice can disappear much quicker than most other items, but its properties prevent other essential things, like food items, from going bad. Dried ice does not technically go “bad,” but it can definitely decrease the chances of food-borne illnesses. Read on to learn all about this odd type of ice.
Dry Ice and It’s “Expiration”
Dried ice is a form of frozen carbon dioxide. It is made in factories by pressurizing carbon dioxide gasses into a liquid form and then into solid blocks. Dried ice blocks and pellets evaporate, otherwise known as sublimation, from its solid form right into a gas form. Dry ice is way too cold to touch without wearing heavy gloves and proper tools. Still, the ice is an expendable product, sublimating until it disappears entirely. You will not be left with any puddles, just a bit of extra photosynthesis material for your plants.
The rate at which dry ice sublimates depends all on your ice storage units. The more insulated the containers, the slower the sublimation process will be. Usually, the ice loses around five to ten pounds of itself every day.
Dry Ice and Food Illnesses
Knowing that dried ice doesn’t go “bad” but instead sublimates within a short time window and can be the ideal tool for keeping food fresh longer and keeping drinks ice cold. Halloween parties, Fourth of July gatherings, traveling, catering, and shipping food products all make great uses of this ice. Dried ice keeps things a lot colder for much longer than your standard ice packs. It is in itself frozen. For this reason, this ice does not ever go bad but helps keep all other objects clean of any bacteria and prevents dangerous food-borne illnesses. Since meats are stored in the ice, the possibility of the food going spoiled and having any diseases manifest is very low. The ice will provide moisture at all for the bacteria to latch onto.
So, in summary, dry ice doesn’t go bad, but it has a much shorter shelf life. Buy only as much as you will need, and see how well it does it’s job!
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 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, Pinterest, and Twitter.
