dry ice

[gregd]

Going away next weekend to Carnarvon Gorge for a week and was thinking of taking dry ice as I only have one fridge at the moment. What is the best way to keep it?

[Gunna Do]

Just a word of warning.  Don't keep the esky with the dry ice in inside the passenger area of your vehicle.  Not good for your health.

http://dryicenetwork.com/dry-ice-saftey/why-is-dry-ice-dangerous/

[Snow]

Yep, dry ice is a solid form of CO2. Here's a quote from Wiki,

"While generally nontoxic, the outgassing from it can cause suffocation due to displacement of oxygen in confined locations".

As for using it, keep it wrapped in the packaging it came with. Make sure your tucker is in sealed bags or containers as the CO2 gas can taint the taste of the tucker.

[Gunna Do]

Now that the warnings are out of the way, it is brilliant stuff for keeping stuff cold.  I have only used it once, and used a couple (maybe three) of bricks made out of dry ice, wrapped in newspaper, and packed in the bottom of an esky, with party ice sprinkled over the top.  This was to keep fish fillets frozen for a road trip home from Townsville to Rockhampton.

The dry ice supplier was very good with advice, and from memory did all the packing of the ice.

[gregd]

Thanks for all this will go aheaad and try it.

[Chippy76]

I went on an army ex to Woomera once and packed an esky with dry ice and food... interesting observations.

1. Coke cans kept in the esky with the dry if expanded and ruptured.
2. The apples in the top of the esky took on the co2 and became "zingy"
3. The icecream we took for the first night also took on the CO2 and became fizzy. Neither of them were unpleasant, just different ...lol

I have used it on other occasions (wrapped in newspaper with party ice on top) and it was fantastic.


Cheers Chippy

[Foo]

The first time I had experience with dry ice, the mates and I went out to St George for some fishing.
Arrived at 11pm and found that the luncheon sausage frozen, eggs the same, cans of XXXX the same and the milk to!  

Was good though with the hot cans, 5mins and they were icy cold!
Lesson learnt. 

Foo

[Camel Tow]

M first experience with dry ice was sitting in an outdoor spa with a few ladies - dry ice in the warm spa made a nice smokey atmosphere as it melted !!

[Manjimike]

(wrapped in newspaper with party ice on top) and it was fantastic.
Cheers Chippy

When I used it in Darwin, I was advised to wrap in newspaper but put it on top of the ice to keep it out of the water

Others may have been told different - I am here to learn 

Mike

[Alloy C/T]

For a week get a 5 day block wrapped in newspaper or butchers paper , put in bottom of esky and add a layer of party ice about 2 or 3 inches thick over and around the dry ice ,, any thing you want frozen stays on the bottom then add a layer off coolite over that to put things you dont want frozen onto the coolite ,,, remember though that dry ice takes up a LOT of room , when we used to use it for camping trips an 8 day block and the required party ice layer only left arount 15lt of space in a 70lt Bailys Esky , also works out rather expensive ,

[Manjimike]

an 8 day block and the required party ice layer only left arount 15lt of space in a 70lt Bailys Esky

Sounds like you are causing ALL the global warming   

[Jon]

What about a "basket" to keep the dry ice above the wet floor of the esky?
Would this cause excessive cooling or rapid melting of the dry ice?