How much dry ice will I need?
How much dry ice will I need?
The quantity of dry ice you will need to maintain temperature in a storage freezer or refrigerator will vary. Some basic tips for using dry ice to cool foods are:
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In a Refrigerator:
- A home-style refrigerator may use about 10 pounds of dry ice per day.
- Dry ice may freeze items, so place foods that may become damaged by freezing as far from dry ice as possible.
- Place ice on the bottom of a household type unit. Place newspaper or other materials as insulation on glass shelves to prevent the shelves from cracking.
- Keep liquids tightly covered so they do not become carbonated as the refrigerator fills with carbon dioxide.
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In a Freezer:
- A chest freezer may use 40 to 50 pounds of dry ice per day, placed on top of the food.
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In a Home-Style Refrigerator/Freezer Combination Unit:
- A unit with the freezer on bottom may use 15 to 25 pounds per day, placed on top of food.
- A unit with the freezer on top may use 20 to 30 pounds per day, placed on top of and surrounding food.
- A unit with a side-by-side freezer may use 30 to 40 pounds per day, placed on top of and surrounding food.
* from New York State Dept. of Health