3 Ways To Use Dry Ice - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Use Dry Ice PDF download Download Article Reviewed by Anne Schmidt

Last Updated: June 1, 2025 References

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  • Handling Dry Ice
    • |
  • Using Dry Ice for Fog Effects
    • |
  • Using Dry Ice for Freezing Berries
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Warnings
    • |
  • Things You'll Need
|Show more |Show less X

This article was reviewed by Anne Schmidt. Anne Schmidt is a Chemistry Instructor in Wisconsin. Anne has been teaching high school chemistry for over 20 years and is passionate about providing accessible and educational chemistry content. She has over 9,000 subscribers to her educational chemistry YouTube channel. She has presented at the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AATC) and was an Adjunct General Chemistry Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Anne was published in the Journal of Chemical Education as a Co-Author, has an article in ChemEdX, and has presented twice and was published with the AACT. Anne has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Viterbo University. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 116,352 times.

You may be familiar with dry ice used for fog effects during Halloween, or perhaps for use keeping summer drinks cold in the summer season. Dry ice has many applications and is especially handy should your freezer break down. Carbon dioxide in solid form is known as dry ice, and as it melts, it returns to its normal state: colorless, odorless carbon dioxide gas. Dry ice can be used effectively for many purposes as long as you follow safety regulations when handling and storing.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Handling Dry Ice

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  1. Step 1 Get your dry ice as close to the time of use as possible. 1 Get your dry ice as close to the time of use as possible. This is important due to the fact that dry ice turns from a solid into a gas at a rate of five to ten pounds per 24 hours in a normal insulated container. Buying it too far in advance could mean you won't you get a chance to use it before it disappears.
  2. Step 2 Handle dry ice carefully. 2 Handle dry ice carefully. You can use oven mitts, insulated gloves, or thick towels to handle dry ice, otherwise, it will burn your hands. Dry ice registers at negative 109 degrees F (negative 79 degrees C). The burn dry ice creates is similar to frostbite.[1] Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Transport dry ice in a well ventilated vehicle. 3 Transport dry ice in a well ventilated vehicle. Dry ice is carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide is hazardous to your health in large or concentrated quantities. If too much dry ice gas accumulates in a small space, you can suffer from carbon dioxide poisoning. Keep the windows in your vehicle open when transporting dry ice.[2]
    • You can put a sleeping bag, or other similar insulating materials, around the insulated container you plan on transporting your dry ice
    • If transported inside your vehicle (excluding the trunk) for periods longer than ten minutes, you should open your window to ventilate any concentrations of carbon dioxide.
  4. Step 4 Store dry ice with proper air ventilation. 4 Store dry ice with proper air ventilation. It should not be stored in a small space where the gas can build up and become dangerous. Keep dry ice where the air can flow. Styrofoam and newspaper are suitable insulators for preserving your dry ice.
    • Use caution in low areas; carbon dioxide in gas form is heavier than air and settles close to the ground. Proper ventilation is the best way to prevent a buildup of CO2 in low spots.
  5. Step 5 Prevent food from spoiling during a power failure. 5 Prevent food from spoiling during a power failure. A broken freezer full of food, or a freezer that's been shut off from power failure, can be saved with the cooling power of dry ice.[3] [4] However, you may not want to store your dry ice in a conventional, functioning freezer. The dry ice may be a colder temperature than your freezer thermostat can handle.
  6. Step 6 Place dry ice on an appropriate surface. 6 Place dry ice on an appropriate surface. Counter tops are not ideal, as the surface may crack from the extreme cold of the dry ice. If you are using dry ice in a freezer or refrigerator because the unit does not work, a small amount of dry ice is all that is needed to provide cooling and will not cause harmful effects.[5]
    • Wrap your dry ice in newspaper to protect it from dissipating too quickly due to air flow.
  7. Step 7 Dispose of dry ice by letting it return to gaseous form. 7 Dispose of dry ice by letting it return to gaseous form. Leave it out at room temperature and do not dispose of it in the garbage, sewer, sink or tub. Washing dry ice into your plumbing can do damage to your pipes and you should be certain you don't leave it to evaporate someplace children or animals might touch it.[6] Some places you might allow your dry ice to evaporate include:
    • In your sink.
    • In your shower or bathtub.
    • Outside, out of reach of animals and children.
    8. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Using Dry Ice for Fog Effects

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  1. Step 1 Gather your materials. 1 Gather your materials. Your dry ice will create fog in normal temperatures, but to make strong fog effects, you'll need to be prepared. Dry ice can be purchased at most local grocery stores and convenience stores. To get the thickest fog and really wow all onlookers, you'll need:
    • Dry ice
    • Fan
    • Hot water
    • Water receptacle (4 to 8 gallon; durable plastic or metal preferred)[7]
  2. Step 2 Prepare the receptacle. 2 Prepare the receptacle. Dry ice combined with hot tap water can create a powerful, thickly flowing fog effect. Cool water, or water that has cooled from the addition of dry ice, will cause thinner, wispier fog. Fill your water receptacle with as hot of water as you can get.
    • You don't have to heat your water to the point of boiling, but the hotter the water, the stronger your fog will be.
  3. Step 3 Prevent water damage. 3 Prevent water damage. The reaction of the dry ice turning back into carbon dioxide, called sublimation, can cause the water in your receptacle to bubble intensely and may cause some of the water to splash out. Place a tarp beneath your water receptacle, or place it where water that has escaped your receptacle won't do damage.
    • The air that carries your fog will also carry moisture and can leave floors slipper. You should take proper measures to ensure no one slips in these areas.[8]
  4. Step 4 Measure your proportions. 4 Measure your proportions. Having the right ratio of dry ice to water will improve your fog effect. For a sustained 15 minutes of thick fog, add about 5 to 10 pounds of dry ice to approximately 4 to 8 gallons of hot water.[9]
    • The best ratio for fog creation is about one half gallon of hot water per pound of dry ice.[10]
  5. Step 5 Guide the path of your fog effect. 5 Guide the path of your fog effect. This can be done easily with a small fan. Dry ice has a tendency to seek the lowest point because it is heavier than air, so if you are on uneven ground or if your water receptacle is in a low spot, a fan on a low setting can help disperse it more widely.[11]
  6. Step 6 Change your water. 6 Change your water. As the dry ice melts, it will release carbonation into the water which can negatively impact fog production. Keeping your water agitated and changing it frequently will improve your fog effect.
    7. Advertisement
Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Using Dry Ice for Freezing Berries

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  1. Step 1 Acquire your flash-freeze tools. 1 Acquire your flash-freeze tools. Freezing berries and other delicate fruit can take up a lot of freezer space while freezing and may leave you with freezer burned food. This simple and quick trick will have bushels of your berries frozen in no time. You'll need:
    • Dry ice
    • Hammer
    • Insulated gloves
    • Large bowl
    • Stainless steel spoon
  2. Step 2 Rinse the berries thoroughly. 2 Rinse the berries thoroughly. Make sure that any dirt, bacteria, or any trace contaminants are fully removed from your produce before freezing. After you have finished this, you should allow the fruit to dry for a brief period on a towel.[12]
  3. Step 3 Crush your dry ice and transfer your berries. 3 Crush your dry ice and transfer your berries. You can move your berries to your bowl once these have dried to prepare to mix with the dry ice. Take your dry ice, while still in its packaging, and use a hammer to break the ice into small pieces.
    • If there is concern that, while breaking your ice, it might chip or fly off irregularly, to protect your eyes and face, it is recommended you wear a face shield and goggles.
  4. Step 4 Toss your fruit salad with the dry ice. 4 Toss your fruit salad with the dry ice. You will need your insulated gloves to do this. Now that your ice is broken into manageable pieces, you can unwrap the packaging of the dry ice with your gloved hands, and mix the dry ice into the bowl. Gently stir the berries and ice with your stainless steel spoon until the ice is distributed throughout the berries.
  5. Step 5 Place the bowl in a safe place. 5 Place the bowl in a safe place. You don't want your bowl in a small, unventilated container, as this can cause a buildup of carbon dioxide that might damage your container. Frozen berries can be stored in a plastic baggie and stored, in some cases, for up to a year or more.
    • You might consider storing your berries, while freezing, in: a large cooler (Styrofoam works well), or your sink. Be careful if you leave your berries and dry ice in the open. Children or small animals could get hurt playing with or trying to eat dry ice.
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

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  • Question Is there any way to use dry ice without freezing the contents? Community Answer Community Answer Yes. You could put dry ice under some regular ice. This makes it better for coolers and other items. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 7
  • Question If I have no room in a freezer for 400 pounds of frozen meat, can I use dry ice to store it in a shed and how long would that last? Community Answer Community Answer This all depends on the amount of dry ice you'd use. Dry ice turns from a solid into a gas at a rate of five to ten pounds per 24 hours in a normal insulated container. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 6
  • Question Can I leave the dry ice in the original plastic bag? Community Answer Community Answer Yes, but it is best to leave it inside new packaging. Try leaving it inside of a freezer or a cooler, making sure it doesn't "eat" the plastic away. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 12 Helpful 5
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Tips

  • Treat a dry ice burn the same as a heat burn. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
  • Proper ventilation is necessary for safe dry ice usage. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • If you need to cut or chip dry ice, it is safest to wear safety goggles and a face shield. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Symptoms of carbon dioxide poisoning include headache, nausea, breathing difficulties and vomiting. Thanks Helpful 24 Not Helpful 3
  • Do not eat or ingest dry ice. Thanks Helpful 24 Not Helpful 8
  • Do not breathe in the dry ice. Thanks Helpful 23 Not Helpful 10
  • Supervise children around dry ice at all times. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 4
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Things You'll Need

Using Dry Ice for Fog Effects

  • Dry ice
  • Fan
  • Hot water
  • Water receptacle (4 to 8 gallon)

Using Dry Ice for Freezing Berries

  • Dry ice
  • Hammer
  • Insulated gloves
  • Large bowl
  • Stainless steel spoon

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.dryiceinfo.com/safe.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.dryiceinfo.com/camping.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/poweroutage2013.html
  4. ↑ https://www.continentalcarbonic.com/keep-food-fresh.html
  5. ↑ https://www.continentalcarbonic.com/faqs.html
  6. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-dispose-of-dry-ice-72457
  7. ↑ https://www.continentalcarbonic.com/dry-ice-fog.html
  8. ↑ http://www.dryiceinfo.com/fog.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.dryiceinfo.com/fog.htm
More References (3)
  1. ↑ https://partypyrotechnics.weebly.com/dry-ice-faq.html
  2. ↑ http://www.limelightproductions.com/tips/how_fog_machines_work.html
  3. ↑ http://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm114299

About This Article

Anne Schmidt Reviewed by: Anne Schmidt Chemistry Instructor This article was reviewed by Anne Schmidt. Anne Schmidt is a Chemistry Instructor in Wisconsin. Anne has been teaching high school chemistry for over 20 years and is passionate about providing accessible and educational chemistry content. She has over 9,000 subscribers to her educational chemistry YouTube channel. She has presented at the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AATC) and was an Adjunct General Chemistry Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Anne was published in the Journal of Chemical Education as a Co-Author, has an article in ChemEdX, and has presented twice and was published with the AACT. Anne has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Viterbo University. This article has been viewed 116,352 times. 27 votes - 89% Co-authors: 13 Updated: June 1, 2025 Views: 116,352 Categories: Chemistry Article SummaryX

To use dry ice for fog effects, place several gallons of hot water in a bucket and add 1 pound of dry ice per each gallon of water. Make sure to place a tarp beneath the bucket since the ice may cause the water to bubble and spill onto the floor. After adding the ice, use a fan on the low setting to help disperse the fog more widely. If you notice the fog effect is starting to fade, add more hot water to keep the mixture agitated. To learn more, like how to use dry ice to freeze berries, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Anne Schmidt Reviewed by: Anne Schmidt Chemistry Instructor Co-authors: 13 Updated: June 1, 2025 Views: 116,352 89% of readers found this article helpful. 27 votes - 89% Click a star to add your vote Eileen Sweeney

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Aug 8, 2017

"I'm determined this year to have a foggy path leading up to my "haunted house" for Halloween! Thanks..." more Linda Erickson

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Jun 6, 2016

"Everything was helpful. I really did not have much knowledge about dry ice until I went to this website. Thank you..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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