How to Store Dry Ice

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Updated: March 29, 2019 | References

Dry ice is great for chilling beverages and making special effects. It's important that you store dry ice properly when you're not using it. Storing your dry ice the right way will help it last longer and prevent any safety hazards.

Part One of Two:
Storing the Dry Ice

  1. 1
    Purchase the dry ice close to when you want to use it. Though you can slow down the sublimation process, you can't stop it. Therefore, purchase dry ice as close to when you want to use it as possible. You'll lose 5 to 10 pounds of dry ice in a day, even when the dry ice is stored well.[1]
  2. 2
    Put on insulated gloves, and protect your arms. Dry ice can burn your skin because of the extreme temperature. Insulated gloves will protect your hands from frostbite when handling dry ice. You should try to handle it as little as possible.[2] In addition, wearing long sleeves can protect your arms while you are using dry ice.[3]
  3. 3
    Keep the dry ice in a well-insulated container. A thick styrofoam cooler is sufficient to keep dry ice for an extended period of time. You can also use a standard cooler, such as one you use to hold cold drinks.[4]
  4. 4
    Add crumpled paper to the container. Fill up the rest of the container with crumpled paper. This process will help slow down the sublimation, as it lessens how much dead space is in the container.[5]
  5. 5
    Keep the container closed as much as possible. The more you open the container, the more warm air you let in. Warm air increases the sublimation process, meaning your dry ice evaporates more quickly.[6]
  6. 6
    Place the cooler in a cold area. If it's cold outside, set the cooler outside. If it's warm, keep the cooler in a cool place inside. Basically, you want to keep the temperature outside of the cooler as cool as possible, as it lowers the sublimation rate of the ice.
  7. 7
    Pay attention to burns. If you have a light burn that only causes redness, the burn should heal on its own. However, if dry ice causes your skin to blister or if your skin starts peeling, you need to go to the doctor.[7]

Part Two of Two:
Avoiding the Hazards

  1. 1
    Keep it in a ventilated area. Because dry ice releases carbon dioxide, it can be hazardous to humans in a closed-off area. Make sure plenty of fresh air is getting into the room where the dry ice is being stored. Otherwise, it can cause asphyxiation in humans and animals.[8]
    • Remember, a closed car is an unventilated  area, especially if the air is not on. Don't leave dry ice in a parked, closed car. When transporting it, open the windows, or make sure you set the air conditioner to bring in fresh air. In addition, place it away from you when you're driving.[9]
  2. 2
    Don't use an airtight container. Dry ice sublimates instead of melts, meaning it releases carbon dioxide. As carbon dioxide changes to gas, it needs room to escape. If you use an airtight container, the gas cannot escape. In extreme cases, the gas can expand too much, causing an explosion.[10]
  3. 3
    Don't put it in the freezer. A freezer is airtight, and it can cause the dry ice to explode.[11] Also, if you try to put dry ice in a regular freezer or refrigerator, you could destroy the system, as the thermostats are not made to handle those kinds of temperatures.
  4. 4
    Put on safety goggles and a face shield to break up ice. If you plan on breaking up a block of dry ice, you should wear safety goggles and a face shield to protect your eyes. Otherwise, shards of ice can fly into your eyes and cause burns.[12]
  5. 5
    Stay away from low areas. Carbon dioxide tends to sink in rooms, as it is heavier than the air you breathe. Therefore, it will collect in low areas. Don't intentionally stick your head in those areas.[13]
  6. 6
    Be careful what surfaces you put dry ice on. Dry ice can damage many surfaces due to its extreme temperatures. For instance, you can crack tile or other counter top surfaces by placing dry ice on it.[14]
  7. 7
    Dispose of dry ice properly. The best way to get rid of unused dry ice is to let the unused portion continue to sublimate. Make sure the area is well ventilated while the dry ice continues to disappear.[15]
    • Don't put dry ice down a sink or in a toilet, as you may destroy them. Similarly, don't put dry ice in a trash can or leave it where it can accidentally be picked up or touched by someone who doesn't know it's dry ice, as it can burn them.[16]

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    Can you keep dry ice in the freezer?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    • No, dry ice must never be kept in a home refrigerator freezer. This is because the warmer temperature of the freezer will cause the dry ice to transform into a gas (sublimate) and the initial extremely cold temperature of the dry ice can cause the freezer thermostat to shut down (and potentially break). Moreover, if the dry ice is inside an airtight container, when it turns into a gas because the warmer temperature melts it, then it may cause the container to explode inside the freezer.
    Thanks! 5 0
  • Question
    How long can you keep dry ice in a cooler?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    • You can keep dry ice in a Styrofoam cooler until it sublimates, which will usually take about 18 to 24 hours, depending on the external temperature. This time can be extended by keeping the external temperature cooler around it, packing the edges around the ice in the cooler with wads of newspaper and lining the cooler with additional Styrofoam.
    Thanks! 4 2
  • Question
    How long can you keep dry ice in the freezer?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    • Dry ice should not be kept in a home freezer. You can keep dry ice in a Styrofoam container, such as a cooler, that is not airtight. It can be kept in there until it sublimates (turns into a gas), usually within 18 to 24 hours.
    Thanks! 3 3
  • Question
    Can I use dry ice to make foggy punch?
    Community Answer
    • Yes, you can. You can find lots of dry ice punch recipes online.
    Thanks! 8 0
  • Question
    Is it okay to use dry ice in drinks?
    Community Answer
    • Yes, but put it in a big bowl of punch or something similar and make sure nobody accidentally touches or drinks the actual ice.
    Thanks! 7 0
  • Question
    How do I use dry ice?
    Community Answer
    • You leave it out somewhere above its sublimation point. It is great for creating a DIY smoke machine, stage effects, or experiments.
    Thanks! 44 13
  • Question
    Can I place dry ice in a normal box and place it on the balcony to dispose of it?
    Community Answer
    • Yes.
    Thanks! 19 4
  • Question
    Can I put dry ice in a 1000 sq ft room to make it cold?
    Community Answer
    • I would stick to the air conditioning, because it is probably cheaper and works better. Just think about all that work to move the dry ice into the room all the time just to keep it cold, and the cost.
    Thanks! 9 1
  • Question
    Can I put dry ice in a swamp cooler to cool the water?
    Community Answer
    • No. You shouldn't as it gives off carbon dioxide, and you would be blowing it into your house.
    Thanks! 9 1
  • Question
    Can I put dry ice outside to melt?
    Community Answer
    • Yes, but be careful when opening the container as it can cause a lot of burns.
    Thanks! 3 0
Show more answers
  • What can I use to store dry ice besides Styrofoam containers?
  • Would dry ice stay frozen in the permafrost of Siberia?
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wikiHow Video


  • If at any time while handling dry ice you have difficulty breathing, get a headache, have a rapid heartbeat, or get dizzy, get to a well ventilated area immediately, as these are signs of asphyxiation.
    2 Helpful?  1

About This Article

Co-Authored By:
wikiHow Staff Editor
64 votes - 94%
Co-authors: 19
Updated: March 29, 2019
Views: 477,684
Categories: Dry Ice
Article Summary

Before you handle dry ice, put on insulated gloves to protect your skin from burns. When you're ready, put the dry ice in a cooler. Fill any empty space in the cooler with crumpled pieces of paper so the dry ice doesn't evaporate as quickly. Then, close the cooler and place it a cold location that's not a freezer.

Reader Success Stories

  • Jelka Peterson

    Jul 1, 2017

    "This article saved me and my family! We wanted to make homemade root beer for the first time for our annual family barbecue. My dad was about to put the dry ice in the freezer, but I had heard something about not doing that and I suggested looking it up. Thank you, wikiHow!"..." more
    Rated this article:
  • TS

    Tracy S.

    May 11, 2016

    "My electric company sent me a letter for a planned power outage and the letter states "Or, purchase dry ice to keep your unit(s) cold." After reading your article it seems that is not a good idea. Will be contacting them to let them know they are wrong. Thanks for your info, certainly saved me from exploding my fridge and freezer!!"..." more
  • CR

    Cherish Rose

    May 3, 2017

    "The step-by-step details made it very easy to understand. I was very confident that I could actually make dry ice at home. Also, it was helpful that you included specific cautions/warnings and other info that I would not have thought to ask."..." more
  • SD

    Scotty Dubb

    Aug 9, 2016

    "I have been researching into how to use dry ice to transport food from my hometown to where I currently live, which is nearly a three-hour drive. I was ready to try using, I read Steps 1 and Step 2. I think I will use regular ice for now."..." more
  • BB

    Brenda Bee

    Mar 28, 2016

    "There was leftover dry ice in the cooler used to ship my baby back ribs from Corky's in Memphis. I sealed it in a Ziploc bag and put it in the freezer. Then, I read this article. The bag was ready to explode when I opened the door!"..." more
  • AB

    Ajit Bodhgire

    Feb 16, 2017

    "I used to store dry ice in containers and keep them in freezers. No matter what, they were sublimated. Due to this article, now I understand how to store them."..." more
  • KB

    Kim Baxter

    Sep 17, 2017

    "Yes, it helped. I was trying to determine if dry ice would be a future option due to the recent power outage (Irma) to maintain items in a fridge or freezer. "..." more
  • DG

    Dee G.

    Apr 9, 2016

    "I needed to know if keeping dry ice cold slowed down its evaporation. This article answered that question and gave other interesting and helpful information."..." more
  • LF

    Laura Fields

    Jun 4, 2016

    "Excellent information that covered important areas, especially with regard to safety precautions. Thank you!"
  • BK

    Bonnie Krogh

    Jun 6, 2016

    "Never used dry ice before, so I learned how to use, store and properly dispose of the ice. Thanks a lot. "
  • SV

    Sue Van der Merwe

    Nov 9, 2017

    "I am selling ice-cream at a flea market and this article tells me everything I need to now. Thanks."
    Rated this article:
  • AS

    Aaahiyana Singh

    Jul 26, 2017

    "The article has explained very well how to store the dry ice and what to consider while using it."
  • EW

    Ethan Woodruff

    Jul 22, 2016

    "Love the so easy a child can do it explanation, yet still keeping it informative for adults."
  • BK

    B. K.

    Jul 6, 2016

    "Thank you! I haven't handled dry ice in over 15 years and this information was very helpful!"
  • DS

    Daniela Sanchez

    Oct 10, 2017

    "This article was helpful because I got a project and I would have done everything wrong."
  • TS

    Teva Stewart

    Jun 29, 2017

    "Now I know I have to use it now and not keep it for a month without losing a lot."
  • VS

    V. Starling

    May 25, 2017

    "This article was very informative on how to store dry ice."
    Rated this article:
  • GS

    Greg Stratmann

    Aug 21, 2017

    "Helped me avoid purchasing an expensive storage chest. "
    Rated this article:
  • CL

    Calvin Locke

    Oct 20, 2017

    "I never knew not to store dry ice in the freezer!"
  • AG

    Annie Gallo

    Sep 10, 2017

    "All of the information helped. "
  • A


    May 11, 2016

    "Good safety information"
  • TS

    Tracy S.

    May 11, 2016

    "Helpful information!"
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