How to Use Dry Ice Packs for Shipping Food Safely
Shipping frozen steaks, meal‑kit ingredients, or gourmet ice cream? Choosing the right dry ice pack for shipping food keeps products below 0 °F and your brand reputation intact.
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How to size dry‑ice packs for common food payloads
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Which 2025 FDA and IATA labels are mandatory
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Smart ways to combine gel and dry ice to cut costs
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Eco‑friendly liner and disposal options
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Safety tips for staff and end customers
How Much Dry Ice Does Your Food Shipment Need?
Rule of thumb: 50 % of payload weight supports 48 h at –20 °F; adjust ±10 % per climate zone.
| Food Payload | 24 h Hold | 48 h Hold | 72 h Hold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb pastries | 2 lb | 3 lb | 5 lb |
| 10 lb meat cuts | 4 lb | 6 lb | 9 lb |
| 25 lb seafood | 8 lb | 13 lb | 18 lb |
| 40 lb meal kits | 12 lb | 19 lb | 27 lb |
Tip: Add 2 lb for every extra day when outside temps exceed 90 °F (32 °C).
How Do You Pack Dry Ice with Food Products?
Core steps:
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Pre‑chill food to ≤ –10 °F (–23 °C).
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العزل: Use R‑value ≥ 7 (1‑in. recycled PET or starch bio‑foam).
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Dry‑ice placement: Bricks on top, optional layer under payload for > 48 h.
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Void fill: Compostable kraft paper to limit air gaps.
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ختم: 3‑layer EVOH barrier bag with micro‑vents for CO₂ release.
Case study: A meal‑kit brand cut spoilage from 5 % to 1 % after switching to vented bricks and PET panels.
Choosing Barrier Films & Liners
| Film Type | CO₂ Venting | Moisture Barrier | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| LDPE Twin | Low | Medium | Same‑day couriers |
| EVOH Triple | Medium | High | 24–48 h ground |
| EVOH + Micro‑vents | High | High | 48–72 h air freight |
Practical Tips & Money Savers
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Hybrid cooling: Place 32 °F gel packs beneath produce and dry‑ice bricks above—reduces dry‑ice load by ~15 %.
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Weekend buffer: Ship on Friday? Increase dry ice by 20 % to cover delays.
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Return program: Offer customers prepaid labels to mail back liners for reuse.
2025 Trends in Dry‑Ice Food Shipping
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Captured‑CO₂ dry ice lowers carbon footprint and qualifies for ESG credits.
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Smart NFC tags track core temp and CO₂ levels in real time.
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Compostable liners certified to break down in 90 days.
Global frozen e‑commerce is projected to grow 13 % CAGR through 2029, making efficient dry‑ice packing a competitive must.
FAQ
Do I need hazmat training to ship dry ice with food?
Ground parcels under 5.5 lb (2.5 kg) need only the UN 1845 label; air freight requires IATA Category II training.
Can I mix dry ice with fresh produce?
Yes—use a divider to prevent freezer burn and keep produce above 32 °F.
How do customers dispose of leftover dry ice?
Let it sublimate in a ventilated area; never put it in sinks or sealed bins.
Summary & Action Steps
Select a dry ice pack for shipping food based on hold‑time, climate, and liner quality. Follow the 50 % payload rule, label packages “Dry Ice UN 1845,” and combine gel packs to save costs.
Next steps:
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Download our free dry‑ice calculator.
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Order a 10‑pack sample with EVOH vented film.
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Run a trial with an NFC logger and review data.
About Tempk
Tempk engineers recyclable thermal packaging. Our Food‑Safe V‑Pack™ dry‑ice bricks use carbon‑negative CO₂ and moisture‑protection films, guaranteeing –20 °F for up to 72 hours.
Need custom specs? Request a quote today.
