How to Pack Ice Cream with Dry Ice in 2025

You want rock‑solid pints at the door, not slush. Here’s how to pack ice cream dengan es kering the right way—step‑by‑step methods, exact ice math, and compliant labels—so your shipment holds 0°F (‑18°C) for 24–72 hours without waste. Most small coolers need 5–10 lb es kering per 24 jam; thicker insulation and hot routes need more.

How to layer pints and dry ice for even cold on 24–72‑hour routes
How much dry ice to use with a simple, testable calculator
Which insulated shipper (EPS, Pur, VIP) fits time and budget
How to label and vent packages for USPS/UPS/FedEx compliance
When gel packs help—and when dry ice must lead

How do you pack ice cream with dry ice step by step?

Quick answer: Pre‑freeze pints, pre‑condition the shipper, line with a poly bag, add a base layer of dry ice, pack pints tightly, top‑load more dry ice, fill all voids, tetap terbuka, and label correctly. Do not seal airtight; Co₂ harus melarikan diri. Rencana 5–10 lb dry ice per 24 jam for small coolers; increase for thin walls or heat waves.

Mengapa itu berhasil: Dry ice is ‑109°F (‑78.5°C). Cold gas sinks. Putting most ice di atas the pints feeds cold downward and slows heat gain. A “sandwich” (base ice → pints → top ice) evens temperatures and prevents lid warp. Venting avoids pressure build‑up and keeps handlers safe.

Which insulated shipper should you choose for how to pack ice cream with dry ice?

Pick wall thickness by transit time. Menggunakan ~1,5″ EPS for 24–48 h. Langkah ke atas 1.75–2.25″ EPS atau PUR/VIP untuk 48+ h or hot lanes. PUR insulates better than EPS; VIP gives the longest hold in the smallest footprint.

Pack‑out choice	Typical spec	Terbaik untuk	Apa artinya bagimu
1.5″ EPS	Budget foam	24–36 h	Baik untuk semalam; add buffer ice
1.75–2.25″ EPS	Thick foam	36–48 h	Jalur dua hari; moderate heat
Pur atau VIP	Higher R‑value	48–72 h+	Smaller box, lebih sedikit es, premium price

Kiat Praktis yang Dapat Anda Gunakan Hari Ini

Prasyarat the shipper in a freezer for 1–2 hours.
Mix blocks + pelet: blocks last, Pelet mengisi celah.
Eliminate headspace: paper void fill beats warm air.

Kasus nyata: A creamery shipped 12 pints in summer using a 1.75″ EPS shipper and 18 lb of mixed dry ice with a top‑heavy layout. Delivery at 46 jam: pints arrived rock‑solid; lids intact.

How much dry ice do you need when you pack ice cream with dry ice?

Aturan praktis: Mulai 5–10 lb per 24 H for well‑insulated small coolers. Scale for thicker walls, payload size, and weather. For 36–48 h, 12 pints often need 15–22 lb in 1.75–2.25″ EPS. Always validate with a lane test.

Make it predictable: Sublimation depends on insulation, massa, and airflow. Use a simple estimator, then add a heat‑season buffer (+20% in hot months). Keep most ice above the pints. For long lanes or heat waves, upgrade to PUR/VIP to cut required ice mass and risk.

Dry ice estimator (copy/paste to Sheets)

Rate_lb_per_day: Mulai 7.5 (midpoint of 5–10).
Route_Factor: 1.0 Dingin / 1.2 bahu / 1.4 panas.
Box_Factor: 0.9 PUR/VIP; 1.0 for 1.75–2.25″ EPS; 1.2 for 1.0–1.5″ EPS.

Contoh: 36 H, hot route (1.4), 1.5″ EPS (1.2) → =ROUNDUP((36/24)*7.5*1.4*1.2,0) → 19 lb es kering.

Muatan (pint)	Box type	Window	Timur . es kering	Kesimpulan Anda
6–8	1.5″ EPS	24–36 h	8–12 pon	Overnight plus buffer
12	1.75–2.25″ EPS	36–48 h	15–22 lb	Two‑day lanes in warm weather
18–24	2.25″ EPS / Pur	48–60 h	25–35 lb	Long zone‑skips; weekend holds

Layout that keeps pints hard‑frozen

Lapisan dasar: 0.5–1″ pellets wrapped in paper.
Payload zone: tight rows; no gaps.
Side cavities: 0.5–1″ pellet bags on “hot” walls.
Lapisan atas: 1–2″ blok + pelet.
This “cold well” evens temperatures and extends hold time.

How do you stay compliant when you pack ice cream with dry ice?

Lakukan ini setiap saat: Tanda “Es kering” atau “karbon dioksida, padat,”UN1845, daftar net dry‑ice weight, use the Kelas 9 label (udara), Dan lubang angin the package—no airtight internals. USPS allows dry ice domestically with air limits; international via USPS is prohibited. UPS/FedEx follow IATA PI 954 untuk udara.

Mengapa itu penting: CO₂ gas must escape to prevent pressure build‑up and oxygen displacement. Proper labels keep your parcel moving and protect handlers. USPS Air memiliki a 5 lb limit per mailpiece; ground can exceed but must stay surface. International shipments require private carriers and IATA‑compliant marking.

Labeling checklist for how to pack ice cream with dry ice

Nama pengiriman yang tepat: Es kering / Karbon dioksida, padat
UN1845 clearly marked
Berat bersih es kering (kg or lb) on the outside
Kelas 9 label bahaya (100 mm) for air shipments
Kemasan ventilasi; do not seal liner airtight

Pembawa / Mode	Batas kunci	Must‑have marks	Catatan
USPS (Udara)	≤5 lb dry ice	UN1845 + Kelas 9 + Berat bersih	Domestik saja; Dilarang Internasional
USPS (Tanah)	No fixed limit	“Karbon dioksida, padat" + Berat bersih	Surface transport only
UPS/FEDEX (Udara)	Ini pi 954	UN1845 + Kelas 9 + Berat bersih	Station acceptance rules vary

Is dry ice always best, or when do gel packs help?

Dry ice is the hanya way to hold a true freeze for ice cream. Gel packs are for chilled ranges. A hibrida (top dry ice + side gel) can buffer delicate pints or mixed loads and reduce lid warp on long lanes. For 0°F targets, keep dry ice primary.

2025 trends shaping how to pack ice cream with dry ice

Snapshot tren: Brands are shifting from standard EPS to PUR/VIP to shrink box size and dry‑ice mass while extending hold time. Low‑cost data loggers make lane qualification simple. Shippers are “right‑sizing” dry ice with validated calculators instead of rules of thumb, cutting waste and cost.

Kemajuan terbaru sekilas

VIP goes mainstream: Longer hold in smaller cartons; lebih sedikit pengepakan ulang.
Pemantauan yang lebih cerdas: API‑enabled loggers prove compliance and reduce claims.
Greener CO₂ usage: Better modeling prevents over‑icing without risking thaw.

Wawasan pasar: Cold‑chain packaging demand keeps climbing with DTC desserts and e‑grocery. Thicker EPS tiers and VIP adoption support 48–72‑hour windows without premium services—key for margin.

FAQ

How long will dry ice keep ice cream frozen?
Tentang 24–72 jam depending on insulation and ice mass. Mulai dari 5–10 lb per 24 h and validate on your lane.

Berapa banyak es kering 12 pint, 36–48 h?
Rencana 15–22 lb in 1.75–2.25″ EPS with a top‑heavy layout; menambahkan 20% in heat waves.

Can I ship internationally with USPS?
TIDAK. USPS prohibits dry ice in international mail. Use private carriers with IATA‑compliant labels.

Where should the dry ice sit?
Mostly di atas the pints; add side pellet bags on hot walls to even temperatures.

Is venting mandatory?
Ya. Inner liner and outer carton must allow CO₂ to escape; Jangan pernah menyegel kedap udara.

Ringkasan & Rekomendasi

Poin -poin penting: You’ve learned how to pack ice cream with dry ice using a layered layout, right‑sized ice (5–10 lb/24 h as a baseline), thicker insulation for longer routes, and compliant marking (UN1845, Kelas 9 untuk udara). Validate with one test ship per lane and a logger before scaling.

Langkah selanjutnya (rencana aksi):

Qualify your lane: Run one test with a temp logger.
Pick packaging: 1.75–2.25″ EPS for 36–48 h; PUR/VIP for 48–72 h.
Calculate ice: Use the estimator, then add seasonal buffer.
Label & lubang angin: UN1845, Berat bersih, Kelas 9 (udara), no airtight seals.

Tentang tempk

We engineer lane‑validated frozen pack‑outs—insulated shippers, right‑sized dry‑ice charts, and simple SOPs—so your pints arrive hard‑frozen without overspending on ice or service upgrades. Our kits include compliant labels and logger workflows, backed by technicians who’ve shipped millions of units. Let’s tailor a pack‑out that fits your routes and budget.

CTA: Ready to de‑risk your frozen launches? Contact Tempk for a 15‑minute packaging review.