We've received one package this holiday season packed with dry ice. The lobster tails inside are a much-appreciated gift, but we were left wondering what to do with the dry ice. Some helpful tips follow, and it's important to heed them because misuse of dry ice can harm your home and your health...
Dry ice is solidified carbon dioxide. As the -109°F substance absorbs heat, it turns directly into a gas, releasing carbon dioxide into the air. So if you receive dry ice in any packages this season, please don't leave it in your home to evaporate. The best thing to do is leave it outside, in a place that is out of the reach of children, pets, and the general public. We closed ours in its styrofoam container and set it on the fire escape. We will allow it to sublimate, then dispose of the container.
What not to do:
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or you can just put in in a bucket of water and have spooky fog for fun.
view chusmabilly's profile
yes, fog party!
view tam-tbag's profile
some people get dry ice with their goodies, and some are looking to BUY some dry ice for the kiddies' science experiments but can't find it!
view Nudik's profile
I went to a party and there was dry ice in the punch bowl. Looking pretty cool, and I don't recall any adverse effects from drinking the punch...
view snacktime's profile
No, dry ice won't hurt you if you use it in drinks!
The key is to use just a little bit though - if you put a SMALL amount into a LARGE amount of liquid, you will get the spooky smoke without freezing your punch. Think the size of a small marble in a single (unbreakable) cup, or the size of a tennis ball in a (preferably plastic) punchbowl.
(I used dry ice daily in my former life as a scientist, and it made regular appearances at parties during that time, too, ahem - so I've worked with it a lot.)
Or - sell it or give it away on craigslist! There are lots of people who buy the stuff for parties or whatnot. Why not let someone put it to use?
view brenjay's profile
Oh - and ALWAYS wear gloves when handling it - make sure the gloves are dry, too. It will burn you very badly if you handle it with bare hands.
view brenjay's profile
I thought this was common sense.
view dharmabum's profile
Isn't dry ice the gift! I mean lobsters are nice and all, but DRY ICE! Hours of fun!
view bether's profile
Seriously, this dry ice is begging to be used. Just think of how much fun everyone will have when you re-enact the ghost of Christmas Future appearing during the telling of A Christmas Carol.
view Seaside's profile
Nudik - most grocery stores carry dry ice...
view LilyC's profile
If you can put dry ice safely in drinks, then why does the OP have to dispose of the container?
view Griffin's profile
We get a lot of stuff on dry ice in the lab and we just throw it in the sink. Guess we have industrial strength pipes and stuff.
view Pipsqueak's profile