Dry ice is a versatile substance produced and sold by many ice companies. From cosmetics to construction, you’ll be surprised by how much its usefulness extends beyond creating cool effects at Halloween parties. Below, the team at the Hawaiian Ice Company in Honolulu shares a few of its everyday uses.

How to Use Dry Ice

1. Asphalt Cooling

Cement contractors know that pouring quality concrete depends on the temperature of the mix. It needs to be hot when poured, but then cool down quickly, so samples can be taken for quality control. With a temperature of -109 degrees, dry ice can do the job. However, to prevent over-cooling that will crack the cement, bagged ice is sandwiched between the cooling pavement and dry ice.

2. Delivering Perishable Foods

Transporting perishable goods requires cold temperatures. Regular ice works, but it melts quickly in the heat. Because of the low natural temperature of dry ice, it takes a long time to sublimate into CO₂ gas, making it a much more reliable delivering method.

3. Flash Freezing Foods

When you pop meat, fruit, and vegetables directly in the freezer, they will lose their fresh flavor over time. Flash freeze food first with dry ice to lock in the flavor and enjoy your food more when it defrosts. While fishing, store your catch in a cooler with dry ice immediately to help preserve the fish.

4. Science Experiments

Don’t forget all the fun science experiments you can do with dry ice too. With just a few ingredients like warm water, dish soap, and dry ice, you can keep kids entertained for hours. Always make sure they have adult supervision, though, since dry ice is so cold it can cause frostbite if not handled properly.

5. Skin Care

There are medical uses for dry ice as well. Doctors use it to freeze off skin warts and other imperfections. Dry ice can even be mixed with acetone to make a skin-brightening exfoliating treatment.

If you’re looking for dry ice to use in any of these or many other applications, you can get it from Hawaiian Ice Company. For over 20 years, Hawaiian Ice Company has supplied packaged ice as well as rental of freezers/coolers and real snow for special events and projects. Call Hawaiian Ice Company today at (808) 538-6918 or visit their website to learn more about their products.