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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills:  dry ice question  |
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 17 2011 : 07:43:57 AM
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By the time it would get to you it would be gone if you order on line. We used it to pack frozen fish sent from Alaska to any where in the Lower 48 states and it would have melted by the time the package arrived 24 to 48 hours later.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2011 : 08:59:55 AM
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We actually sell dry ice, but the question really is what do you want to do with it? Dry ice is 109 degrees below zero. It is great for wanting to keep something frozen for a short period of time. Ten pounds of dry ice is the size of a red brick and will only last about 24 hours no matter how you store it. Dry ice can be very dangerous if not handled correctly and can cause serious burns if touched and death if consumed in a solid state, so it is very important to watch around small children. It also will take the oxygen out of the air in confined spaces as it turns back into CO2 gas. This can be dangerous if driving in a sealed up car with a large amount of it. Also it is dangerous if you put it in a sealed container where gas can not escape it can actually explode. I know some people put small amounts in their plastic buckets that they store dry goods in to take out the oxygen before they seal them and try to keep the dry goods from bug contamination and going rancid. One thing to consider is that this will also kill the grain you are storing. For example, if you store wheat berries you are really storing a seed that can be planted and a new crop grown. If you pack the wheat berries with dry ice it will actually kill the seed making it unable to grow. Some feel this also effects nutrition. Something to consider if you store food for survival reasons. There are other options in long term food storage that keep things viable.
As to where to buy it, very few grocery stores still carry it since it has a safety risk. Also young kids make a small bomb type thing with a pop bottle and dry ice, so many choose no longer to carry it for liability reasons.You can call an ice company that sells the bagged ice cubes to stores, they may still carry it. Sometimes fish and meat markets will have a supply they use to ship and may sell you a chunk. Sometimes plumbers can tell you where to purchase since they use it to remove seized pipe. Very few shipping companies will allow you to mail dry ice and it has a very short life, so that is why no companies will ship it to you. There are only a few companies left that will manufacture it and you can get it in block and pellet form. Block will last longer. I hope this has helped a bit.
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2011 : 10:05:30 AM
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Hi Jane, well i am going to be buying some grains and stuff in bulk and store in plastic buckets- as you mentioned...part of the storage process is using a small bit of dry ice in the buckets as a fumigant it actively kills the insects that may already be in the grains. I have not ordered anything in bulk yet but will be soon. I am aware that i cannot handle it with bare hands and all that. Whats the best way to contact you when I am ready to buy it?
Thanks
Connie
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2011 : 12:49:29 PM
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Connie, you will be better off to try to find a local source of dry ice. We do not ship it since it is classified as dangerous material and only a few services will allow shipment. But most important it disintegrates so rapidly there would be nothing left by the time it would arrive. You can achieve the same results by putting your grains in the freezer for a few days before storage. It will kill any insects and larva while still keeping the grain viable. I prepare all my grains, beans, and flours this way before storage in air tight plastic buckets and have never had a problem with insects in the last 15 years of doing it this way. Best of luck on your search.
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
Posted - Dec 18 2011 : 7:35:09 PM
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I seem to remember that some places that sell ice cream/ice cream cakes would have it. I think putting the grains in the freezer would be easiest. It might be worth investing in a freezer just for that purpose.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Dec 18 2011 : 9:41:20 PM
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Hi Connie - My girlfriend's family owns an ice company and they always have it available. So, as an alternative, you can try any ice house/ice company or ice sculptors, too. They'll also be able to give you an idea as to how much you'll need for your shipment, and any other necessary information. :) Good luck! - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
www.papercraftingwithnini.myctmh.com
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Dec 18 2011 : 11:04:49 PM
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I tend to agree with using a regular freezer.
However, if you are sold on using dry ice. In NYC I used to buy it at a ice cream shop for a while, and then started getting it at a ice company (a place that made and sold ice only). Both places required me to buy in 25 lb increments. Even if I only wanted 10 lbs.
Here in the midwest, believe it or not most grocery stores sell it, it is kept outside in a big ice chest deep freeze thing. And Krogers sells it pretty regularly. Sometimes though even walmart sells it around here.
I use it for camping. A large 25 lbs block in a HUGE cooler (think the kind they sell at like Sam's Club and Costco, they are like 7 feet long and just huge). I put my food in there already completely frozen and the food will stay froze if I am very good about not opening it often for around 4 days. Then they get sloshy and defrosted. Then they will still stay good for another few days with regular ice!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Dec 18 2011 : 11:30:17 PM
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I buy it at Walmart and another sort of local grocery store sells it as well..by the pound. I agree with buying it the day you plan to use it.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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naturemaiden
True Blue Farmgirl
2569 Posts
Connie - Farmgirl #673
Hoosick Falls
NY
USA
2569 Posts |
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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: dry ice question |
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dry ice question
