While the most obvious use of dry ice is to keep food cold, it has a number of other uses that may surprise you. Dry ice is simply a solid form of carbon dioxide. Dry ice is made from leftover carbon dioxide gas produced during other chemical process such as the production of ammonia and from large-scale fermentation operations. The gas is cooled and pressurized and once it reaches the optimum low temperature, the pressure is released. What is left is a frosty substance that has a temperature of about -109 degrees Fahrenheit. While you always need to handle dry ice properly to avoid frostbite, it can be used for more than just keeping food frozen.

Dry ice in the kitchen

While the most common use of dry ice is to keep food frozen, it does have some other great uses for both food and beverages. Since carbon dioxide is what makes your soft drinks fizz, it can be used to make your own homemade soda. Simply add flavoring to water and add a few pellets of dry ice and you instantly have a refreshing, icy cold, bubbling beverage. It can also be used to flash freeze fresh fruit and vegetables to help them maintain their crunch after they thaw.  

Entertain with dry ice

Dry ice can be used to add a soft, fog effect inside or outside your home. Place a big block of dry ice in a cold-safe container and simply pour water over it. The water will create a fog that adds ambience to any gathering inside or out. You can also use fans to circulate the fog for a more natural look.

Dry ice can keep the bugs away

Nothing ruins an outdoor event quicker than mosquitoes and other flying insects. As dry ice evaporates, its carbon dioxide is released into the air, which is a powerful attractant for many flying insects, especially mosquitoes. Simply place small containers of dry ice around the perimeter of your party area and the annoying insects will be attracted to them instead of you and your guests.

Freeze the dents out with dry ice

Using dry ice to remove dents from your vehicle can take a bit of finesse, but the result is well worth it. Keep in mind that dry ice will only work on taking out dents in metal, not plastic or fiberglass. Using gloves, wrap a small piece of dry ice in a soft cloth to protect paint, and use a circular motion on and around the dent. The extremely cold temperature of the dry ice will make the metal contract and pop the dent right out. This can take upwards of 20 minutes but is much less expensive than calling a dent repair service, especially if it is a relatively small blemish.

Heavy duty cleaning with dry ice

Dry ice is becoming a popular substance to use in place of sand or soda in pressurized air cleaning applications. Using specialized pellets in place of sand, beads, or soda, under high pressure, a surface can be cleaned of rust, paint, or debris with no leftover residue or material. Since dry ice evaporates at room temperature, it simply dissipates and leaves no messy clean up. It also leaves the treated surface clean eliminating the need to re-clean the surface after is it blasted. It also eliminates extra debris in the air that can come from using sand or soda.

Argyle Welding Supply provides welders with all the safety equipment and working materials a welder would need to fulfill their daily needs on and off the job. We also carry a variety of products for the food and beverage industry, pool maintenance and specialized gas for a variety of applications. At Argyle, we strive to be the best welding supplier we can so that our customers are safe and productive. Visit us at any of our three locations in El Paso, Albuquerque, or Las Cruces or on our social media on our Facebook and Twitter pages.