You can’t buy dry ice at the gas station. Few grocery stores carry it.

Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide. It doesn’t melt, but instead sublimates directly from a solid to a gas at temperatures of -78.5°C (-109.3°F), leaving no liquid residue.

This characteristic makes it especially valuable for:

• Preserving perishable goods during shipping.
• Creating dramatic fog effects in theatrical productions.
• Cleaning surfaces through dry ice blasting.

Dry ice requires special handling because it can burn if touched with bare skin, and the gas from dry ice can displace oxygen in enclosed spaces.

It’s a truly unique product, not typically sold by retailers.

Founded in 1956, Crystal Ice is a Los Angeles industry leader in ice manufacture. If it’s cold, we have it — commercial ice, wholesale ice, dry ice, ice blocks, ice sculptures, artificial snow, and more.

We can produce ice on a massive scale, but at the same time, every customer receives the personal service they deserve.

We offer 24-7 emergency delivery, or you can stop by to view our inventory and select exactly what you need.

Do you think dry ice if just for Halloween displays?

Think again — there are many practical uses around the home.

For Outdoor Events

Dry ice can extend the life of standard ice, keeping drinks cold and food at a safe temperature.

This is ideal for picnics, family reunions, block parties, and more. You can place it at the bottom of a large cooler when camping, boating, fishing, or hunting, keeping everything chilled for 3–4 days.

And if you need to freeze items, place the dry ice above them, ensuring it never comes into direct contact with the food.

For Food Tourism

Some special foods may not be available where you live, necessitating a road trip to satisfy cravings. Some consumers buy dry ice to transport their favorite ice cream from hours away and get it home frozen.

You can also use dry ice to safely transport meat and other food items from remote farms.

To Keep Food Fresh During Power Outages

Some of us have experienced power outages that lasted for days. Hundreds of dollars worth of refrigerated and frozen food can quickly spoil.

Dry ice serves as emergency refrigeration. Tell us the size of your refrigerator, cooler, or freezer, and we’ll determine the amount of dry ice you need to keep your food at the right temperature.

The primary commercial use of dry ice is to preserve food or biological samples without relying on refrigeration. It can also be used to flash-freeze items, carbonate beverages, or even create certain foods, such as ice cream. Some food producers even use it to reduce or eliminate insect activity without the use of pesticides.

Those in the entertainment industry often use dry ice for special effects. It can be used to create fog for dramatic effect in live productions. Some movie studios will also utilize it when avoiding costlier effects.

Dry ice is also used in the medical industry, sometimes being used to freeze and remove warts and other skin growths. Plumbers sometimes use it to help unclog pipes. Finally, exterminators use it as bait to trap certain types of insects that are attracted to carbon dioxide.

Crystal Ice is able to offer you dry ice in a wide variety of sizes, from those small enough to fit inside of a cooler to those large enough to be used for industrial applications. You can inform us of the size you need, or we can help you to determine which size is best for you. We are always happy to help.

Part of what makes dry ice incredibly useful is its extremely low temperature. However, that is also part of what makes it dangerous. You should never directly handle dry ice; instead, use thick, insulated gloves and tools to move and manipulate it.

Another aspect of dry ice you should be cautious of is that it turns into breathable carbon dioxide as it melts. In most cases, this is not toxic, but a large piece of dry ice in a confined space can be problematic. Make sure you use dry ice in open or well-ventilated spaces.

Dry ice can be placed inside of refrigerators and freezers, but it should never come into direct contact with glass shelves or other glass items. Doing so will cause the glass to break, making it a hazard. It should also never be stored in an air-tight container, as the gas released can cause the container to burst.

When it comes to dry ice, or any of our ice products and services, you cannot choose better than Crystal Ice. With over six decades of experience, we can deliver the quality you deserve. With exceptional products, top-notch services, fast delivery, and professional results, Crystal Ice is the service for you.