Dry Ice vs. Ice Packs: Which Is Best for Shipping?

If you are taking your farm or meat market online, welcome to the wonderful (but sometimes complicated) world of cold chain logistics!

Keeping your perishable food items cold from the time they leave your business until they reach the customer’s door is essential for maintaining high customer satisfaction and staying in legal compliance.

However, several cold packing materials are available. Two popular options are dry ice and gel packs. Which one is right for you?

This article covers everything you need to know about dry ice and ice packs, the benefits of each, and which one is best for your needs.

Dry Ice vs. Ice Packs: The Basics

Let’s start with the basics.

Ice pack: Also known as gel or cold packs, ice packs are plastic bags filled with refrigerant gel, water, or other liquid. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and many gel packs can be refrozen and used multiple times.
Dry ice: Dry ice is carbon dioxide that has been liquefied and then frozen at -109 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s extremely cold and instead of melting like a regular block of frozen water, dry ice will “sublimate”, meaning it turns directly from a solid into a gas.

Dry Ice vs. Ice Packs: What Are the Key Differences?

We’ll say this upfront: both dry ice and ice packs are potentially great options when shipping perishable goods. However, each option comes with some unique benefits and drawbacks.

Here’s what to consider:

1. Cost

Dry ice can be fairly costly upfront and is perishable, making it the least cost-effective of the two options. Ice packs, on the other hand, are fairly inexpensive, can be bought in bulk, and potentially reused.

When shipping food locally, it’s important to factor the price of your packaging materials into the shipping costs. This will help you better set pricing and understand your potential profit margins when you take your business online.

2. Longevity

One of the key advantages of dry ice is that it lasts a long time. In an insulated container, the sublimation rate of dry ice is about 10 lbs per 24 hours (this can be even slower depending on how it’s packed). Dry ice also does not produce liquid when it melts, which will ensure all packed items stay dry throughout.

Ice packs, on the other hand, only stay frozen for up to six hours if packed with ice in an insulated container. Gel packs also melt and can cause packed items to get wet if you’re not careful.

3. Temperature

Temperature is the area where the consideration of dry ice vs. ice packs may matter the most.

Dry ice gets extremely cold — well below freezing — and can stay that way for a long time. This makes it ideal for shipping frozen items since they’ll remain completely frozen. This is why dry ice is often used to ship items like ice cream or frozen meats for long distances.

Ice packs generally keep items at about the same temperature as the inside of a refrigerator (between approximately 35 - 45 degrees Fahrenheit). This is ideal for products that shouldn’t be completely frozen and to avoid freezer burn. They can also be used for frozen goods, given they’re only traveling short distances.

4. Safety and Shipping Restrictions

Dry ice is more dangerous to handle than an ice pack. It can cause burns if handled without protective gear, and when packed incorrectly, can even explode. If you choose to use dry ice you’ll need to take extra time and care when preparing packages for shipment.

Many shipping companies have strict requirements for shipping with dry ice — you’ll need to be aware of each company’s policies, as they can vary.

While the safety requirements for shipping with ice packs are not nearly as strict, there are still some risks. Improper insulation can cause ice packs to melt faster and food to spoil quicker. Understanding best practices for storing and shipping perishable food is a must if using ice packs.

Dry Ice vs. Ice Packs: Which Should I Use?

Now that you understand the key differences between the two, you hopefully have a better idea of which is right for you. The main things to consider when choosing what to use are:

Type of item: Should the item be frozen and remain frozen (like meat) or is it OK for it to just be chilled?
Where it’s being shipped: How far is the item traveling? Will it be in transit for a few hours or a few days? Additionally, are there any restrictions on the use of dry ice at the final destination?

Here are the biggest benefits of each and the use cases that work best.

Ice/Gel Packs — Key Takeaways

Best used for

Ice or gel packs are an inexpensive option but warm up more quickly, making them ideal for 1-day ground shipments, local deliveries, or items that don’t need to remain fully frozen.

That said, following perishable shipping best practices or using a perishable shipping partner like Shipfare can help extend the shipment’s longevity by using airtight and/or vacuum-sealed packaging.

Pros:

Cheaper, easier to buy in bulk, and reusable
Easier to pack and comes in multiple shapes and sizes
Prevents items from freezing or developing freezer burn
Great for local or quick deliveries

Cons:

Less environmentally friendly
Not able to keep items frozen
Not ideal for shipments that take more than 1 day

Dry Ice — Key Takeaways

Best used For

Dry ice is best for items that need to remain frozen and/or are being shipped for more than two days. This makes it an ideal option for frozen meats, especially if they’re traveling nationwide.

Pros:

Lasts a long time
Extremely cold and capable of keeping food frozen
More environmentally friendly and creates no plastic waste
Ideal for longer, multi-day shipments

Cons:

It’s perishable and only lasts for 5-7 days
More dangerous to handle and ship
Can damage temperature-sensitive products
More costly and not as widely available

Other Considerations for Shipping Perishable Items

How you cool items is incredibly important — but it’s not the only aspect of successful food shipments. In addition to using the right cooling material, make sure not to neglect:

Packaging: Insulated packaging is a must when shipping perishable items. Options include styrofoam containers or insulated box liners.
Efficient inventory management: When it comes to shipping fresh meat, seafood, or produce, you need to have an accurate view of your stock. Inventory management software for farms will help you avoid food spoilage through streamlined order management and real-time inventory tracking.
Sell by weight functionality: Many perishable foods, like meat or seafood, are sold by weight rather than by item. As you prepare items for shipment (like subscription boxes), you need the ability to accurately price an item and reconcile it with your current inventory.

Ensure Your Shipments Are a Success With a Leading E-Commerce Partner

So, dry ice vs. ice packs, which will you use? We generally recommend using gel packs, as they’re the most cost-effective option. That doesn’t mean you should rule dry ice out completely, but for the most common food shipping needs, gel packs will work great as long as they’re not in transit for too long.

Whether you’re taking your business online for the first time or expanding your business, having a knowledgeable e-commerce partner is a must for successful online sales.

GrazeCart was built specifically to help small farms and meat markets stay efficient and competitive in the digital age. With powerful inventory management tools, a website builder, and e-commerce functionality that integrates with perishable food shippers, GrazeCart is an ideal partner for shipping perishable items locally or nationally.

To find out how GrazeCart can simplify the way you prepare orders and shipments, schedule your free 14-day trial today.