Dry ice has a thousand different uses, and all of them are fairly fun and creative. If you are a dry ice experimenter, you undoubtedly want to know where you can find it. If you live in the East, you might be wondering if Giant Foods is one of these places. Keep reading to find out.
Giant does not sell dry ice. However, Walmart, Kroger, and most local grocery stores sell dry ice. Grocery stores typically require the person who purchases dry ice to show their ID and require them to be over 18 years old because dry ice is dangerous when not handled properly.
Sadly, Giant does not sell dry ice. However, as mentioned before, there are plenty of places that sell dry ice that you can go to. .If you want to know where you can buy dry ice and how to handle it safely, keep reading.
Where Can I Buy Dry Ice?
Walmart
Walmart is one of the first places you can check for dry ice. There is usually a designated ice area in the front of the store (often by the doors or checkout aisles) where you can find dry ice and regular ice. If you are unsure about it, you can always call your nearest Walmart to find out if they sell dry ice.
Click here to learn more about dry ice at Walmart
Kroger
Kroger almost always have dry ice in stock, and all locations sell it. Kroger has a designated freezer section by the front of the store where dry ice and regular ice can be found. Dry ice is sold in one-pound and fifteen-pound bags for usually no more than two dollars, sometimes even less.
Learn more about dry ice at Kroger
HEB
HEB is a store chain in Texas that often sells dry ice. However, not all HEB locations have dry ice in stock. Because of this, you will have to call your local HEB and ask them if they have dry ice in stock before you go to that location to purchase it. If you don't call beforehand, you may be disappointed and find they don't sell it.
Learn more about dry ice at HEB
Albertsons
Albertsons is the perfect place to go if you would prefer to find dry ice in small quantities. All Albertson locations sell dry ice in a freezer near the front or back of the store. You will have to ask for assistance in order to purchase the dry ice as most dry ice freezers are locked.
Learn more about dry ice at Albertsons
Costco
Some Costco stores do sell dry ice, but not all locations have it in stock. If you want to purchase dry ice at Costco, you will have to call your nearest location and ask one of the associates if they have it in stock at the moment. However, remember that Costco sells items in large quantities, so if they do sell dry ice they will likely sell it in large amounts.
Learn more about dry ice at Costco
How to Handle Dry Ice
Dry ice is cool, but it is dangerous. Dry ice is not like normal ice that is made out of frozen water. Instead, dry ice is liquified and frozen carbon dioxide that will stay frozen much longer than water. Rather than melting, dry ice turns into carbon dioxide gas. Since this is the case, you will need to take extra care in the way you handle and store it.
Be careful about where you store your dry ice, especially if you store it in your basement. According to the New York State Department of Health, dry ice is much heavier than normal ice, and the carbon dioxide will pool in lower areas. This can become dangerous if you and your family members are exposed to too much of it.
When handling it, use insulated gloves because dry ice is much colder than regular ice and can burn your skin if you are not careful. You should also use protective eyewear and a face shield if you are cutting or chopping a block of dry ice. You can seriously injure yourself if you don't wear the proper protection equipment while handling dry ice.
Fun Uses For Dry Ice
Now that you know where to find and how to handle dry ice, you undoubtedly want to know what you can do with it! There are dozens of different ways you can utilize dry ice, and here are a few of them!
Special Effects
This is quite possibly one of the most popular uses for dry ice. Who doesn't love some spooky fog on Halloween night, or for a fun setting in a play? It's always fun to stick a block of dry ice inside a jack-o-lantern or in a bowl full of homemade root beer to make smoke flow out of them. You could even stick it into a glass of water out on the porch and have spooky fog swirling around your porch on Halloween night.
Preservation
This is quite possibly the most popular use for dry ice nowadays. Because it is colder than regular ice and will not melt as quickly, it will keep food cool and fresh for long periods of time. It is useful for freezing fruit and for transporting food on long trips. You can stick dry ice packs in the bottom of a cooler and keep your food fresh.
Dry ice is popular among hunters and fishermen, especially those who need to keep their game fresh. Fishermen will put their catch on dry ice for a quick flash freeze as a way to keep the fish fresh for twice as long as regular ice. Bodies being prepared for burial are also usually preserved in dry ice.
Dry Ice Bombs
This is one of the most fun uses for dry ice. If you're looking for a fun, semi-risky activity for you and your friends, make a dry ice bomb. All you need to do in order to make one is put some dry ice in a sealed container of some sort, like a plastic Tupperware container or a potato chip can, and then run. The gas in the ice will rapidly expand and cause the container to pop open. Make sure you don't make a dry ice bomb inside or near buildings and cars.
