How To Keep Ice Cream Frozen While Transporting It

It can be challenging to keep ice cream frozen while traveling or when delivering them. There can be a scenario where your ice cream melts before you get to your destination. Luckily, you can prevent this from happening. Here’s how it’s done:

To keep ice cream frozen while transporting, you should try wrapping it in aluminum foil, keeping it in a proper cooler, adding salt to the ice surrounding your ice cream, and using dry ice as well as gel packs.

Ice cream melts due to the presence of tiny ice crystals surrounded by air pockets and fat droplets, which melt as the temperature rises; this causes the ice cream’s structure to be disrupted. Keep reading as I go through how to protect your ice cream from heat and keep it frozen while in transit.

Wrap it in Aluminum Foil 

How To Keep Ice Cream Frozen While Transporting

The first approach will be to wrap the ice cream with aluminum foil. This wrapping material reflects 97% of heat radiation so it helps protect your ice cream from heat. In addition to using aluminum foil, it is best to place your wrapped ice cream in a cooler afterward.

To give you an idea, you can try using Reflectix Tab Insulation Roll. It is fiber-free, eco-friendly, simple to install, and lightweight. It also includes an air bubble lining, which helps to prevent heat transmission.  

You can also use Campizo Foil Blankets for your pints or ice cream bars. They are NASA-designed and made of ultra-durable, tear-resistant, time-tested materials. They’re also very easy to use, provide excellent insulation, and can be stored in a small space.

Keep it in a Cooler 

One of the best ways to keep your ice cream frozen while traveling is to use a cooler. This is because ice cream can last 4-6 hours in a standard cooler and up to 24 hours in a high-end kind.

You can use hard-sided coolers to increase the chances of keeping your treats frozen while traveling. They have far superior ice retention, a larger capacity, and are more durable. They’re also an excellent option if you’re heading to harsh conditions and need a long-lasting cooler, especially if you’re going on lengthy trips.

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Add Salt to Ice 

It’s also a good idea to add salt to your cooler once you’ve filled it with ice. This is because adding salt actually decreases both its melting point and temperature. Partially melted salt water will remain at a temperature of 20 to 28ºF (-7 to -2ºC) but partially melted ordinary water would stay at a temperature of 32ºF (0ºC).

This is a really simple process. Just fill your cooler halfway with loose ice and then add either rock or grind salt. Additionally, make sure your ice cream is in a watertight container; otherwise, it will get wet and become highly salty. That’s all there is to it!

Use Dry Ice 

How To Keep Ice Cream Frozen While Transporting

Using dry ice to keep your ice cream frozen while in transit is probably the most effective method. This is because a block of dry ice has a surface temperature of -109.3 °F (-78.5 °C) and the highly useful trait of sublimation, which makes it ideal for preserving products. Indeed, dry ice has long been a preferred method of transporting frozen goods, especially ice cream.

However, using dry ice is not simple, and necessary safety precautions must be taken. For instance, to avoid ice burns you should use protective gear like gloves and goggles. 

Additionally, since dry ice emits carbon dioxide, it should not be stored in an airtight container. It is ideal to place them and your ice cream in an appropriate polystyrene container, which should then be placed within a corrugated box.

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Use Gel Packs

You can also use handy and effective gel packs to extend the life of your ice cream while traveling or when shipping it. They are routinely used to retain food at temperatures ranging from 0°C (32°F) to 15°C (60°F) and are utilized as a backup refrigerant when transporting ice cream.

You can check out Insulated Product Corp’s gel packs that are high-performance and available in a range of designs to meet your requirements. Additionally, they provide gel packs with custom printing, which helps to ensure that it is completely consistent with your branding. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, here’s how you can keep ice cream frozen while transporting:

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  1. Wrap it in Aluminum Foil – Aluminum foil helps protect your ice cream from heat by reflecting 97% of heat radiation. 
  2. Keep it in a Cooler – To extend the life of your ice cream, store it in a cooler, preferably a hard-sided one.
  3. Add Salt to Ice – Add salt to your cooler after you’ve filled it with ice. Salt reduces both the melting point and the temperature of ice.
  4. Use Dry Ice – Dry ice can keep your ice cream cold while traveling, but use safety equipment and allow for venting.
  5. Use Gel Packs – Use gel packs as a backup refrigerant when transporting ice cream.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which ice cream container is good to use at home?

While any freezer-safe container will do, lidded plastic containers provide more convenient storage. However, certain plastic containers can become brittle when stored in the freezer, so opt for freezer-friendly ones. It’s also crucial to use an airtight container, such as Tupperware when keeping homemade ice cream.

How do you prevent ice cream from melting rapidly?

You can make your ice cream last longer by 1) increasing the fat level, 2) adding more solids such as skimmed milk powder (SMP), 3) adding more eggs, and 4) using other stabilizers.

To learn more on how to start your own ice cream/gelato business check out my startup documents here

This blog post is provided for informational purposes only. The information contained is not intended to constitute legal advice or to substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney.