Dry ice works great — but you have to be careful.

Yes, you can. Dry ice keeps things frozen way longer than regular ice, and it doesn’t leave a mess of water. But it’s not as simple as tossing it in a cooler and forgetting about it.

The main thing: dry ice is -109°F, so it’ll freeze anything it touches directly. That means you don’t want it to touch drinks in cans or glass bottles — they can burst. Put a layer of cardboard or paper between the dry ice and your food. Also, the cooler needs to be vented. Dry ice turns into CO2 gas, and if it builds up in an airtight cooler, it can explode the lid off. Most coolers aren’t truly airtight, but if yours has a gasket, crack the latch slightly.

Safety for you: never handle dry ice with bare skin — use thick gloves or tongs. Frostbite happens fast. And don’t store it in a sealed car trunk or small room. CO2 is heavier than air and can displace oxygen. In a moving car with windows cracked, you’re fine. In a closed closet? Bad idea.

Final thought: Dry ice is the pro move for camping trips or shipping frozen food, but it’s not something you grab without a little planning.