Ice crystals that help ice cream maintain its structure begin to melt when they are exposed to temperatures above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. To prevent ice cream from melting, it is important to create a storage environment that is capable of maintaining temperatures below the freezing level. Dry ice and proper insulation will help you achieve a container cold enough to protect the integrity of your ice cream. This way, you can serve ice cream for dessert at a picnic or tailgate party without having to bring along heavy bags of ice.
Remove the ice cream from its original container with a spatula and transfer it to a metal container that is deep and large enough to hold the ice cream when it is loosely packed. By packing the frozen dessert loosely into the container, you create insulating pockets of cold air that will result in slower natural melting time.
Line the bottom of a large cooler with a towel. Put on a pair of thick leather or insulated gloves and place about one-third of the dry ice inside the cooler.
Gently tap the dry ice chunks with a hammer to break them into approximately 1- to 2-inch cubes.
Secure the lid on the metal container and lower it onto the crushed dry ice. Make sure the container is solidly seated in the dry ice.
Place the remaining dry ice in the cooler and break them into small cubes with the hammer. Pack the chunks of dry ice around and on top of the sealed metal container.
Cover the dry ice with another towel and close the lid of the cooler. Seal the lid with duct tape to prevent cold air from leaking out if your cooler does not have a secure latch.
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Jeffrey Brian Airman is a writer, musician and food blogger. A 15-year veteran of the restaurant industry, Airman has used his experience to cover food, restaurants, cooking and do-it-yourself projects. Airman also studied nursing at San Diego State University.