Memorial Day Weekend is only a few days away, which means that summertime is officially here! If you’re out in the heat enjoying a barbecue, you can’t go wrong with some homemade root beer to keep you refreshed. The Penguin loves this recipe, especially since the root beer is chilled with dry ice to the perfect temperature. He’s confident that if you serve this at your barbecue you will be the talk of the town!

Ingredients

• 6 cups white sugar
• 3 1/3 gallons cold water
• 2 oz. root beet extract
• 4 lbs. dry ice

How to make it

• Mix the sugar and water together, pouring both into a large insulated drink cooler. Stir until the mixture dissolves completely.
• Add in the root beer extract. Stir well.
• Carefully add the dry ice to the cooler (always wear gloves or oven mitts when handling dry ice).
• Cover loosely, but don’t seal.
• Allow the mixture to stand at room temperature for about an hour before serving. This is very important. You must never consume dry ice, so make sure it has completely sublimated and remove any excess before serving.
• Enjoy your refreshing homemade beverage!
• Store leftover root beer in a cool, dry place, ideally in gallon jugs.

Thanks go out to Randomly Creative Corner for sharing this great recipe.

If you have a sweet tooth like the Penguin, we recommend adding ice cream to your root beer for a dry ice cream float!

Memorial Day Weekend is just the first of many opportunities to have a barbecue and the Penguin has plenty of other dry ice tips to share. Check out this video for more ways to beat the summer heat:

Also, if you’re not sure where to get dry ice, be sure to check out our store locator.

Enjoy the root beer and let us know how it turned out!

Photo courtesy of Robert Gaal on Flickr.

Summertime is here! While the Penguin continues to enjoy an Antarctic chill, the rest of us are gearing up for warm weather and sunshine. However, summer can also bring severe thunderstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes that cause prolonged power outages for residences and businesses. The Penguin has dealt with his fair share of storms, so he has some tips for everyone on how to best prepare for the possibility of a power outage, starting with an emergency kit.

An emergency supply kit is essential for storm preparation. An effective kit contains all of the items that you might need for a variety of emergency situations. The following are some basic items that you should consider including in your kit:

• Water for sanitation and hydration (have at least one gallon per person per day for three days)
• Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food)
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air
• plastic sheeting and duct tape for makeshift shelters or repairs
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn utilities on or off
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

For a more comprehensive list of items, check out Ready.gov.

Along with these materials, we recommend having contact information for the nearest hospital as well as your power company. This contact information should be written down and stored with your emergency kit in a Ziploc bag to prevent damage. Be sure to print this information while putting your kit together – it’s important to do this before a storm arrives!

Worried about losing your refrigerated goods to a power outage? The Penguin has the answer for that, too! Dry ice can be used in an unpowered refrigerator or freezer to keep perishable foods from spoiling for days. Check out our how-to video below and print our Emergency Uses Guide for the best practices when using dry ice in your refrigerator:

Lastly, it’s important to know where you can get dry ice before a storm hits. If you’re not sure where you can buy dry ice in your area, check out our store locator. The Penguin recommends recording the locations and phone numbers for the five nearest retailers and storing them with your hospital and power company information for safekeeping.

Be prepared for this summer’s storm season with a quality kit, these tips and Penguin Brand® Dry Ice!

Photo courtesy of  gumayunov on Flickr.

It’s that time of year again: science fair season! Students and parents alike should consider looking into the scientific marvels of dry ice to wow judges and peers this year. Below are some sample experiments you can easily do in your own home.

The Screaming Quarter

What you’ll need:

• A block of dry ice
• A pair of thick, protective gloves
• A quarter

First, put on the gloves to protect your skin while handling the dry ice. You should never hold dry ice with bare hands! Place the block of dry ice on a flat surface – we recommend a plate or baking sheet. Set the quarter (or any other small metal object, such as a common house key) on top of the dry ice and press it into the dry ice. You should hear what sounds like a scream coming from the quarter.

Why does the quarter “scream?” The answer is simple! Even at room temperature, the quarter is much warmer than the dry ice. When the two make surface contact, the dry ice begins to sublimate, or expand from solid form into a gas. The molecules trapped under the quarter will have very little room to expand, causing the quarter to vibrate quickly and produce the screeching sound. Thanks to Science Bob for this great experiment!

Dry Ice Crystal Ball­

What you’ll need:

• A few pieces of dry ice
• A pair of thick, protective gloves
• A small container or bucket that has a smooth rim
• A mixture of dish soap and warm water
• A piece of cloth about 18 inches long (from an old t-shirt for instance)

First, cut your strip of cloth to about 1 inch wide and 18 inches long. Soak the cloth in a solution of dish soap and warm water. Fill your bucket about halfway with water. Wearing the gloves to protect your hands, place the pieces of dry ice into the bucket of water – fog should start coming out of the bucket as the dry ice begins sublimating. Take the soaked strip of cloth and carefully drag it across the rim of the bucket to create a film of soapy water that covers the top. If done correctly, the film will begin to expand into a large bubble that looks like a crystal ball.

As the dry ice sublimates into a gas, it rises up out of the bucket. When you cover the opening of the bucket with an elastic surface like a soapy film, the expansion causes the film to grow as well. The cloudy color of the bubble is a result of the carbon dioxide mixing with vapor from the water. We’d like to thank Steve Spangler for sharing this fun experiment!

Remember to always handle dry ice carefully! Read over our guide for tips to safely use dry ice. If you’re not sure where to buy dry ice, check out our store locator to find your nearest retailer.

Image courtesy of Collin Anderson on Flickr.

The Penguin gets a lot of fan mail – as the leading avian expert on dry ice, he often receives questions about how to use it in some really cool ways. The below question comes to us from Robbin:

Mr. Penguin,
I am working on a photography project. I will be shooting at night will be using special lighting, including a color flash unit. I will be shooting outside and wanted to get a rough idea of how much ice I would need to create a few inches of ground cover (probably ankle to mid-shin height). I plan on spreading a plastic tarp on the ground to help contain the fog.
I have also heard some interesting rumors about being able to freeze soap bubbles with dry ice, such that one may pick them up without the orb popping. Is there any validity to this?
Thanks for the information!

Thanks for the questions, Robbin! It sounds like you’re setting up for quite the photo shoot! The height of the fog is most affected by the height of the container in which you keep the dry ice and hot water. With 5 lbs. of dry ice, you can get about 45 minutes worth of good fog – for your application, the Penguin recommends using a handful of dry ice bowls spread out to cover a large area. If you’d like more tips about how best to maximize the fog effects of dry ice, check out this list!

As for your second question, while you can’t “freeze” soap bubbles, you can use dry ice fog to create a thick bubble that can be held in your hand! To do so, you’ll need an empty bottle, warm water, dry ice, a rubber glove, a pair of scissors and dish soap.

1. Start by cutting one of the fingers of the rubber glove, then cut the tip off so you have a rubber cylinder.
2. Pour some warm water into the bottle along with a few pieces of dry ice, fog will begin to stream out of the bottle.
3. Stretch one end of the cut rubber glove finger over the mouth of the bottle to act as a funnel for the fog.
4. Finally, lightly dip the open end into the soap and pull it out. A thick bubble will start to form that you can handle without popping – at least, for a short time!

Thanks to our friends at inscrutables.com for the tips!

As always, be sure to handle dry ice very carefully. You can find a list of helpful usage and safety tips for dry ice on our Everyday Uses Guide.

We hope this helps you snap some stellar photos!  Be sure to send us the final product, we’d love to see how they turned out!

Image courtesy of Herkie on Flickr.

Last night’s title game took March Madness to a whole new level. In an epic game featuring numerous lead changes, the Louisville Cardinals were able to outlast the Michigan Wolverines to win the NCAA National Championship. The Penguin is proud of his aviary cousins for besting many bestial adversaries throughout the tournament to come out on top.

With the Cardinals being the second member of the bird family to win a major sports championship this year, the Penguin has made the bold declaration that this is the Year of the Bird. As college basketball comes to a close, our eyes will turn to the NBA to see if the birds can keep it up – go Hawks!

The end of the basketball season also means that warmer temperatures are ahead. Be ready for the summer heat – find your local Penguin Brand® Dry Ice retailer with our store locator today!

Photo courtesy of BobMacInnes on Flickr.

The hectic season known as March Madness is finally hitting its climax this weekend. This year’s NCAA tournament has been one for the ages with many exciting games and big upsets. The final three games are sure to be some of the best and will determine the winners of bracket competitions across the country.

After seeing the Ravens win the Super Bowl, the Penguin is especially excited to see another fellow bird in the running for a championship in the Louisville Cardinals. Could 2013 be the year of the bird? While they have managed to keep up a long streak of wins since the regular season, the other three teams vying for the title – the Michigan Wolverines, the Wichita State Shockers and the Syracuse Orange – have only recently hit their stride. Then again, the only thing that matters now is the game that’s played on the court. Any of these teams could walk away as the victor!

No matter who wins, we’re looking forward to one final thrilling weekend of college basketball. Be ready for your Final Four parties – dry ice can be a great way to provide additional cooling space and create a foggy pre-game atmosphere! Not sure where to get dry ice?  Check out our store locator.

Image courtesy of  laszlo-photo on Flickr.

The third season of HBO’s acclaimed fantasy series Game of Thrones premieres this Sunday, March 31^st! No one is more excited than the Penguin. He loves the drama and excitement of the show, but he also enjoys the creativity of people who throw parties in honor of the franchise that got its start in print. There are tons of ideas to be found for decorations, food, drinks and games to play for an awesome Game of Thrones-themed party.

If you are planning on throwing your own Game of Thrones party for the start of season three, you’re in luck! The Penguin has tracked down several websites with creative cocktails to represent each of the houses of the realm. Well done, mixologists!

You can find a number of cocktails at two great blogs: Old Nan’s Needles and Castles and Cooks. For a fun twist, try serving one of these in a punch bowl for your guests. Place the bowl with the drink inside a larger bowl filled with dry ice and water. The drink will stay cold and the fog generated from the dry ice will add a fun effect.

If you’re looking to throw a full-out party complete with food and games, check out this article about some great Game of Thrones products. It has several party ideas and even some tips for playing the Game of Thrones board game.

Don’t forget your winter decorations! Placing dry ice in a bowl with water is the best way to create a creepy effect that will last for hours during your season premiere party. Please remember – you should never consume dry ice, so don’t add it directly to any drinks.

Are you planning a premiere party?  Send us pictures and we may just feature them on our blog! We’d love to see what kinds of creative things you’re able to do with dry ice!

Photo courtesy of chop1n on Flickr.

March is finally here! Spring and warm weather are rapidly approaching, and they couldn’t come soon enough. Along with the season change, March also brings basketball. Lots of basketball. If you are someone who loves college hoops, friendly office competitions or free stuff, the Penguin invites you to join his March Madness Competition!

Here’s how to play:

1. Visit our CBS Sports group and register to be a part of the Penguin Brand® Dry Ice competition! Our group’s password is “penguin”.
2. Start studying – the field will be announced on “Selection Sunday,” March 17th.
3. Submit your completed bracket before the games kick off on Tuesday, March 19th. You may only submit ONE ENTRY per person.
4. Watch a lot of basketball!
5. We will keep our eyes on the pool – the top 5 scorers will receive a free Penguin T-shirt!

Yes, it’s that easy! But be sure invite your friends for a great chance at friendly competition…the tournament is just around the corner!

Photo courtesy of Håkan Dahlström on Flickr.

Winners must be located in the United States and be 18 years old  or older.

What is the worst, most tedious chore everyone has to do? Washing the laundry. If you’re the kind of person who always turns their underwear pink or never ends up with an even number of socks, we feel your pain. Luckily, the Penguin has found a great new concept for a portable washing machine that uses dry ice instead of water and detergent! Dry ice is frequently used for cleaning large equipment and machinery, but now the same technique can be applied to clothes!

Introducing the Orbit, the “greenest” washing machine concept around. It may look a little crazy and not at all like a washing machine, but it could be the future of laundry – and it’s silent! Here’s how it works:

1. Place your dirty laundry in the circular metal basket in the middle of this portable machine.
2. The battery-filled ring creates a magnetic field, making the basket (and your clothes) float.
3. The dry ice in the machine evaporates into gas and the pressure lifts the dirt off your clothes.
4. The machine sucks the gas back up and returns it to the solid dry ice state to use again later.
5. The dirt from your clothes is filtered through a tube.
6. In just a few short minutes, your clothes are as good as new!

Sound too good to be true? Well right now, it is. The creators are still working out the kinks to this newfangled machine, but we know when it finally hits stores it’ll knock your socks off.

Photo courtesy of Digital Trends.

Winter blues (or an impending snowstorm) got you feeling gloomy? We have just the thing to cheer you up  – Blueberry Pie with gourmet Dry Ice Cream! It’s never too cold for ice cream and this comfort food is sure to lift your spirits. Although this Top Chef recipe from our friends at Bravo requires some time and care to make, we can guarantee that the end result will be well worth it. Your taste buds will thank you!

For you advanced chefs and bakers, check out the recipe for more detailed steps on creating the blueberry pie from scratch and how to serve it with the dry ice cream, and take pictures! We’d love to see how it turns out. Please remember to thoroughly mix in the dry ice with the other ingredients – you should never consume dry ice by itself. If you’re not sure where to find dry ice in your area, try our store locator! Happy baking!

Photo courtesy of Bravo! TV.