Cold Plates vs. Dry Ice: How to Keep Paletas Frozen in Your Cart
Paleta carts don’t plug in. An insulated box and a cold source keep your paletas frozen while you sell, and that cold source is either cold plates or dry ice. Each works well. The right one depends on how often you sell, how long your days are and how much freezer space you have.
How a paleta cart stays cold
Our carts have a fiberglass body with polyurethane insulation, which slows down how fast heat gets in. Inside, cold plates or dry ice soak up the heat that does get in, so your paletas stay frozen. Every time you open the lid, warm air gets in too. Opening it only to serve makes a real difference on a hot day.
Cold plates
Cold plates are heavy steel plates that you freeze before you go out. As the day goes on, they absorb heat and keep the inside of the cart cold.
Our standard cold plates measure 16 by 13 by 2.5 inches and weigh about 20 pounds each. A standard cart uses two, and a set of two costs $239.99. There’s one version for carts with top openings and one for carts without. With the cart’s insulation, the plates keep it cold for up to 5 to 6 hours, depending on the weather. In extreme heat, you may need some dry ice as well.
Good for: vendors who sell most days and want to skip buying ice every morning.
- No daily ice to buy, and nothing hazardous to handle
- Same routine every day: freeze the plates, then load them before you head out
- You need freezer space to freeze them, and they’re heavy to lift
The plates come with care instructions. Follow them for the best hold time.
Dry ice
Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide, at about −109 °F. That’s far colder than regular ice, so a block of it keeps a cart very cold, and how long it lasts depends on how much you load.
Good for: occasional events, long days and extra backup on the hottest days.
- No freezer space needed; you pick it up before your shift
- You buy it for every selling day, and it’s used up as it turns into gas
- It needs careful handling (see below), and it can freeze paletas rock hard if they touch it
Dry ice safety
Safety agencies such as OSHA and the CDC give the same basic advice:
- Never touch it with bare hands. Use insulated gloves or tongs. It can burn skin.
- Keep the air moving. Dry ice turns into carbon dioxide gas, which can build up in closed spaces. Don’t keep it in a closed room, and keep your car ventilated when you carry it.
- Don’t seal it in an airtight container. The gas needs a way out, or pressure builds up.
- Keep it out of reach of children, and never let a piece end up with the paletas you hand out.
Cold plates vs. dry ice at a glance
| Cold plates | Dry ice | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $239.99 for the set of two a standard cart needs | None |
| Cost per selling day | None, apart from freezer power | Buy it each time |
| Hold time | Up to 5 to 6 hours in our standard carts, depending on weather | Depends on how much you load |
| Daily routine | Freeze the plates, then load them | Pick it up before your shift |
| Safety | No special handling | Gloves, fresh air, no airtight containers |
Many vendors use both: cold plates every day, plus a little dry ice when the forecast is extreme.
Tips for hot days
- Load paletas frozen solid, straight from a cold freezer.
- Chill the cart first. Put the frozen plates in a little before you load.
- Sell in the shade. An umbrella helps you and your cart.
- Open the lid only to serve. Every opening lets warm air in.
- Pack a backup. On very hot days, carry some dry ice in a vented cooler.
- Check the temperature. A freezer thermometer inside the cart tells you how it’s holding up.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use regular ice in a paleta cart?
Regular ice melts at 32 °F, which is too warm to keep paletas frozen for long, and it leaves water in the cart. That’s why carts use cold plates or dry ice.
How long do paletas stay frozen in a cart?
With our cold plates and the cart’s insulation, up to 5 to 6 hours, depending on the weather. With dry ice, it depends on how much you load.
Do small and baby carts use cold plates too?
Our cold plates are sized for standard carts. Our small and baby carts are fully insulated and work with dry ice. Contact us to ask about cold plates for a smaller cart.
Choosing a cart? Our popsicle carts need no electricity, and our cart size guide shows how many paletas each one holds.
