Ice Packing, Package Icing & Slush Ice

Ice can remove field heat and continue absorbing heat in the package or during transit, but it is not appropriate for every commodity, carton or facility. Select the method only after checking commodity tolerance, water-resistant packaging, sanitation, drainage, added shipping weight and the full refrigeration and ice-production load.

METHODS

• Top icing places crushed ice above product or packages so meltwater moves downward.
• Package icing distributes ice inside water-resistant containers around compatible product.
• Slurry or liquid ice uses small ice crystals in pumpable water for high surface contact and controlled distribution.

WHEN ICING FITS

Extension guidance supports icing for selected commodities such as broccoli and sweet corn under the right handling conditions. Some produce can be injured by direct ice or meltwater. Confirm commodity compatibility and the packer, buyer and transportation requirements before specifying a system.

FACILITY AND PACKAGE REQUIREMENTS

Packages must retain strength when wet and must not block drainage or create unsafe meltwater paths. Floors, curbs, drains, docks, conveyors and trucks need to manage water without damaging structures, creating slip hazards or spreading contamination. Ice storage, conveying, pumps, nozzles and cleanable contact surfaces must match the production schedule.

WHAT 5 STAR ASKS BEFORE SIZING

• Commodity, package dimensions, pounds or cartons per hour and ice-to-product ratio.
• Ice form, application point, delivery pattern and required residence time.
• Water supply, filtration, sanitation, drainage and clean-in-place expectations.
• Ice-production and storage capacity, peak-day profile, redundancy and recovery time.
• Added shipping weight, trailer drainage and downstream handling.

COMMON DESIGN MISSES

Using non-water-resistant cartons, overlooking meltwater, sizing only for average demand, poor ice distribution, inaccessible sanitation points, uncontrolled water chemistry and no plan for added product or shipping weight can make an icing system unreliable or unsafe.

DISCUSS YOUR APPLICATION

5 Star Refrigeration Division can evaluate ice production, storage, conveying, application, refrigeration load, drainage and controls for growers, packers and processors across Georgia and the Southeast.

Sources & Further Reading: NC State Extension, Cooling with Ice; NC State postharvest engineering chapters on refrigeration load and packaging; UF/IFAS HS1270. Last reviewed: August 2026.