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The 5 Best Dry Ice Party Tricks & Pranks

Aug 24, 2013 02:46 AM
Aug 24, 2013 11:28 PM
Potted plant with mist enveloping it.

There's no reason to wait for Halloween to play with dry ice. It definitely creates a creepy fog-like effect when you add a little water to it, but there are some other really cool things you can do wit dry ice. Here are just 5 non-Halloween ways to use dry ice for tricks or pranks.

Where in the world do you get dry ice? Try searching Dry Ice Directory for a location near you.

WARNING

Use of video content is at own risk. Dry ice is -78°C and is very cold and poses risk for instant frostbite on bare skin. To avoid frostbite on bare skin, handling of dry ice should be approached with caution and attempted with gloves or other protection. There are risks associated with these projects that require adult supervision.

#5. The Candle That's Impossible to Relight

For this prank, take a flaming candle and place it down into a container like a bowl or a glass.

A hand placing a lit red candle in a glass holder.

Carefully pour some crushed dry ice down around the base of the candle, and within just a few seconds, you'll notice the flame goes out and that the gas turns completely invisible.

A person holding a dish of salt next to a lit red candle.
Red candle in a glass holder on a table.
A person holding a dish of salt next to a lit red candle.
Red candle in a glass holder on a table.

Now challenge one of your friends to try and relight the candle inside the glass. They won't be able to do it and they'll have no idea why. Even after multiple attempts, the flame goes out every time.

Person lighting a red candle in a glass holder with a match.
A hand lighting a red candle in a glass holder.
Hand placing a red candle into a glass container with a small dish and chopsticks nearby.
Hands placing toothpicks into a red cylindrical object in a glass.
Person lighting a red candle in a glass holder with a match.
A hand lighting a red candle in a glass holder.
Hand placing a red candle into a glass container with a small dish and chopsticks nearby.
Hands placing toothpicks into a red cylindrical object in a glass.

Now simply blow into the top of the glass to push the gas out, and show your friends, that it really isn't that difficult after all. The candle with relight easily.

#4. Self-Inflating Party Balloons

For this trick, find a block of dry ice and break it into pieces the size of small rocks.

A block of ice resting on a gray towel with crushed ice and a small glass bowl nearby.

Carefully place one or two of the pieces inside of a balloon and tie it off. You'll notice the balloon begins to inflate all by itself.

Colorful balloons and a yellow toy on a granite countertop.

Now try doing this with a bunch of other balloons and throw them all into a basket.

A basket filled with colorful balloons.
Colorful balloons in a woven basket on a countertop.
Colorful balloons in a woven basket.
A basket filled with colorful balloons.
Colorful balloons in a woven basket on a countertop.
Colorful balloons in a woven basket.

Over the course of about 25 minutes, the balloons will keep growing, until you've got a basket overflowing.

#3. Ziplock Poppers

Start this prank by opening up a ziplock bag and adding a few chunks of dry ice, followed by a little bit of warm water.

A hand placing a sealed plastic bag on a decorative table.

Now seal the bag so it's completely air-tight, and find a place to hide it.

Ziploc bag emitting vapor, placed on an elegant table.

After a minute or two, the bag will be completely pressurized and ready to explode.

The 5 Best Dry Ice Party Tricks & Pranks
A sealed plastic bag containing a white substance on a decorative table.
Sealed plastic bag resting on a decorative table.
The 5 Best Dry Ice Party Tricks & Pranks
A sealed plastic bag containing a white substance on a decorative table.
Sealed plastic bag resting on a decorative table.

It will make an impressive "Bang!" noise. Who could you scare with this?

Bag of ice being placed on a decorative table with water droplets.

This is completely safe, and you can do it with heavy duty freezer bags as well. The plastic is a little thicker, so a bit more pressure can build before they go off.

#2. Squealing Spoons and Shivering Quarters

For this party trick, take a large metal spoon and press it down into a block of dry ice. It lets out an awful squeal, and people will beg you to stop.

Ice cream scoop resting on a block of ice.

You can make a quarter scream the same way. Just lay it flat on the ice, and press down into it. For a bonus trick, try sticking the quarter in sideways. It'll start shaking uncontrollably.

A hand pressing a coin into a block of ice on a textured grey towel.
A quarter standing on its edge.
A hand pressing a coin into a block of ice on a textured grey towel.
A quarter standing on its edge.

By the way, It's probably a good idea to use gloves, because these get very cold very quickly.

#1. Levitating Bubbles

For this last trick, add some crushed dry ice into a large clear bowl. Now wait for the gas to fill it up, and turn invisible.

Bowl producing vapor on a kitchen countertop.

At this point, try blowing the biggest bubble you can, and drop it right in the center.

Bubbles forming above a bowl containing white powder on a kitchen countertop.

Instead of popping on the bottom, it levitates around in midair, and will make your friends wonder, "what kind of sorcery is this?"

Well now you know a few tricks and pranks with dry ice that are super cool and easy to do.

More Dry Ice Hacks

If you want to see more dry ice videos, check these out.

How to Make Dry Ice with a Fire Extinguisher

Here's how to make dry-ice at home, or wherever you feel like it! All you need is a pillow case, and a CO2 fire extinguisher. Complete details here.

How to Make Monster Dry Ice Bubbles

For this experiment, you'll need a bowl filled about half full with warm water, and place a few chunks of dry ice inside. You'll also need a cup filled with bubbles solution and a string. Complete details here.

Playing Around....

Now watch the monster dry ice bubble from above explode in reverse!

And see what happens when you throw dry ice water into a potted plant.

And what happens when you actually eat dry ice!

If you liked these videos, perhaps you'll like some of my others. Check them out here on WonderHowTo or at thekingofrandom.com.

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

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