How do I move a freezer full of food?
A full freezer keeps food frozen for about 48 hours with the door shut, and a half-full one about 24, says USDA. An unopened fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours.
For longer, pack food in coolers with block ice or dry ice. Food that still has ice crystals, or is at 40°F or colder, can be safely refrozen. Check with a food thermometer.
Dry ice needs care. Don't carry it in the part of the car where people sit. Never seal it in an airtight container. Handle it with insulated gloves, never bare hands.
The emptier the freezer, the faster it warms. Use up what you can in the weeks before the move.
Source: USDA FSIS, Preparing for a Weather Emergency; Cornell University EHS, Dry Ice Tip Sheet · Checked October 2026