When shipping anything edible, the clock begins ticking as soon as the shipping container is closed. Regardless of which shipping carrier you prefer, understanding how to ship frozen food or cold items is crucial for avoiding spoilage during the transit process. Don’t assume that your trusted carrier will get food to the destination safely without properly preparing goods for shipping. With the appropriate materials and packing preparations, your edible arrangements can arrive at their destination in their original condition.
In this article, Paper Mart will explore how to ship frozen and cold food, the price of shipping food items, and some helpful tips for simplifying the process. With our guide, the freshness of your food items will be preserved for the shipping duration inside the shipping container.
How to Ship Frozen Food
Shipping frozen items might seem difficult or overwhelming, especially for goods that intend to arrive in their delicious original state. By gathering the suggested materials and preparing for the packing process, it’s much easier to approach shipping frozen or cold food items with a clear plan. The main challenges of shipping frozen items are potential spoilage and environmental fluctuations. Discover some helpful tips for shipping cold and frozen food that will have you packaging your treats like a professional.
- Individually Wrap Food Items with Airtight Packaging
Packaging food items is all about the specific food item that is intended to be shipped. For example, sending seafood will look a bit differently than baked items. Make sure to package frozen food or liquids using watertight packing materials, ensuring each item is sealed in airtight packaging. Popular packing materials are glass jars since they easily prevent leaks from damaging other goods and keep items fresh.
- Choose an Insulated Shipping Container
Shipping frozen foods can be challenging because the goal is to keep foods chilled for as long as possible. Trapping temperatures within the shipping box is your best bet for lengthening the packaging lifespan, so choose insulated shipping containers. A popular option is to store food in insulated boxes or containers, such as styrofoam coolers, and then place the cooler inside a larger durable corrugated cardboard shipping box.
- Provide Needed Refrigeration
After choosing an insulated shipping container, put those frozen food items on ice. Using actual ice is never permitted and can cause damage. Dry ice is also not accepted by the majority of shipping carriers. Instead, ice packs are recommended. Using one pound of gel pack for every three pounds of meat is the general place to begin when adding enough refrigerant.
- Add Plenty of Cushioning
Now that you have the temperature-specific components of shipping frozen food, introduce the basics: cushioning. Especially for food items that need to maintain their position out of fear of breakage, fill any space around the food. Ice packs will help with this process, but bubble wrap and packing foam cushions are great for guaranteeing perishable items arrive as intended.
Shipping Frozen Food Tip! Mindful Labeling
Since you don’t want your package with frozen items to get damaged within transit, it’s a good idea to place tamper-proof or “Fragile” labels surrounding the shipping container. This will allow shipping personnel to exercise unique handling procedures for your valuable shipment.
- Consider Shipment Timing and Location
Now that you’ve taken every measure of preserving the frozen food item, it’s time to head to your preferred shipping carrier to send the package on its way. Especially for recipients that live in hot environments. No one wants a package containing frozen items to sit in warm weather for extended periods. Since temperature and inclement weather tend to complicate the preservation process, it’s common to choose overnight shipping for edible and perishable goods.
Tips to Ship Cold Food
While a food item might not be frozen, cold food items need the same level of care when shipped. No one likes opening up a package in a smelly situation, so when shipping any edible goods it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Frozen food items have extra time to thaw during transit but cold foods have an even more narrow window. When shipping cold food, remember the tips we covered above for shipping frozen foods:
- Package food items individually to prevent shipping damage
- Choose an insulated shipping container and refrigerant to keep contents fresh
- Expedite shipping to prevent spoilage during the transit process
How Much Does It Cost to Ship Frozen Food?
Those who might ask how to ship frozen food affordably should know that shipping frozen foods isn’t the time to cut corners on the packaging. Shipping prices will vary based on the package size and specific carrier and a few other factors that play a role in the final shipping price. The amount spent is based on the distance, weight, duration, and type of frozen goods sent. That doesn’t include the price of packaging supplies and refrigerants, so factor that into any estimate. With no fixed price, shipping frozen food fees should be calculated with the preferred carrier for an accurate idea of the final value.
Knowing How to Ship Frozen Food is Simple with Paper Mart!
Shipping frozen or cold food might seem like an overwhelming task for those who haven’t prepared. Luckily, Paper Mart has everything you need. From our large selection of shipping items to our food-safe packaging materials, we guarantee foods will arrive fresh with Paper Mart.
Explore our shipping supplies today to learn more!