You can’t send a gift more wholesome than a delicious and decadent homemade pie. Pies are an American classic that never seem to leave our local bakeries or cookbooks. There’s countless flavors to choose from, with a perfect option for just about anybody out there, so it makes sense that pies are such a popular gift to send loved ones. While this delicious baked treat is an amazing gift to receive, that doesn’t mean that shipping pies is a simple task.
A perfect pie will have a flaky crust that melts in your mouth and when choosing to ship a pie, you have to keep this delicacy in mind. Pies need to be handled in a fragile way within the shipping process and can be prone to breakage without the proper pie planning. This article will explore the best practices for learning how to ship a pie, including a full list of materials needed to accomplish the task. With the attention to detail and care taken in getting your amazing baked treats to their door, your loved ones will believe it was shipped by a professional.
How to Ship a Pie in the Mail
Shipping a pie and managing to keep its integrity intact may seem overwhelming but with the proper preparation and materials, can be easily accomplished. We’ll go step-by-step to ensure that you know everything you need to know about how to mail a pie.
Step 1. Make your pie
Naturally, the first step is to make the pie. Choose your loved ones favorite flavor, find a trusted recipe, and bake your gift into glory. Once the pie has come out of the oven and has completely cooled, freeze the pie overnight. Freezing the pie allows the pie to become a bit more solidified for transport, as well as help the pie maintain its freshness before the recipient can have a chance to receive it. Once the pie has been placed in the freezer, begin gathering supplies for packaging.
Step 2. Gather materials needed for shipping a pie
Properly shipping a pie isn’t a matter of baking it and simply throwing a shipping label and sending it along its way. As far as dessert delivery disasters go, opening a gift box to a destroyed pie is next level disappointing. Make sure to get the necessary materials to give your baked pastry the preservation it deserves. Some of our recommended materials for the perfect pie send-off include:
There are many advantages to choosing a pie/cake box, as other types of boxes won’t provide the same level of protection for this specific sweet treat. Plus, they help out the recipient in terms of providing an easy way to store their pie in the fridge.
Step 3. Insert pie into pie box and secure
Once your pie has been properly frozen, it’s time to place it inside your pie box of choice. As we covered – we suggest a pie box, as these boxes are designed specifically to secure pies inside without too much shifting around. Some of these boxes will even have securing features such as locking corners that further fortify your precious pie.
After you’ve placed your pie inside the box, consider how you’d like to decorate the pie box to personalize the gift even more. Grab a gift wrapping paper you know you’re loved one will enjoy and finish the look with a beautiful satin bow. Add a gift note to share some kind words and place it inside. These little details will take your delicious present from an awesome experience to a cherished memory.
Step 4. Place the pie box into your shipping box and pack it in tight
After your pie box has been decorated and personalized, it’s time to prepare your shipping box. You’ll need to provide sufficient padding within the shipping box so your pie box is set in place. Wrap the pie box in bubble wrap and then place the box in the center of the shipping box. Surround the box with loose fill and ice packs in order to help the pie stay cold during the journey. Getting cushioned ice packs that will stay cold as long as possible will provide even further barrier between the pie and the outside elements.
Once the pie has been placed inside the shipping box with sufficient padding to make sure the pie won’t move around, shut the shipping box and secure it shut with carton sealing tape. Double check to ensure there are no openings into the box to keep your pie fresh and airtight.
Step 5. Send pie by mail overnight
As you could probably guess with any perishable item. Sending a pie requires specific shipping requirements that may cause the delivery to agave specific requirements. As they are perishable, pies should be refrigerated to maintain freshness.
Overnight delivery is a popular option when sending a pie in the mail because it guarantees that the pie will arrive fresh to its destinations. The last thing you want is for your recipient to open a stale dessert, but with a combination of ice packs and expressed shipping, they’ll be enjoying pie in no time.
Other Tips for Successfully Shipping Pies
While we’ve gone over the steps for shipping pies, there are a few other important factors to consider before going ahead with this gift idea. Explore a few of our bonus tips for successfully shipping pies.
Consider the type of pie before shipping
Not all pies are created equal as you can imagine. An apple pie with a crust will be able to withstand the shipping process more than a key lime pie. When considering pie flavors your loved ones may enjoy, try to choose a pie that doesn’t feature cream or meringue, as these pies tend to get compromised during the shipping process.
Some pies that are great for shipping are pumpkin, pecan, and any fruit pies with crust on top. Pies such as key lime, lemon meringue, French silk, and even cheesecake can get a little complicated. While these pies are certainly tasty, the odds of your friends or family members enjoying them intact are less reliable so they should be generally avoided. The sturdier the pie the better because this gives you the ability to pack it into the shipping box as tightly as possible.
Use boxes made for shipping a pie
While it may require an additional trip to gather supplies, we really do insist on using a pie box. These are designed specifically for transporting perishable treats and can provide an additional presentation opportunity as well as protection. Even better, if you buy a few of these pie boxes in bulk, you’ll always have what you need to send someone a delicious gift to show you care.
Find the Pie Shipping Supplies You Need at Paper Mart
With the correct materials and proper planning, shipping a pie is easy. Make sure to gather a specialty pie box, ice packs for freshness, and packing materials for padding to successfully ship a pie. Perfect for holidays, special occasions, or simply showing you’re thinking of someone, sending a baked pie is a delicious and thoughtful gift that anyone will cherish. Now that you know all the best ways for shipping pies, you’re bound to be the new favorite of the friend group.
Paper Mart has an extensive portfolio of packing supplies that are perfect for gathering materials needed to ship a pie. From our bakery and pie boxes to our festive and colorful loose fill, we have everything you need to send this unique gift. Browse packing supplies and shop at Paper Mart today!