How To Ship Food

It doesn't matter how flawless those fondant flowers are if the cake itself is less than fresh. Seal in that just-baked freshness with plastic wrap. Use shrink wrap for sturdy goodies like Bundt cakes and pies, and wrap plastic around more delicate cakes by hand. Freezing cupcakes and intricate iced cakes can also help them to hold up in transit.

Place cupcakes in a holder with individual spaces and press a candy stick into each cupcake to prevent a potential impact from the lid. Wrap cookies individually in shrink bags or heat-sealed plastic for professional-looking presentation. Pack them snugly in a tin or other sturdy container.

Wrap cupcake holders, tins and other containers in plastic to make them airtight, or seal all edges with sturdy tape. This will help keep the freshness in and unwanted heat and moisture out.

Pro Tip: If you’re shipping macarons, the meringue-based cookie with a soft sandwich filling, or similarly delicate treats, cut small squares of bubble wrap and add a layer of cushioning between each of the macarons when packing them inside your container. This extra step will not only preserve freshness but help prevent the fragile confections from smushing against one another in transit.

Sturdy insulated foam containers are ideal for ice cream, frozen cakes, seafood and other items you want to keep cool or frozen. These containers are available in different thicknesses; the thicker the wall, the less coolant you'll need.

For sturdy items that require less cooling, you may line a shipping box with insulated foam planks or thermal bubble wrap. Thermal bubble mailers are another option for food in containers, such as cupcakes; you'll place the coolant inside the mailer, and pack it all in a sturdy shipping box with ample padding.

For food you want to remain unfrozen, surround it with gel packs within an insulated container.

Soggy, leaky boxes do not make sturdy shipping containers - or a good customer experience. Avoid a leaky box by lining the inside of your container with a thick plastic liner. Place an absorbent pad or mat on top of the liner.

In addition to the liner, enclose your items in a watertight plastic bag. If you're shipping seafood, it's a good idea to double bag it for extra protection. If you're shipping live seafood like lobsters, oysters or crabs, leave the bags open so air can get in.

If you're planning on shipping fruits or vegetables, review how to safely handle mail order foods for rules and guidelines about shipping fruits and vegetables.

Gel packs and dry ice are the best options for keeping your food cool in transit. In general, use dry ice for ice cream and other foods you want to keep frozen, and gel packs to keep food between 32 and 60 degrees F. Regular ice is not the best option as it is heavy and can potentially dampen the inside of the container as it melts. If you must ship with frozen water, make sure to use water-resistant packaging and seal it well. It's also a good idea to precool your insulated container before you pack it up to get the most mileage out of your refrigerant.

An obvious advantage of dry ice is that it is, in fact, dry, while gel packs dampen as they thaw. Dry ice is the colder option, but it may not last as long as gel packs. In addition, dry ice is considered a hazardous material; there are restrictions on shipping via air if you're using more than 5.5 pounds of dry ice.

Always wear gloves when handling dry ice to avoid burns. Never wrap your dry ice, as the carbon dioxide that's released can explode if it isn't able to expand. Also, don't use dry ice if you're shipping live seafood.

No matter what you're shipping, never let dry ice come into direct contact with your food. Get more tips on shipping with dry ice, and find out exactly how much you need (and how long it will last) in our handy guide to dry ice shipping.

Avoid broken cookies, bruised fruit and banged up filets by filling extra space in your package with padding. Use materials like bubble wrap and packing peanuts to provide at least 2 to 3 inches of protection around your food. If there is extra space remaining in your foam cooler, add some bubble wrap to stabilize your goods.

Wrap tins and other food containers with ample bubble wrap and stabilize them in the center of your shipping box at least 2 inches from the outer walls. Soft foam inserts with customizable openings are an excellent option for items like fruit and jarred food.

Always pack your perishable foods in a new, sturdy corrugated box. That goes for your foam cooler as well: Always enclose it in a sturdy box. Seal all seams of the box completely on top and bottom with pressure-sensitive packing tape.

Padding and packing is particularly important when it comes to shipping fruit. Whether you’re shipping from orchard to market or sending direct to consumer, you want the goods to arrive in the freshest condition.

Follow these quick tips for best results:

• Remove damaged or blemished fruits before packing. Remember the adage: a bad apple spoils the bunch. Avoid the temptation to squeeze softer fruits to test for ripeness. This can cause bruising. Inspect visually instead.
  
  
• Pick your primary container depending on the type (and volume) of fruit you are shipping. Wooden crates and trays work well for shipping oranges and other hard fruit. Plastic containers are great for small soft fruit, while molded trays are a good fit for anything that might easily bruise if rolled around—think peaches and pears. Corrugated fiberboard is another common option.
  
  
• Be mindful of the local climate you’re shipping to and from. Exposure to heat and humidity accelerates the ripening process. That’s why it’s important to know the optimal temperature for the fruit you’re shipping. Sweet cherries, for example, have short shelf lives and should be kept around freezing in transit.
  
  
• Fruits continue to breathe even after harvesting, taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. The rate at which fruits respire depends on the type of fruit and the temperature in transit. This may factor into other shipping considerations. When shipping apples, for instance, keep them apart from other produce insofar as possible as apples are prone to absorb surrounding smells.
  
  
• If you’re shipping in bulk, pack containers tightly together while ensuring sufficient ventilation. Use plastic lids to protect fruits from damage caused by surrounding containers. Use packing material within the container to prevent the contents from shifting around. Mark your outer containers as ‘Perishable.’

Shipping perishables, including fruit, is available on a contractual basis with UPS for shippers with regular volumes who comply with the applicable requirements, including any interstate rules and regulations.

For best results, plan for a maximum transit time of 30 hours. UPS Next Day Air^® service is recommended, though UPS 2nd Day Air^® shipping may be suitable for foods that require minimal temperature control. Ship early enough in the week so that your package will not sit over a weekend.

Depending on what foods you are shipping and the size of the container, flat rate shipping using UPS 2nd Day Air^® may be an option. Find out more about how UPS Simple Rate might work for you.

Keep an eye on your goods and track your shipment with UPS^® Tracking. You can track a single shipment or up to 25 shipments at a time.

Let your recipient know to expect the shipment. Sign up for UPS My Choice^® for Business and enjoy comprehensive visibility into your outbound shipments.

For direct to consumer sales, UPS My Choice^® gives your customer greater visibility and control over their inbound packages.