Frozen products such as beef, poultry, and blood plasma are highly susceptible to changes in ambient temperature, making it difficult to control against external temperature fluctuations. Shipping frozen foods usually requires the use of dry ice. To make things simple, Insulated Products Corporation (IPC) has provided a step-by-step guide on the best practices for shipping frozen products. Show
Shipping meat with PopupLiner and dry ice (view here)
The Best Way to Ship Frozen Products
Firstly, it is important to understand that dry ice shipments stay frozen as long as there is solid dry ice remaining in the package. The length of time that dry ice will last depends on the ambient temperature, insulation thickness, and other variables. After this timeframe, the packed product begins to defrost, and eventually spoils as rising temperatures lead to the increased growth rate of microorganisms. Utilizing the appropriate amount of dry ice with the correct caliber of insulation is key to a successful shipment. A general rule of thumb is to use approximately 5 lb for every 24-hour period your frozen product will be in transit.
The PopupLiner Box Liner is ideal for shipping ice cream
Meat shipping requires effective thermal control during transit to protect it against odors, off-flavors, and spoilage.
Insulated Products Corp. provides the supplies you need to maximize efficiency while keeping products frozen during transport. We have been in the insulated shipping business since 1999 and strive to help businesses excel in their daily functions. Read our case study about how well our PopupLiner insulated boxes perform in combination with dry ice.
The keys to keeping food shipments fresh are insulation and refrigeration; keeping heat and moisture out and cool temperatures in. Use the steps below to help make shipping foods easy. Running a business that sells food and drinks can be full of excitement and reward. Whether you’re learning how to sell food from home or split your time between different types of marketplaces, you can reach interested buyers in several ways. Selling food in person is one thing, but delivering it without shipping issues it is a whole different challenge. Shipping frozen food is particularly demanding because you need to ensure products arrive completely unspoiled. With this in mind, expedited shipping will probably be the best shipping option. If you don’t have the right eCommerce packaging to support your goods, they can spoil quickly. Customers may assume you didn’t put any effort in, and a damaged reputation will both hurt your brand and lose you sales. So, how can you prevent product spoilage during transit? Keep reading to learn how to ship frozen food. How Much Does It Cost to Ship Frozen Food?The average cost of shipping frozen food can range anywhere from $30 to $150. Since the contents, dimensions, and weight of each package differs, you won’t know exact costs of shipping frozen food ahead of time. eCommerce shipping companies’ different services and features also dictate price variance, like shipping speed and optional insurance. Package weight is a primary factor in food shipping costs, as advanced packaging is required to keep frozen food intact. This is why it’s useful to know how to calculate shipping costs by weight. By standardizing the weights of your products, you can more accurately predict shipping costs per unit. Creating a weight chart of your top-selling products also simplifies your monthly eCommerce accounting. Changing even one type of packaging material can reduce weight and save you thousands across the course of a year. Whether you’re selling through a wholesale marketplace, BlueCart eCommerce, or with the help of an eCommerce website builder, your buyers will appreciate the savings you pass on to them. How to Ship Frozen Food CheaplyGiven the attention to detail necessary to ship frozen items, it’s no wonder business owners want ways to cut costs. Customers expect orders to show up quickly and cheaply, so regular expense reduction should definitely be on your priority list. Even if you’re only shipping a few dozen items per month, expenses can cut into your profit if you aren’t addressing it. Here are seven universal strategies for shipping frozen food cheaply:
If you’re looking for additional ways to reduce shipping costs, BlueCart has you covered. Our integrated shipping tools combine our customers’ buying power to negotiate the best possible rates from over 60 shipping companies. Calculate costs, create labels, print labels with a shipping label printer, track shipments, and more. Book a demo to see what our platform can do for you. How to Ship Frozen Food USPSIf USPS is your food carrier of choice, there are a few factors to be aware of. USPS doesn’t offer refrigerated carrier services, so the degree to which your products are protected is entirely up to you. Here are four useful tips on how to ship frozen food USPS:
Once all of these steps are complete, you can use the shipping cost estimator on USPS’ website. Walk through the onscreen prompts and print out your label to get the package on its way. How to Ship Frozen Food FedExWant to get your frozen food to your customers in style? FedEx is a great way to go. FedEx offers some of the most competitive services for cold and frozen items. They even have multiple cold storage facilities where temperature-sensitive shipments can wait in the event of bad weather or unforeseen circumstances. Here is a closer look at how to ship frozen food FedEx:
How to Ship Frozen Food Via UPSAlong with USPS and FedEx, UPS is one of the biggest shipping and handling services in North America. They’re known primarily for their extensive fleets and competitive ground shipping rates. If UPS is calling your name, they’re a skilled carrier to work with. Here’s what to know when learning how to ship frozen food UPS:
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Ship Frozen FoodIf you sell temperature-sensitive food, it’s a necessity to know how to ship it without spoiling. Frozen food is notorious for melting and going bad if you haven’t packaged it properly. To give you a head start, we pulled together some commonly asked questions about how to ship frozen food. Read our answers now: How much does it cost to ship frozen food?For most industries and products, you can expect to pay between $30 and $150 for shipping frozen food packages. Your final frozen food shipping cost depends on how much you’re sending, its destination, package weight, and the shipping service you selected. If you’re shipping frozen food in bulk containers, you’ll pay more in general, but less per unit or shipment. This is because bulk shipping is often discounted, which makes it easier to get large orders out at the same time. Can I send frozen food through USPS?You can send frozen food via USPS, as long as your product is sufficiently packaged. USPS doesn’t offer any refrigerated packaging or transportation services, so your goods need to make it on their own. In addition to frozen gel packs, dry ice, or ice bags, it’s smart to put your product(s) in a plastic overwrap bag. Not the grocery bag kind, but a double sealing, food-grade plastic bag. In the unlikely event of leakage, this prevents water from seeping into your package and destroying the box. What is the best way to ship frozen food?There are several smart ways to ship frozen food, including in polystyrene containers, with padded aluminum box liners, and ventilated dry ice. You can use one of these methods that matches your products, or all of them if your goods require additional support. Ultimately, the best way to ship frozen food depends on your products, how far the box will be traveling, and what your customers prefer. It doesn’t hurt to offer buyers add-ons of extra dry ice and packaging materials. Not only does this signal to customers that you care about them, it gives you peace of mind knowing products will arrive intact. Ship, Ship, Ship It AwayShipping frozen food or learning how to ship alcohol to customers is a challenge. In many cases, business owners have learned how to ship temperature-sensitive items by learning what doesn’t work. Successfully delivering frozen food requires thoughtfulness in packaging and an optimized warehouse management process flow. Make sure your warehousing environment is set up to make packing and shipping easy; otherwise, you’ll have more problems than solutions. Even if you’re learning how to do it for the first time, eCommerce shipping companies are happy to help you. By using the tips in this post and your preferred carrier, there’s nothing you can’t get to the right buyer at the right time. BlueCart is a comprehensive eCommerce software solution for wholesalers, small businesses, dropshippers, and hospitality establishments. We offer a comprehensive set of tools including unlimited digital catalogs, shipping and delivery route management, integrated payment processing, and SEO-ready digital storefronts. Book a demo now to see how BlueCart can save you money and streamline processes today. Note that product demos are a walkthrough of our software, not a source of business advice. |