Things You'll Need:
- Perishable food, contained and wrapped to preserve freshness
- Container, such as a food tin or paper plate
- Plastic wrap
- Bubble wrap
- Cold gel packs (optional)
- Packing peanuts (or newspaper, Styrofoam or more bubble wrap)
- Sturdy shipping container, or Styrofoam shipping box if shipping cold foods, with any sticker labels removed or blacked out with black marker
- Packing tape
- Mailing label
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Step 1
Make sure you let the package's recipient know that you are shipping a package containing perishable foods and when they should expect it. You can get a tracking label from the shipper so you and the recipient can keep better track of the box.
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Step 2
Wrap and contain perishable foods such as brownies and cookies for freshness. Stack them on a sturdy plate, in a tin or disposable aluminum pan, or in a zip-top bag. Wrap them in two to three layers of plastic wrap, securing the wrap with tape. If you have items in jars, wrap them in plastic to prevent a mess if the jar breaks or the top somehow comes off. If the foods must be kept cold, consider freezing them solid first before shipping.
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Step 3
Wrap each container of food with bubble wrap to provide extra padding, especially glass containers. For cold foods, surround them in cold packs before wrapping them in bubble wrap, and then in two more layers of plastic wrap to contain any moisture that might come off the container or cold pack.
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Step 4
Make sure you cushion your box's contents with packing peanuts or a good substitute.Distribute a 2 to 3-inch layer of packing peanuts across the bottom of the box.
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Step 5
Pack each of your containers in the box, making sure each container is surrounded by packing peanuts so that the containers do not come into contact with each other or with the sides of the box. Try to allow for 2 to 3 inches between the containers and the side of the box, using packing peanuts to cushion the space.
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Step 6
Top the box off with another 2 to 3 inches of packing peanuts.
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Step 7
Close the box. You can test the cushioning inside the box by shaking it to make sure nothing shifts. Add more packing peanuts as necessary.
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Step 8
Tape the box closed with one to two layers of packing tape, reinforcing all of the box's open seams.
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Step 9
Put the correct mailing and return address on the box. If the box must be kept refrigerated or frozen, write or use labels reading "Perishable: Keep Refrigerated" or "Perishable: Keep Frozen" on the box.
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Step 10
Mail the box. If the package's weight is under 13 oz., you can give it to your mail carrier, but if it weighs more than 13 oz., you must take it to your post office or other shipping location, such as a post office or UPS store. If the perishable foods must arrive as soon as possible, ship the box using overnight or next day service. Always ship frozen foods using overnight or next day service. If the goods can last 2 or 3 days, you can choose the post office's Priority Mail service or UPS' 2nd Day or 3rd Day service.
