Mailing ice cream can be tricky due to its sensitivity to temperature fluctuations. This article discusses how to ship cream and the factors that you should take into account. Whether you want to ship ice cream locally or to another country, learn about the best practices to follow to ensure that your product arrives at its destination in perfect condition.
Things to Keep in Mind When Shipping Ice Cream
Ice cream is a temperature-sensitive product. Here are the things that you need to keep in mind while shipping it:
1) Risk of Melting
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The first and most evident issue that can arise while shipping ice cream is the fact that it might melt due to temperature changes that might occur during transit. To preserve flavor and freshness, you must ensure that your ice cream remains frozen.
2) Icy and Lumpy Texture
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You might wonder, "Why not just let the ice cream thaw and freeze it later?". Well, the issue is that once you melt the ice cream and then freeze it later, it loses its flavor and freshness and can develop a gritty texture. To ensure that the ice cream preserves its texture, you must prevent this from happening.
3) Know When to Ship
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Ice cream melts at a temperature of around 31°F. Knowing when to ship can ensure that your ice cream products continue to be in perfect condition. Checking weather forecasts to see what the temperature will be like during a given delivery period will help you decide what steps to take before shipment.
In terms of season, warmer months typically call for more coolants. Before you send ice cream products, make sure you have conducted adequate testing in different weather conditions.
How to Ship Ice Cream
It can be challenging to keep ice cream cold and frozen till it arrives at its destination. However, by following these suggestions, you can guarantee that your shipment will remain undamaged:
1) Use Insulated Packaging
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The first step is to decide what type of packaging you should use. Ice cream must always be kept at or below 0°C (32°F), hence the packaging must be thermally insulated.
Insulated shipping boxes are necessary to delay the time it takes for the ice cream to equalize with the surrounding air. These boxes restrict the amount of heat that can be transferred from the outside to the inside of the container. Insulated foam shipping boxes are the best option for sending ice cream through shipments.
2) Use Dry Ice Packs and Gel Packs
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In addition to using appropriate packaging, you need to also use coolants like dry ice and gel packs to keep ice cream consistently cool. Gel packs feature a cooling gel that can keep products cold for a longer time. But however, due to their short shelf lives, they might not be the greatest choice if you wish to ship ice cream abroad.
If you want something that can last for a longer time, consider packing ice cream in dry ice packs. Compared to regular ice and gel packs, dry ice is far more durable and does not produce any messy liquid residue. Additionally, it is significantly lighter, which lowers shipping expenses.
In short, gel packs are ideal for shipping ice cream locally whereas dry ice packs are best for shipping ice cream internationally. If you're looking for dry ice packs to ship your ice cream products, check out Nice Packs Dry Ice Packs.
3) Select a Reputable Carrier
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To help ensure that your ice cream is shipped in a secure and safe manner make sure that you select the correct third-party logistics (3PL) supplier. A reputable 3PL will have a lot of expertise in shipping frozen foods like ice cream that need to be delivered at a specific temperature. In addition, they can also advise you on the most effective way to ship your products.
4) Choose Speedy Delivery Options
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One of the best ways to guarantee that your ice cream won't melt is to ensure prompt delivery. The shorter time there is between production and shipment, the less probable it is that products will decline in quality and refrigerants will fail. Choosing speedy delivery options will ensure on-time delivery.
5) Keep an Eye on Your Shipments To Make Sure They Arrive on Schedule
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If you want to guarantee that your deliveries arrive on schedule without them melting, you must be able to track your ice cream products while they are being shipped. A trustworthy carrier will provide an equally trustworthy tracking service to assist in keeping track of all ice cream shipments till they reach their intended locations.
As more sophisticated monitoring technology is becoming widely available and affordable, there are more and more exciting alternatives to monitor not only transport but also container conditions like temperature.
Summary
Whether you want to ship ice cream or even an ice cream cake, you need to ensure that your product stays frozen until it gets to its destination. If you plan ahead and carefully package your delivery, you can ship and mail ice cream anywhere in the world without it melting.
