When it comes to shipping meat, having a reliable and effective method for temperature control is essential to ensure that the product is kept at a safe temperature during transit. This is especially true for frozen meat, as cold temperatures are required to keep the meat fresh and safe to consume.
To ensure that the shipping process is successful, it is important to choose a shipping method that offers temperature control. This could include using insulated containers, temperature-controlled shipping services, or other methods that will ensure that the meat is kept at the correct temperature throughout its journey. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the packaging materials used are designed to keep the temperature consistent and that the packaging is securely sealed to prevent any possible leakage.
By taking the necessary steps to ensure proper temperature control, it is possible to safely and effectively ship frozen meat. From the moment the product leaves your premises, until it is delivered safely, the temperature of your meat shipment must be kept at a specified temperature to prevent products from spoiling.
Let’s explore the intricacies of how to ship frozen meat: why temperature control is essential, insulated foam packaging, and how to keep your meat shipments cold. If you’re wondering how to ship meat, this article should help provide some clarification to any questions you might have.
Perishable meat and poultry must be kept colder than 40° F at all times in order to prevent the rapid growth of bacteria. Maintaining a proper temperature helps guard against the growth of germs that can cause illnesses.
When it comes to keeping your shipments cold, it is important to package your products using the right meat packaging supplies. The most preferred method for shipping is using insulated box liners, which provide numerous advantages over other forms of temperature-control packaging, such as molded coolers. Along with proper insulation, we recommend using cold gel packs for shipping frozen foods such as meat, fish, and pharmaceuticals.
Keep it Cool
Using frozen gel packs instead of dry ice in meat packaging boxes eliminates the hassle of dealing with hazardous materials and their labeling requirements. However, they won't maintain frozen meat at freezing temperatures, so the refrigerant must be colder than the payload. Cold packs are optimal for shipping foods or dangerous goods.
It's ideal to test ship with cold packs to identify how many packs and ounces per pack are required to keep shipments sufficiently cold. Considerations include available space for cold packs and goods, as well as insulation panel thickness for cardboard boxes.
FedEx® recommends that you package perishables for a minimum transit time of 30 hours and ship them via FedEx First Overnight®, FedEx Priority Overnight®, or your preferred freight. The best shipping container for cold packages and storage is a two-inch thick urethane insulated box, which has been tested to lose only 5 pounds of cold or heat for a 10-quart storage volume every 24 hours.
When packing items in the container, it is important to ensure that the product and any gel packs are placed as close together as possible to minimize the amount of cold or heat lost through the insulation. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the lid of the container is sealed tightly, as any gaps may allow cold or heat to escape.
If possible, the container should be placed in a shaded area or insulated bag, as direct sunlight or heat can increase the rate of heat loss. Finally, if the product is likely to take a long time to ship, it is important to use multiple gel packs to ensure the product stays cold throughout transit.
If using dry ice, be sure to pack that on top in order to regulate the inner temperature. Fill any empty space with wadded newspaper, styrofoam peanuts or bubble packs, as any dead-air space will cause the Ice Cold Gel Packs and dry ice to sublimate faster. As a general rule, For gel packs, use one pound of gel ice pack per cubic foot for every 24 hours your package will be in transit.
Standard ice begins to melt quickly, leaving your dry goods wet and stored at an improper temperature. Once frozen, our standard Ice Cold Gel Packs last up to 65% longer than regular frozen ice derived from water. Our Ice Cold Gel Pack has two main components; water and a sodium based gel that mixes with the water to lower the temperature of the pack.
Although the materials inside our Ice Cold Gel Packs are non-toxic you should avoid handling the contents inside and wash with soap and water. The best way to determine if your shipment requires dry ice or gel packs is to first consider the temperature while shipping. If you need your package to be shipped cold but not quite frozen (30-60 degrees), gel packs are the best option.
There are several rules and regulations to think about when shipping temperature sensitive products and medicine; however, shipping with Ice Cold Gel Packs is easier, more cost effective, and safer than traditional refrigeration methods. Some of the other benefits of choosing Ice Cold Gel Packs;
- ICGP are non-toxic
- Our packs are reusable and safer for the environment.
- The contents of our gel packs are kept secure and will not contaminate your product.
- ICGP can be used to ship goods without the restrictions placed on items shipped with dry ice while maintaining the correct temperature range.
Cold shipping may not be new, but with the advancements made by our team, we can help make your experience much more effective, efficient and accessible, which is good news for any business.