Three things to remember when shipping seafood in foam coolers across the country

Shipping perishable seafood across entire states and long distances requires the right tools for the job; otherwise, there is a high probability that your delicate cargo will lose temperature integrity and spoil. To prevent this disaster from happening, thousands of businesses choose foam (not Styrofoam) shipping coolers constructed of an effective insulating material known as expanded polystyrene (or “EPS foam”).

EPS foam carriers serve as a fantastic means of shipping temperature sensitive goods because they are lightweight and thermodynamically reliable, with higher quality shipping coolers capable of keeping items cold for days when properly packaged.

In addition, the material is generally inexpensive and can be economically recycled; Also, Styrofoam containers used in shipping seafood across the country can be reused and reused, lasting for years if the manufacturing quality is high enough. Depending on the volume and type of food being shipped, the effectiveness of an EPS foam shipping box is increased by the use of special thermal gel packs that can be frozen and then reused, or blocks of dry ice that are cut to size. measure without being too bulky.

Let’s say you just enjoyed a nice day of charter fishing in the Florida Panhandle or decided to snag some fine lobster while touring the Maine countryside and want that perishable and time-sensitive food shipped to California so your friends can enjoy them. Once you’ve purchased a sturdy and reliable shipping cooler, here are three important things to keep in mind…

THICKNESS, DENSITY AND QUALITY OF SHIPPING COOLER

Only choose an EPS foam container that is at least an inch and a half thick and is “FULL CAST”, meaning the Styrofoam material has been properly molded to be not only strong but also leak resistant. You don’t want a foam shipping container that will sweat or allow liquid to show through the open pores that result from a rushed manufacturing process. You may pay a little more, but think how satisfied you will be when your seafood package arrives intact and fresh. Because the container is of higher quality, it will be reusable for more shipments or as a regular foam cooler that could last for years.

SEAFOOD SHIPPING SPEED IS A HIGH PRIORITY

Do not be stingy when sending the package. There is no telling what kind of “interesting” conditions your cargo will encounter during the voyage, so the less time in transit the better. No matter how effective the quality of the foam shipping box’s thermal insulation is, the freshness of your catch or purchase largely depends on how quickly it can reach its destination so that it can be properly refrigerated or cooked when the container is opened. . Seafood is highly perishable and there is no need to increase the risks of spoilage, contamination, or abuse by people handling the package.

USE THE PROPER COOLANT FOR YOUR FOAM SHIPPING COOLER

When you have to move a closed container of fresh seafood great distances, you’ll make sure that the material you choose to keep it cold is the right choice and in the right amount. Please check with the shipping company before shipping. Dry ice is great for keeping things cold or even frozen, but not so much for Live shellfish, such as when you want to ship live lobster. For that, you must use gel refrigerants (gel packs) that have been frozen. They replace wet ice (frozen water) because regular ice isn’t a great option due to its weight, not to mention requiring extra waterproof packaging. Of course, you have to make sure that you pack the volume of the container well so that you don’t end up with a bunch of empty air that also needs to be cooled. Many people use crumpled up newspaper or other cheap, lightweight “filler.”

For best results when shipping your catch or personal seafood purchases long distances, use EPS foam shipping coolers to get the job done, combined with gel packs or dry ice, depending on the type of seafood you’re shipping. When properly packaged in high-quality containers and shipped via priority mail, your seafood should arrive at its destination still fresh and ready to cook to enjoy.