Shipping baked goods can be fun and easy. If you’re selling bakery items online, you might want to ship them to your customers so they can enjoy your tasty treats, even if they’re far away.
Baked goods are soft and can break easily. If you don’t pack them right, they might arrive stale, broken, or melted.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to packing and shipping baked goods, ensuring they arrive fresh and delightful.
1. Choose the Right Baked Goods
Not every baked good is good for shipping. Some are soft and crumbly, while others are firm and travel-friendly. Here’s what to keep in mind:
Best Baked Goods to Ship
- Cookies like shortbread, biscotti, and sugar cookies are great. They don’t crumble easily.
- Brownies, blondies, and bars are sturdy and stay fresh longer.
- Pound cakes, banana bread, and loaf cakes are also good for shipping.
What to avoid?
- Cream-filled items like cream puffs can spoil fast.
- Cakes with frosting or icing can melt and get messy.
- Flaky pastries like croissants can break or lose their crispiness.
Pick baked goods that are firm and won’t get squished. This way, they can travel far and still taste delicious.
2. Prepare Your Baked Goods for Shipping
Before you pack, you need to prep your baked goods so they stay tasty and fresh.
Step 1: Let Them Cool Completely
Hot baked goods create moisture. If you pack them warm, they can become soggy and spoil. Always let them cool down fully before you start packing.
Step 2: Wrap Them Well
- Wrap each cookie, brownie, or slice of cake in wax paper or plastic wrap.
- If you have bars or brownies, wrap them as a block and cut them later. This keeps them moist.
- For extra protection, you can use foil or parchment paper.
3. Packaging Your Baked Goods
Custom bakery boxes are ideal to keep your baked goods safe during shipping. Here’s how:
Step 1: Choose the Right Box
- Use a sturdy container like a cookie tin, plastic tub, or cardboard box.
- The container should be a little bigger than your baked goods, but not too big. This helps stop them from moving around.
If you don’t know how to measure a box, you can read our helpful guide.
Step 2: Add Cushioning
- Put crumpled paper, bubble wrap, or foam peanuts around the container to fill empty spaces.
- Food-safe custom inserts prevent the container from shifting and protect your baked goods.
Step 3: Use Food-Safe Packaging
Use food-grade materials like parchment paper, individual plastic wrap, or kraft for each treat. This keeps your baked goods fresh and safe to eat.
4. Choosing the Right Shipping Service
Picking the best shipping service helps your treats arrive fresh. Here’s what to think about:
Fast Shipping
Baked goods are fresh and tasty for only a few days. Choose fast shipping, like 2-day or overnight delivery. This helps your baked goods arrive quickly and still taste great.
Trusted Carriers
Use a shipping company that has good service for perishable items. Companies like UPS, FedEx, and USPS Priority Mail are good for sending food.
How much does it cost to ship baked goods?
The cost of shipping baked goods depends on the carrier, how far they’re going, and the size and weight of your package.
Tools like the EasyShip shipping calculator help you compare prices and find the best option.
5. Timing Your Delivery
Timing is essential when shipping baked goods. You want them to arrive quickly.
Ship Early in the Week
Ship your box earlier in the week. If you ship later in the week, it might get stuck in the mail over the weekend. Early-week shipping helps it get there fast.
Check the Weather
If it’s hot outside, chocolate chips can melt. If it’s cold, some baked goods might get hard. Pick the best day and check the weather before you ship.
Conclusion
Shipping baked goods is an easy and simple choice for businesses that want to deliver high-quality bakery items to their customers.
Choose baked goods that travel well and let them cool completely. Wrap and pack them carefully using air-tight containers and lots of cushioning.
Use fast shipping and label your box to help it arrive safely. Timing is also important; ship early in the week and tell the person it’s coming.
By following these steps, your delicious treats will arrive fresh, safe, and quickly.
