How to Make Frozen Food Packaging for Shipping?
With the development of technology, we can see that there are diverse freezer foods in supermarkets or malls. From frozen dumplings to meat, many types of food can be stored through frozen technology. However, unlike the standard freezer food packaging or household way of storing food, packaging designed to ship frozen food demands more, because there are more risks in the process, which may include occasions such as thawing or leakage. In order to make sure that the shipping process is successful, it is very necessary to use specialized and high quality frozen food packaging.
Below is a comprehensive guide related to frozen food packaging for shipping, which will inform you of the basic information of this type of packaging and how it is made for shipping, with examples such as frozen soup and frozen meal packaging, and more importantly, how MTPak can help you with customisable frozen food packaging.
How Should Food Be Packaged for the Freezer?
What Is the Purpose of Packaging Food for the Freezer?
Before delving into the question of how food should be packaged for the freezer, it is necessary to know the purpose of doing that. Obviously, the first and easy-to-know purpose is to protect flavor, since hot weather makes it easier for the flavor to be changed. Apart from that, there's an additional purpose to prevent freezer burn and the loss of moisture, so as to keep food both fresh and safe.
What Are Basic Packaging Options?
In terms of basic packaging options, there are at least three. The first one is freezer bags or pouches. This type of packaging is designed for small amounts of content, thus space-saving and good for portions. The second is the most commonly used, called vacuum-sealed packaging. As is indicated by its name, this type of packaging features removing the air to inhibit the growth of bacteria, which is excellent for meat or fish in practical circumstances. The third option is rigid containers. Rigid containers are strong and not easily prone to be broken or leaked, so they are widely used for the shipping of soups, stews, or other liquids which expand when frozen.
Tips to Be Noted When Packaging
Choosing the right types of packaging is undoubtedly important, but after that there are a lot of tips to be noted. First and foremost, remember to remove excess air before sealing. This is a critical step for any packaging of fresh food, no matter if it is frozen or not. Second, it is suggested to use strong and high quality seals to prevent leaks, especially if the contents are sharp. Additionally, it is also necessary to portion food into usable sizes, for instance, small pouches for picnics or travel. Finally, label with contents and date. If you choose to customize packaging, then this could be a wonderful opportunity to promote your brand.
What Are the Typical Examples of Frozen Food Packaging for Shipping?
To better understand the application of frozen food packaging and how it makes the shipping process more convenient, below are two examples of meal and soup packaging.
Frozen Meal Packaging for Shipping
Frozen meal packaging is becoming commonplace, because it is convenient for workers who have no time or don't want to cook. However, do you know the key requirements of it? In order to keep the meal fresh and healthy, there are a variety of aspects which need to be taken into consideration. Since the meal is often heated before eating, therefore, packaging materials must withstand freezing and reheating. Aside from that, there are some common tips such as to accommodate meal portion with individual trays or pouches for single servings, and to protect the packaging from being leaked. With all done, there's a need to print cooking instructions and nutrition details, and to promote your brand if possible.
Frozen meal packaging options are almost the same as is revealed above, with only slight differences which intend to match the needs of the meal. The commonest packaging for ready meal is rigid trays which are plastic and often paperboard with film lids, making it safe to be transferred from the freezer to the microwave or oven. The second type is pouches and vacuum packs, suitable for rice, pasta, or portioned meals, with obvious highlights: saving space and being able to inhibit the growth of bacteria. Then, there are cartons or secondary boxes, used to protect the meal during shipping.
In practical cases, just take pasta as an example, and you will understand how frozen meal packaging for shipping works. At the beginning, a ready-to-heat pasta meal is often packed to a size fit for microwave. Then it is sealed with film and put into a printed carton. At last, workers will place it in insulated shipping packaging. After we finish all procedures, the meal can be shipped to other places.
Soup Packaging for Shipping
Unlike meals, soup is likely to expand and risks bursting. Besides, it generally contains oil or chunks, making it harder to be sealed. In view of that, the first priority of making qualified frozen soup packaging for shipping is to ensure that it is flexible enough to be expanded but not broken at the same time.
The styles of frozen soup packaging are almost the same as those of the meal, but the functions are not, since soup demands more for shipping. Commonly used options may include stand-up pouches, rigid containers such as cups or tubs, and vacuum-sealed bags. Among them, the previous two are more popular, while the last option is less common but effective enough. The process may be as follows: first of all, pour the soup into pouches and seal it with heat. Then, place it into a box or insulated liner for shipping.
How to Package Frozen Food for Shipping?
Generally speaking, frozen food is packed with three layers in order for shipping. For primary packaging, we can use pouches, vacuum bags, and so forth, the key of which lies in its ability to prevent leakage and reduce air. Most important of all, the materials used must be safe, since this layer will touch the food. In secondary packaging, it is often finished by putting thermal bubble wraps or foam containers to keep the temperature as low as possible, so that the packaging won't thaw. In the third layer, boxes and cartons are the commonest, used to protect against impacts caused by shipping.
Although packaging methods play an important role, the secret of frozen food packaging lies in the frozen techniques. On practical occasions, dry ice is very useful, which not only has strong cooling power but also is suitable for long-distance shipping. However, if the distance is not so long, then it is recommended to use gel packs or ice packs that would be safer.
How Does MTPak Help You with Frozen Food Packaging?
First of all, we support you to customize different kinds of packaging, including those used for frozen food. Here, you are able to choose the styles you want and can decide how your packaging should be designed, if there's a need to add company logos, take other elements into account, or something else.
Customisable choice is not the only point, and other highlights such as techniques and quality are also worth mentioning. From long time industry experiences, we have been keeping polishing our printing technique. With our printing skills, your packaging would both look attractive and have no trouble with fading color. Techniques and qualities are correlated. As we refine techniques, we are improving qualities at the same time.
Apart from that, there are sustainable packaging options which can exhibit your company's commitment to environmental protection. MTPak provides recyclable packaging and compostable packaging, and the materials used to make them include PLA, PET, rice paper, and so on. As long as you have a need, we will try our best.
Conclusion
The shipping of frozen food often demands specialized packages. While slight changes may occur in different cases, almost all frozen food needs to be packed in three layers accompanied by dry ice or ice packs to keep cold. It is the first layer that suppliers usually choose to customize, because this is often the final product which is presented on the shelf. MTPak is commited to helping suppliers promoting their brand by adding custom elements on the surface of the packaging. If you have a need, just contact us (whether for free samples or professional consultation)!
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