How Should You Pack Cheese To Ship?

Cheese is an incredibly delicious food, but certain areas of the country, such as Wisconsin, tend to have much more variety than other locations. That means that if you want a special cheese from across the country, you may need to ask someone to purchase and ship the cheese to you. The same is also true if you have a delicious cheese that you want to share with a distant friend. When shipping cheese, always pick the fastest shipping method so it arrives within two or three days and follow these tips.

Time Of Year

There are actually certain times of the year that it is better or easier to send cheese. You should ideally send it during the colder months of the year as you may not need to add ice packs or similar items to the packaging. Most of the time packages are left out on loading docks or warehouses that are the same temperature as outdoors, making fall or winter the ideal time to send cheese without concerns for refrigeration.

Ideal Cheeses For Shipping

As long as you know what you are doing, you can send any type of cheese you want. If you are starting off, however, keep in mind that hard, aged cheeses tend to be much easier to ship. That is because these cheeses will not be damaged by spending a few days out of refrigeration, especially if it is not the height of summer.

Keep In Original Packaging

If you have ordered cheese online from a specialty retailer, then trust their packaging method. Simply copy it in the future, or if you plan on sending a portion of your order on to someone else, remove the cheese you plan on keeping and send the rest on in its original packaging.

Packing Method

The best way to pack cheese to ship is to place inside an insulated container (such as a disposable cooler) filled with ice packs in addition to cushioning, like packing peanuts. This will keep the cheese cushioned and cold for two days (possibly three). Opt for frozen gel packs when selecting the right packaging materials and don’t forget to label the package with the words “keep refrigerated” or “perishable” so the mail service is aware that the contents have special requirements.

Receiving Shipped Cheese

When you get cheese that has been shipped, always carefully examine it before eating it to ensure it still appears normal and safe. Your senses of sight, smell, and taste should be enough. Also be sure to take the cheese out of the packaging and put it into the refrigerator as soon as possible to ensure freshness and optimize shelf-life.