The most effective way to ship seafood long distances is by using thick foam shipping containers. These are coupled with gel packs or dry ice that keep the seafood cool from the shipping location to the destination. It’s important the contents are kept cool enough that the seafood arrives fresh and ready for preparation. When you buy seafood online, it is important that the product is shipped correctly.
Utilizing Gel Packs
Gel packs, also known as gel ice, blue ice, or PCMs, are packages of liquid gel refrigerant chemicals that freeze at the same temperature as water. As they begin to warm up, the sturdy gel packs do not melt and cause a mess because the gel is sealed in the package. These packs are reusable as long as they aren’t punctured or otherwise damaged.
Choosing Dry Ice
Dry ice is actually composed of frozen carbon dioxide which evaporates rather than melting. You can lose around 5 to 10 pounds in 24 hours, which means planning for the shipping length is integral to success. Shipping costs may be higher due to weight, but dry ice is very effective and remains the popular choice. It is important to remember that sublimation of dry ice begins quickly, so get the shipping process started as soon as the ice is packed. Packing dry ice in a cold environment is always a good rule of thumb.
Which is Best?
The choice of gel packs or dry ice is a personal one and the answer depends on what you are shipping. The biggest question to ask yourself is if you are shipping live seafood or frozen seafood.
When shipping live seafood, gel packs are more reliable for shipping to avoid over cooling or freezing the product. Dry ice is more suitable for frozen products as it will keep the temperatures lower than the gel packs.
Buy Seafood Online
If you are looking for a reputable company offering fresh seafood online, you should take a look at Louisiana Crawfish Co. We offer crawfish, blue crab, alligator, turtle, cajun meat, and more. To learn more about our products you can reach us at.
