How do I mail baked goods?

Question

I'm a full-time student and I'm not planning on opening up my own bakery anytime soon, but I know that I could make some money on the side from selling things that I bake: cakes, cookies, brownies, rolls, cupcakes, breads, and pies. I have a shop at etsy.com where I'm planning to sell these things, but I wonder... How do I mail baked goods? Should they be frozen first? Do I have to pack them with dry ice? I'm already planning on mailing them the same day that I bake them, but are there other precautions I should take?

Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

Cookies, brownies, rolls and breads will ship best. Avoid cakes and pies, the cost of shipping safley would be prohibitive. Not to mention the very likely risk of them arriving a mess.

I ship lots of baked goods around the holidays and this is how I do it. Cookies are packed according to type. Soft cookies I package in twos, back to back and wrapped with a small piece of plastic wrap. Crisp cookies are best packed in an airtight container or vaccum sealed to retain freshness. Pack them in a cookie tin if possible, or at least a very sturdy box. Cushion them with newspapers or paper towels wadded up. Place that box in a bigger box and ship as quickly as possible. I use Priority Mail to save money, but that's me.

Rolls and breads can be wrappped tightly in plastic wrap and cushioned in a sturdy box. Brownies are best shipped tightly wrapped in disposable foil pans. As long as it's not extremely hot, they should all be fine. If you choose to ship them frozen, use sturdy boxes lined with styrofoam insulation and packed with disposable or reusable ice packs. One option is to charge a small deposit to cover your styrofoam boxes and ice packs unless they are returned to you. Otherwise just add it in to your shipping charges.

There are several places online to buy inexpensive ice packs. And most home remodeling centers carry sheets of insulation that can be cut down to fit individual boxes at a very reasonable price.
I wish you the best of luck.

Gale