5 Practical Ways To Keep Your Sweet Treats Fresh in Transit

Certain occasions, like Valentine’s Day, pose the challenge of finding the right balance between preparing a larger quantity of goods in advance and leaving enough time for the packaging process to maintain freshness. To help manage this, identify items that can retain their freshness until the packaging stage. For example, shortbread cookies, pound cakes and cake doughnuts generally have a longer shelf life when stored properly in airtight containers in a cool and dry place, thanks to their higher butter content and dense, rich texture. In contrast, soft and chewy goods like chocolate chip cookies and brownies are more prone to becoming dry and stale at a faster rate because of their higher moisture content, which means they’ll have to be baked just before assembling your gift packages to maintain their freshness.

Store your baked goods appropriately to maintain their optimal condition before packaging them for delivery. Organize them by type and store each category in airtight containers before transferring them to your branded boxes or bags. Glass containers are preferable for maintaining freshness, as they’re impermeable to air and moisture, are less susceptible to temperature changes and provide better protection against external odours and physical damage.

If you’re offering baked goods that are particularly susceptible to excess moisture, like macarons, thin and crispy cookies and cakes topped with meringue or whipped cream, consider placing moisture-absorbing packets, like food-grade silica gel packets, in the packaging to reduce humidity and prevent issues like sogginess, especially if these goods are traveling longer distances.

If you’re arranging an assortment of goods, packing them closely together in a sturdy clamshell box can help prevent them from shifting and breaking during transit. Group similar items together to prevent the transfer of moisture or flavours between them and consider using muffin liners or parchment paper to create physical barriers between each category of goods.

If you’re enlisting the help of third-party delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash, maintain the visual appeal, taste and quality of your items by including labels such as “handle with care” or “fragile” so drivers can handle the packages appropriately. For consumers, offer an estimated time of delivery so the treats can be received promptly and consider providing storage instructions so the goods stay fresh for as long as possible.