How to Ship Meals Overnight

Choose a meal that will keep well and that all the components can be kept under the same circumstances. For example, fruit and baked goods do not need freezing, in order to preserve them overnight. Whereas a frozen waffle, bacon and yogurt can be packed with dry ice or gel packs and shipped cold. Select food that is dense and holds its form well.

Package the meal tightly together so all the ingredients fit tightly into a hygienic container like a zip lock bag or tightly fitting take-out tray. Use several bags or trays to keep individual food separate.

Insert the food into polystyrene containers if you are shipping it with gel packs; use specially designed dry ice containers for dry ice. Dry ice containers are usually made from polystyrene and allow the dry ice to breathe so it doesn't form pressurized gas. Add the gel packs or dry ice and fill any remaining space with shredded paper. Use 5 to 10 lbs. of dry ice since the container won't be in transit more than 24 hours.

Label the box clearly as "perishable" and with both the return and shipping addresses. Ensure the information is printed clearly and will not rub off in transit.

Ship the meal with FedEx, USPS, UPS or another shipping company with overnight delivery. Inform the shipping company if the container has dry ice. They will give you a label that specifies the dry ice contents. You will also need to tell them how many pounds of dry ice you used.