Freezing

[tammy]

I want to bake and send a few chicken pot pies to relatives. They will have to go by air. Does anyone know the best way to package, freeze and send them?

[RunnerKim]

My grandparents sent my husband and I steaks from Omaha Steak Co. (or some name like that) - they came in styrofoam packed with dry ice. They got waylaid at the UPS warehouse because our apt. number got left off. So I think we got them a day late - and they were still frozen.

Kim

[tammy]

I never thought of dry ice. I wouldn't know where to get it.
I was thinking more on the line of putting the pies in a deep freeze untill frozen and then sending them ASAP. Would that work?
Again what would be the best way to pakage them?
Thanks for your previous imput.

[Kerri]

You can actually get Dry Ice at the grocery store. At least you can at the one here and I actually think it is more common that you would think.

[NydiaC]

I've actually, done this a couple of times with meat as gifts. The best way I've found is to freeze your food packaged however you normally freeze food (zip lock, tupperware, butcher paper, etc.). I would recommend using the dry ice packed in styrofome. It's colder than regular ice and when it melts, it evaporates and doesn't leave any liquid sloshing around in your container to get things soggy or leak, etc. Also, if your package does get lost or delayed, your food will still have a better chance of surviving.
I couldn't find the dry ice at my grocery store. They pointed me to the ice company that supplies them with ice. It only cost me $5 for 5 pounds. The styrofome containers I used were the cheap ice chests that you can get at the grocery store. I sent my package overnight at Christmas. It got there in 2 days and everything was still frozen solid. The process can get a little pricy, but if it's important to you, then it makes it worth the effort and money.

[RobinC]

I think I have gotten dry ice at an ice cream parlor, such as Baskin & Robbins.

Good luck on finding it.

Robin

[tammy]

Thanks so much for all the info.
I guess I'll go with the dry ice. This is a great way of getting opinions and ideas.
I really wouldn't of thought of dry ice.
Thanks again everyone!