How Long Do Gel Packs Last in Shipping?
- By Cory Levins
- 16 jun 2023
Source: Rosamar/shutterstock.com
When you need to ship perishable goods across the city or the country, gel packs stay cold for a long time and can keep foods and medicines from spoiling for several days. They are much safer and easier to use than dry ice. You may also hear manufacturers refer to gel packs as ice packs or cold packs. Learn more about gel packs and how you can use them to keep your products fresh.
What Are Gel Packs?
A gel pack is essentially a small package filled with a gel that stays colder for longer than ordinary ice can. The outer package often uses latex or nylon, but some use polyurethane. At Air Sea Containers we have a variety of gel packs and other temperature-controlled packaging to suit a variety of situations.
How Long Do Gel Packs Last in Shipping?
When used in your shipping boxes, our gel packs should stay cool for roughly 24 to 36 hours. This works for short-term shipments that reach their destinations in less than two days. For longer shipments, you can combine these with insulated Styrofoam coolers inside the box.
Types of Gel Packs
Whether you plan to use boxes or other shipping materials, consider the benefits of both single-use and reusable gel packs. A single-use gel pack, also known as an instant pack, has an inner bag filled with ammonium nitrate or a similar solution. It also has an outer bag filled with water. When you squeeze or shake the bag, you break the inner lining and cause the two ingredients to mix, which creates a cold pack in seconds. The problem is that these bags only last for a few hours.
Reusable gel packs are more common among business owners. They use water mixed with some type of refrigerant inside a simple pouch. You need to place them inside a freezer to bring them down to the right temperature. Once you add one to your box, though, it will stay cold for much longer than an instant pack. The Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture lists the danger zone for food at 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Foods kept within this temperature range have an increased risk of bacteria forming. Reusable gel packs bring down the temperature of your boxes to a safe level. Most gel packs also have a thick lining designed to prevent leaks during transit. You'll also find some that prevent mold and bacteria growth.
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Gel Packs vs. Dry Ice
A popular alternative to gel packs is dry ice, which is one of the oldest methods used to keep perishable goods fresh. Though it looks similar to ordinary ice, it’s actually solid carbon dioxide. Instead of melting, the ice produces vapors that dissipate into the environment. While it can last longer than gel packs do, there are many dry ice safety issues that you need to know.
You need to clearly mark boxes containing dry ice. Dry ice has a surface temperature of -109 degrees Fahrenheit. If touched, it results in sudden, severe frostbite. You have to take precautions to prevent any contact between the dry ice and human skin.
You also need to make sure the vehicle that is transferring dry ice has proper ventilation. And you cannot use dry ice when there are animals on board. Dry ice requires different paperwork. Because of all these factors, dry ice can significantly increase the price you pay for shipping and require you to invest in more materials.
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Ship Your Goods Confidently
Happy customers that receive their products in perfect condition are more likely to return to your business and recommend you to others. Using gel packs is a great way to extend the life of perishable goods and keep items cold for longer.
