Place parchment or waxed paper between any layers of cookies or baked goods. For breads or muffins, wrap loaf or muffins individually in plastic wrap. It makes a really cute and complete gift to put a wrapped loaf or muffins back into a baking pan and ship the whole thing.
Durable foods that ship well include pound cakes, unfrosted cakes, breads, (not yeast breads), muffins, flavored nuts, candies (such as fudge), and cookies (drop cookies, like chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin, or bar cookies, such as brownies).
Before sending it off for shipping, you should place the baked goods in the freezer for 12 to 24 hours. This ensures the item will stay moist and fresh upon delivery. It's also crucial to note that dense baked goods tend to hold their shape better during shipping versus lighter baked goods like sponge cakes.
Cool the muffins first before packaging them for shipping. It is best to wrap each muffin individually then place wrapped muffins in a plastic zipper bag. For long distance shipping, freeze the muffins and seal in a plastic bag with a vacuum sealer.
If you're sending sturdy baked goods locally, you can put pastries in priority mail. However, overnight shipping is the ideal way to send baked goods to preserve their quality. For fragile or temperature-sensitive items like cheesecakes, overnight shipping isn't just beneficial, it's required.
Label it clearly (the Australia Post website's tips for perishable items suggests also enclosing the delivery and sender's addresses inside the box, in case the package needs to be opened by authorities) and write the word PERISHABLE on the top and one side of the box.
Note: All food should be in the original packaging and unopened. A full list of ingredients should be clearly displayed on the label, and it must have a shelf life of over six months from the date of dispatch. For a full list of restricted items, see our prohibited items page.
Refrigerating the muffins will alter their flavor and texture. Room temperature is the way to go from maximum freshness.
Shipping baked goods with USPS
Wrapping your bread twice in Saran wrap and then sealing it with either a large plastic baggie or aluminum foil. Adding parchment or wax paper in-between each layer of your baked goods to prevent them from sticking together.
Do Muffins Have to Be Refrigerated? It isn't necessary to refrigerate fresh muffins. With the exception of homemade muffins that contain meat or cheese, you'll almost never want to refrigerate muffins, since freshly baked muffins will get rapidly dried out in the cooler temperatures of your fridge.
Fresh muffins are best stored at room temperature unless they contain ingredients that need to be refrigerated. This would include meat, cheese, or dairy-based frostings. Alternatively, freeze muffins to preserve their freshness.
Properly stored, freshly baked muffins will last for about 1 to 2 days at normal room temperature. How long do muffins last in the fridge? Freshly baked muffins will keep well for about 1 week in the fridge when properly stored. Can you freeze muffins?
Storage & Freezing Muffins
Cool muffins completely before wrapping and freezing. To freeze, wrap securely in foil or freezer wrap, or place in freezer bags. Label all packages with the name of the recipe and the date. Use within the recommended storage time for the best flavor and texture.
The best baked goods to ship are the ones that can be wrapped individually, can ship as a whole, and are not prone to melting. Your best bet is any baked good that is sturdy like cookies, pound cakes, cupcakes (ideally without frosting), brownies, breads without yeast, muffins, and bars.
If going the frozen route, you don't need an insulated shipping container, says Hedeman; just keep the cookies or baked goods in their plastic packaging and let them defrost as they travel.
Your local post office or delivery service location will have all the appropriate packaging supplies you need. After wrapping your cake, put it in a cake box and place it in an appropriately sized Styrofoam mailer or bubble-wrap lined mailing box.
Wrapped Ready-to-Baked Goods
First, roll them in parchment or waxed paper and then roll crepe paper on top for a pretty display. Use tissue paper, gift wrap or paper doilies to embellish the outside of the roll and label baking instructions with a dazzling gold Sharpie marker.
Line an airtight container with paper towels and place the muffins on top in a single layer. And don't forget to add a few saltines to absorb moisture! Place paper towels above the muffins to soak up every bit of moisture. Seal with an airtight lid.
A muffin can go bad because of improper storage. If you're storing muffins in an airtight container, they'll stay fresh for up to two weeks. But if you store them in an open container, they'll only last for a couple of days.
Place a few saltine crackers in the container with the muffins; they will absorb the excess moisture and save your muffins from becoming sticky. Put a layer of paper towels on top of the muffins, too, to absorb any excess moisture, and close the container. Avoid opening and reclosing it more than necessary.