Cardboard box for shipping meat: Thoughts

[Kilboars]

So I just returned from a hunt 4 flights away from home and after being successful the processor told me he could only give me a cardboard box to take the frozen meat back with me. No cooler, no plastic bins and no dry ice I asked?

So I ended up just donating the meat to the town and wondering if that was smart or dumb?

As it ended up one of the 4 flights got changed and one was delayed on the way back to S. FL.

I remember shipping an elk over night from NM to FL years ago and the meat wasn't hot but none of it was frozen by the time I got it.

 

[Bearded Bowhunter]

A little preparation goes a long way.
If you were planning to bring meat home, why not buy a cooler and dry ice and bring on the plane? Or schedule flights so you had time to pre-freeze the processed meat properly?

 

[ryanator86]

We go to Alaska every other year for Salmon and Halibut. We purchased collapsible soft shell ice chests for transporting meat, stuff them in the bottom of our bag for the flight to and pay for them as a checked bag on the way back. You will either need access to a chest freezer or ask to freeze the meat at a local butcher or grocery store, you need to freeze the meat before heading home.

 

[Kilboars]

If you have to ask...

My question is more about am I being over concerned about the meat getting spoiled because its not insulated at all as opposed to somewhat insulated in a simple cooler?

But to answer BB question:
It was a last minute work/vacation with my wife with two days to hunt towards the end.
You can only bring a few ounces of dry ice on a plane and it would be gone by the next day.
The meat would have been frozen when I left but not sure for how long in a cardboard box.

 

[Kilboars]

We go to Alaska every other year for Salmon and Halibut. We purchased collapsible soft shell ice chests for transporting meat, stuff them in the bottom of our bag for the flight to and pay for them as a checked bag on the way back. You will either need access to a chest freezer or ask to freeze the meat at a local butcher or grocery store, you need to freeze the meat before heading home.

That's cool thanks. no pun intended

Sorry. I wasn't clear. It was actually a short outfitted hunt and the processor we took the meat to told me he only puts the meat in a cardboard box because the 15 passenger turbo prop plane out of there would not allow coolers or even plastic bins which I found out was not true.

 

[CHAD PEZZLE]

If you have to ask...

My question is more about am I being over concerned about the meat getting spoiled because its not insulated at all as opposed to somewhat insulated in a simple cooler?

But to answer BB question:
It was a last minute work/vacation with my wife with two days to hunt towards the end.
You can only bring a few ounces of dry ice on a plane and it would be gone by the next day.
The meat would have been frozen when I left but not sure for how long in a cardboard box.

Amazon sells cooler boxes fairly cheap. They're Styrofoam coolers with a fitted outer carboard box for shipping. I bought some ice packs and shipped a bunch of frozen meat from CA to MT via 2nd day air and it arrived half frozen still, but definitely still cold.

Probably tough to find those boxes on short notice, but it's an idea.

Something like this:

Amazon.com

 

[Jimmy]

You're right, I wouldn't expect meat to stay frozen in a cardboard box either. Sounds like you were in a tough spot.

 

[LongWayAround]

If you have to ask...

My question is more about am I being over concerned about the meat getting spoiled because its not insulated at all as opposed to somewhat insulated in a simple cooler?

But to answer BB question:
It was a last minute work/vacation with my wife with two days to hunt towards the end.
You can only bring a few ounces of dry ice on a plane and it would be gone by the next day.
The meat would have been frozen when I left but not sure for how long in a cardboard box.

You got screwed by the processor. What he meant was he didn't have anything more than a cardboard box.

I'm unfamiliar with airlines other than Alaska Air for dry ice. Alaska Air allows multiple pounds. Plenty to keep your meat cold, maybe frozen. Also, they aren't opening it to see how much dry ice you have.

You are right to be concerned about spoilage. I would also anticipate some half frozen meat to have substantial leakage in nothing but a cardboard box.

At least you got to do some hunting in the summer, even if you didn't get any meat out of it.

 

[Kilboars]

You got screwed by the processor. What he meant was he didn't have anything more than a cardboard box.

I'm unfamiliar with airlines other than Alaska Air for dry ice. Alaska Air allows multiple pounds. Plenty to keep your meat cold, maybe frozen. Also, they aren't opening it to see how much dry ice you have.

You are right to be concerned about spoilage. I would also anticipate some half frozen meat to have substantial leakage in nothing but a cardboard box.

At least you got to do some hunting in the summer, even if you didn't get any meat out of it.

Thanks for the reply.

To be truthful. I found out later they had cooler in town a few blocks from the processor shop and I was going to catch a ride back into to town to buy one but the processor just gave me that feeling that he didn't really care much about me or the meat. To the point, I was trying to get back over to his shop that night just to see what was happening with the meat but I never did.

MT lets you put 3-5oz of dry ice I believe and Canada doesn't allow any. Either way I like to have the meat cooling in dry ice as long as possible then just take it out before I fly.

Yes, Bow Hunting and they had a lot of game.

 

[Wrench]

I carry on meat. It's heavy and unweighed.....and I know where it is 100% of the time.

A waxed cardboard box would keep cold or frozen meat 100% edible for a few days at 70*......people hang meat at those temps on purpose and survive.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

We go to Alaska every other year for Salmon and Halibut. We purchased collapsible soft shell ice chests for transporting meat, stuff them in the bottom of our bag for the flight to and pay for them as a checked bag on the way back. You will either need access to a chest freezer or ask to freeze the meat at a local butcher or grocery store, you need to freeze the meat before heading home.

This is what I do for my MO hunts. The cabin I stay in has a large freezer on the fridge that can handle 2 boned out, packaged deer unless it's a monster, then only one. All excess goes to the local butcher for freezing. I can take a deer per cooler back and they stay under 50 lbs packed. But I am thinking about getting one of these too.

https://www.amazon.com/THKFISH-Insulated-25x17-5in-Portable-Waterproof/dp/B0DQL133QS/ref=asc_df_B0DQL133QS?mcid=ccf1e34825763027990e1bbdb359b72f&hvocijid=16250581622549360336-B0DQL133QS-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16250581622549360336&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9059806&hvtargid=pla-2281435178578&th=1

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Amazon sells cooler boxes fairly cheap. They're Styrofoam coolers with a fitted outer carboard box for shipping. I bought some ice packs and shipped a bunch of frozen meat from CA to MT via 2nd day air and it arrived half frozen still, but definitely still cold.

Probably tough to find those boxes on short notice, but it's an idea.

Something like this:

Amazon.com

I also did something similar when I had to bring home an extra deer. I got a box from a local grocery store and bought a 4X8 sheet of 1/2" foam insulation and lined the box with it. Worked great on the cheap.

 

[Kilboars]

I carry on meat. It's heavy and unweighed.....and I know where it is 100% of the time.

A waxed cardboard box would keep cold or frozen meat 100% edible for a few days at 70*......people hang meat at those temps on purpose and survive.

Thanks. Not sure if the cardboard box was waxed but maybe.

Actually I did see a guy on the plane with a cooler backpack. Great idea.

 

[Fowl Play]

A cardboard box is not sufficient.

I had a processor in Montana ship 150lbs of elk meat in literally 2 cardboard boxes. Not insulated boxes. Shipping was something we talked about before I dropped off my meat and he said not an issue. He next day aired the boxed and I got home 30 minutes after it was delivered. Looked like a murder had taken place on my front doorstep — can’t imagine what the delivery van must have looked like. Processor charged me $800 for the “service”… I was pissed to say the least. Wound up salvaging most of the meat by making a bunch of jerky with the thawed stuff. Everything but the perimeter packs was still frozen solid.

I fly all my meat home with me now.

 

[Tilzbow]

A XL Ice Mule works great for carrying on and even checking 40# (maybe more) of frozen meat.

https://icemulecoolers.com/collections/packable-coolers/products/the-icemule-pro-x-large

I’ve used insulated boxes coming back from Alaska more times than I can count, bought from fish processor who cut and vacuum packed our fish. I’ve also used waxed cardboard and a heavy plastic bag liner to pack 45# of fish we cut, vacuum packed and froze ourselves without any issues. Longest trip was 8 hours and in certain places Alaska Air will put it in cold storage if you check in a certain number of hours before your flight.

 

[butcherboy]

I love these blame the processor threads. It’s not the processors job to ship your meat or prep it for the flight home. That’s on you. If they provide a cardboard box then great, one less thing you have to worry about. If the processor does ship then it’s simply because they want the meat out of their freezer to make room for what’s next. Also, if the processor provides a shipping service then they need to make sure and pack the boxes right since it’s a pretty hefty price to pay 2nd day air.

Of all the boxes of meat I have shipped all over the country I never had one thaw. They were packed tight in a styrofoam box and then inside a cardboard box. Shipped 2nd day air. I always gave my customer a tracking number and then would call to make sure they received their meat. I had one that they only received a partial shipment because the freight company split the order somewhere along the way and sent it two different directions. I was on the phone with them and so was my customer. We were able to work it out so the driver turned around and the customer drove an hour to meet him at a predetermined location. Meat was still frozen.

 

[Z71&Gun]

If you have to ask...

My question is more about am I being over concerned about the meat getting spoiled because its not insulated at all as opposed to somewhat insulated in a simple cooler?

But to answer BB question:
It was a last minute work/vacation with my wife with two days to hunt towards the end.
You can only bring a few ounces of dry ice on a plane and it would be gone by the next day.
The meat would have been frozen when I left but not sure for how long in a cardboard box.

I ended up in a similar situation with a whole deer to get from Louisiana to WA. Went to Wal Mart and bought a styrofoam cooler, found a grocery store that had dry ice, butchered the deer and froze overnight. I was able to fit all the boned out meat into a big foam cooler with dry ice. Then I took it to FedEx and overnight shipped the whole deal in a cardboard box. They were very helpful. It was expensive AF but arrived rock hard.

I opted to ship to my Mother in law in Seattle area instead of my house in Eastern WA to save on shipping but it still cost ~$300+. Worth it though. We are just getting to the end of that meat in the freezer.

 

[Scottyboy]

Depending on how you pack the cardboard box it might not be an issue. I buy a lot from Snake River Farms, their inter styrofoam(ish) liner and very light cooler bag have always arrived rock hard even after sitting for a day or 2 after arriving. Yes, there is dry ice (very very little maybe similar to your allowance) but I guess I’m trying to say is that don’t let the outer cardboard box be a deterrent. many, many people use a cardboard box to ship meat all over the country, just have to pack it right.

 

[Oakman]

I have similar experience. Last August, I sent a box of frozen game meat to a friend of mine. Here's how I packed it, and it held up great over 3 days in transit: Meat was frozen solid before packing, then I used a sturdy cardboard box lined with styrofoam panels for insulation. Added dry ice (bought off Amazon), sealed in food-safe bags.
When it arrived its destination, the meat was still half-frozen, nice and cold. No issues.

Regarding your donation of the meat; you did the right thing. Sounds like you weren’t given good options, better to see it go to good use than risk it going to waste.

 

[Dogone]

I also did something similar when I had to bring home an extra deer. I got a box from a local grocery store and bought a 4X8 sheet of 1/2" foam insulation and lined the box with it. Worked great on the cheap.

I did this for years as an outfitter. Hade custom made cardboard boxes; one part slipped over the other. Bought sheets of styrofoam and cut to size. Meat or birds in garbage bag and all in boxes taped shut. Pulled out of freezer morning of departure and still frozen two days later.