Not everyone has the luxury of being around the sauce. If you’ve made a salsa recipe, it can be difficult to take it to someone far away. Fortunately, there are several agencies that can be used to send your sauce to your jealous friends. Knowing how they differ will allow you to make the best decision when choosing your seasoning messenger.
The United States Post Office has been around for quite some time, and in addition to timely letter service, it also sends packages. There is a list of liquids and other substances that cannot be shipped due to federal regulations, and none of the ingredients found in a sauce recipe are on it. To ensure the safety of its employees and customers, the USPS does not allow the mailing of hazardous chemicals. As long as your sauce does not have any poisonous or explosive properties, it will be safe for shipping. The most convenient feature of the post office is free pickup. However, if your package is significantly heavy, you should call ahead so your carrier can be informed. Please note that if your package is 13 ounces or more, it must have electronic postage. An example of electronic postage is Parcel Post and can be printed from the Internet through the post office website. Packages with only stamps must be taken to a Post Office window for shipment to be authorized.
Federal Express, or Fedex, is another well-known delivery service that specializes in package delivery. Like the post office, Fedex has a multi-tiered product line. Fedex has better rates for packages that don’t need to be shipped quickly, but it doesn’t have as many express delivery options as the post office. The full list of shipping options with prices can simply be found on each company’s website. Transporters also have this information handy when they are in the field.
Just because you ship your package via Fedex, it doesn’t mean it will be delivered by them. The Post Office and Fedex have a partnership and some packages are sorted by Fedex and shipped by the Post Office. Most of the aircraft used during the shipping process are owned by Fedex and the post office purchases space in these vehicles. Similar to how you own your mailbox and the inside of your mailbox is considered Post Office property.
Some of the ingredients contained in a sauce recipe have a shelf life and can go bad after a certain period of time. In some cases, overnight delivery is desired to maximize the freshness of your sauce. Although slightly more expensive than other delivery options, overnight delivery could mean the difference between an edible sauce and a dangerous one.
Regardless of the agency you choose, make sure your package is safely prepared. Your sauce container should be tightly closed, use masking tape if necessary. Try to avoid shipping your sauce in glass containers whenever possible, a safer alternative is plastic. If you must use glass containers, be sure to wrap them in bubble wrap or packing foam. It is very important to seal the package well with tape to ensure the safe shipment of your sauce. Lastly, double check to make sure the source and destination addresses are correct. Not only can you lose time during the shipping process, but an incorrect address can make it difficult and, in most cases, impossible to send your package correctly.
