Would like to send home made gifts from the pantry this year need advice on packaging/shelf life?

thinking cakes cookies bread etc how far in advance can i make them how can i pack them how long will they last when packaged all recipies ive found are for eat now or freeze any advice greatly recievedWould like to send home made gifts from the pantry this year need advice on packaging/shelf life?
You haven't said where you are sending them!Would like to send home made gifts from the pantry this year need advice on packaging/shelf life?
Home made is best eaten the same day or within a couple of days except for fruit cake and some other ';keeping cakes'; which can last for ages. Look for recipes that need time for the finished item to mature.





Packaging should always be airtight - a tin for example.





Sorry it wasn't much use.
I'd use cello bags designed for party favors... mostly clear, maybe printed w/ some Cmas motif.... You can bake now, wrap airtight, freeze, then package before you deliver. Tie shut w/ curly ribbon.
Well, you failed to mention where you are sending from, and where they are going to. For example, we often send cookies to Florida from Massachusetts, and if we bake them, the next day I go to the post office and mail them priority so they arrive in a day or two. Those I just put in a box with tons of tissue paper, no real special handling required. But, mailing a box to my friend who is currently stationed in Baghdad, we will be baking the cookies Monday morning, and going to the post office that afternoon. Even shipping them as quickly as we can, they will still take a few weeks to get to him. So, we put them in ziploc bags, with a slice of white bread in each bag. This keeps them extra fresh. Then, we put the bags in a airtight ziploc container. Then we stick tons of tissue paper around the whole thing to mail.
You may want to consider making jelly. It's easy to make and keeps well for a long time. You can make the usual fruit flavors or exotic flavors such as wine, mint, or champagne. They are all easy to make. The recipes may be on the Sure-Gel box or you can look for them on the Internet.
Hi! I dont really know the answer to your question but i have a holiday gift suggestion! Instead of making a cake or bread and freezing it, make a large batch orr fruit jam, jelly, coulis, or chutney and put them in jars that you can decorate yourself! You can make so many different ones! Those will keep for a long time and you wont sacrifice flavor or texture by freezing!
Here is some good info... i love this site





http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Mailing-Cook鈥?/a>
You could always give ';gifts in a jar';. Basically, it's a quart jar filled with all the dry ingredients. The recipient simply adds the liquid and bakes at her convenience. The jars can be decorated or personalized too.





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