I recently sent my mother-in-law some homemade jam. After the amazing Costco gift card she sent me for my birthday, I wanted to show her a little love and gratitude…and what conveys that more than jam?
I wanted to make sure to get the jam to her in one piece, because let’s face it, no one wants to receive a box of delicious smelling sticky goo. And because I am like a public servant blogger, I thought I would share my tried and true method, in case you ever want to share the canned good love too.
First, the flat rate boxes at the post office are where it’s at when it comes to shipping canned goods. Otherwise, you’d pay a fortune if you ship based on weight. Grab yourself one of those flat rate boxes, some bubble tape, some ziploc backs, and tape.
Start by lining the bottom of the box with bubble wrap. Then, insert each jar into its own individual ziploc bag. Zip that sucker up, making sure to get all of the air out of it as you do. Now, wrap the bubble wrap around the jar and tape it down. Place jar into box and repeat for remaining jars. If your jars don’t fill up the entire box, make sure to add additional bubble wrap as padding. Also, it’s a pretty darn good idea to reinforce the box with tape.
You see how there are several layers of defense in place? It’s all to ensure the jam gets it there safely. Anyway, that’s my method, it may be a little overkill, but so far, it’s always gotten the job done.
~Mavis
Laura P says
Thanks for this! My mom lives in Alaska, and I’m in Massachusetts, and she wants some of my homemade jam, and now I can send her some!
Thomas says
Well I have to laugh at you using the snail mail post office because every package no matter how well I wrap it that I have sent out with my jams and jellies in it has either been smashed or the box was totally destroyed and they delivered it in a plastic bag, I absolutely refuse to use the United States Postal Service anymore because they will not honor any claims for insurance.
Ashley House says
Thank you! I made Habenero Pepper Jam that I want to share with friends and family who are out of state and this is exactly the information I was looking for!
Nina Posey says
I’m mailing my son in Lousianna fig perserves I,canned today. They only have them in stored there. Hope they make it, I’m following your advice on shipping. Thanks
Steve in southern AZ says
Whenever I use the flat rate boxes I get asked if there are any liquids inside. I don’t want to lie. Is it now banned? I’m canning all sorts of prickly pear jams and such so hard will be going to family and friends.
Mavis Butterfield says
I send jam through the mail all the time and tell them there is liquid in there.
shelley Rene canon says
I’ve learned that you do not lie at the Post Office. You can send bottles of jam, they need to know the contents but they will be helpful.
Margo says
Will the pressure of elevation in flight effect the seal of the jar? Great wrapping advise, but worried about the seal?
Julie Sullivan says
Hello, I’m wondering about this too. Did you ever get an answer for your question? I’m wanting to mail some jelly to my family in the mountains and the package will get pretty high in elevation before it goes back to sea level.
Reba says
Just tell them there are liquids. It will travel by ground instead of air and all will be good
Tina says
Mavis! Thank you! Genius idea and method! Trying to ship pickles and jam- fingers crossed!