EPS box for fish, meat and fresh food
If you are looking for an EPS box for fish, choose a version with drain holes, a wall thickness that matches the transport time and coolant on top of the product. The same basic rules apply to meat and other fresh food.
A box insulates, but does not cool
An EPS box for chilled transport works like a wool sweater: the box holds the temperature, and the coolant in the box provides the cold. Shipping chilled in an EPS box therefore works with cooling elements or gel packs.
Choosing an EPS box for fish: drain holes, wall and size
Drain holes or closed
For fish, boxes with drain holes are often chosen, so meltwater runs away. A box without drain holes keeps liquid inside. You find both variants in the collections EPS with drain holes and EPS without drain holes. A styrofoam box for shipping fish with drain holes has been used by fish wholesalers for decades.
Wall thickness for the transport time
A thin-walled box of 20 mm keeps products cool for roughly eight to twelve hours. A thick-walled box of 40 to 50 mm reaches 24 to 48 hours with gel packs. See EPS thick wall.
The right size
Empty space works against you: the less air is left in the box, the less heat can circulate. For salmon fillets there is an EPS salmon box of 5 liters (620 x 230 x 72 mm). For larger batches of fish or meat there is the 45 liter box of 600 x 400 x 400 mm with a 50 mm wall.
Meat and fresh food: an EPS box for 24 hours of meat shipping
Which EPS box can handle 24 hours of meat shipping depends on the wall, the filling and the coolant. For a route of a day or longer, choose a thick-walled box, fill the box tightly and place the cooling elements on top. The actual holding time depends on the outside temperature, the filling and the amount of coolant. You can read more about your application in shipping fresh meat chilled.
You can read more about warm weather in shipping chilled during hot summers.
How to pack an EPS box
Place gel packs or cooling sheets on top of the product, because cold air sinks. Fill the box as tightly as possible. With an EPS box, a matching lid is delivered as standard. Seal with tape. To absorb moisture there are absorbent pads. If the fish goes by air on a pallet, an insulated pallet cover can go over it.
Which EPS boxes mention fish in the product data?
In our product data, several EPS boxes mention fish as an application. The table puts the sizes side by side. Every box is delivered including a matching lid.
| Box | Outer size (mm) | Inner size (mm) | Wall | Drain holes | Per pallet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPS salmon box 5 L | 620 x 230 x 72 | 582 x 192 x 45 | 19 mm | not stated | 300 |
| EPS box 5 L | 300 x 200 x 155 | 270 x 170 x 120 | 15 mm | with and without | 360 |
| EPS box 10 L | 400 x 300 x 200 | 330 x 230 x 140 | 35 mm | not stated | 100 |
| EPS box 12 L | 400 x 300 x 155 | 365 x 260 x 125 | 20 mm | with and without | 160 |
| EPS box 25 L | 600 x 400 x 155 | 540 x 340 x 110 | 30 mm | with and without | 90 |
| EPS box 45 L | 600 x 400 x 400 | 500 x 300 x 300 | 50 mm | not stated | 25 |
Where it says "not stated", the product data say nothing about drain holes. The wall in this selection runs from 15 mm for the 5 liter box to 50 mm for the 45 liter box.
What the product descriptions say about fish
The EPS salmon box of 5 liters is, according to the product description, designed for shipping salmon fillets or similar fish products chilled. The description mentions a good fit for salmon fillets. The box is also meant for samples and small chilled products.
The EPS box of 5 liters (300 x 200 x 155 mm) mentions small portions of meat, fish or delicacies. For the EPS box of 4.7 liters (300 x 200 x 200 mm, wall 30 mm), the description mentions, among other things, a single portion of fish or meat. That box has no drain holes, which according to the product description makes it suitable for both dry and liquid products.
The 10 liter box gives as examples a meal box, two to three kilograms of fish or meat, a dairy package or a chilled pharmaceutical shipment. The 45 liter box is linked in the description to bulk shipping and fish auctions: whole batches of fish on ice, large meat orders or combined orders to one delivery address.
Gel packs for fish
Our data on gel packs mention the fish industry as an application: gel packs serve there as an alternative to loose ice, especially when meltwater is unwanted. They stay leak-free, even after thawing, and keep fish products at temperature without moisture building up in the packaging. A 400 gram gel pack in a thick-walled EPS box stayed below 0 °C after 24 hours at a constant ambient temperature of 25 °C. All measuring points are in how long a styrofoam box stays cold.
Frequently asked questions about an EPS box for fish and meat
Should I choose a box with drain holes?
For fish, drain holes let meltwater run away. A box without drain holes keeps liquid inside and is suitable for dry and liquid products.
Can a styrofoam box for fish keep things cold for 24 hours?
A thick-walled box of 40 to 50 mm reaches 24 to 48 hours with gel packs on top of the product. A thin-walled box of 20 mm keeps products cool for roughly eight to twelve hours.
May I ship fish in EPS?
Yes, EPS boxes are suitable for shipping meat, fish, vegetables and dairy chilled. We are happy to answer questions about your application.
Which EPS box is there for salmon fillets?
The EPS salmon box of 5 liters: 620 x 230 x 72 mm on the outside, 582 x 192 x 45 mm on the inside, wall 19 mm. The product description calls it designed for salmon fillets or similar fish products. 300 pieces fit on a pallet and the matching lid is included.
Which EPS boxes are available without drain holes?
Available without drain holes are, among others, the 4.7 liter (300 x 200 x 200 mm), the 15 liter (375 x 375 x 235 mm) and the 22 liter (600 x 400 x 185 mm). The boxes of 5, 12, 19 and 25 liters are available with and without drain holes.
Do you want to ship chilled in an EPS box? Take a look at the whole range of EPS boxes. Our boxes come from our own production since 1972, and if you order before 14:00, a standard order usually leaves the same day.
You will find all names in our glossary.
