Melted Milkshakes to Soggy Salads: Avoiding Summer Food Delivery Meltdowns
- eileen strauss
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
As temperatures rise, so do the risks for restaurants offering delivery. The same summer sunshine that draws customers to outdoor patios and rooftop decks can wreak havoc on food in transit. Melted milkshakes, soggy fries, and food safety violations aren’t just seasonal nuisances—they’re customer satisfaction killers.
To protect your product and your reputation, summer-proofing your delivery process is essential. Here are 8 tips for packaging and transporting food safely during the sweltering summer season.
8 Ways to Prevent Summer Food Delivery Meltdowns
1. Start with the Right Packaging Materials
Not all containers are created equal—especially in the heat. Choose packaging designed to retain temperature and resist moisture:
Insulated containers: Essential for hot or cold items, these help prevent temperature swings.
Ventilated packaging: Prevents steam buildup that can lead to soggy fries, sandwiches, and crusts.
Tamper-evident containers: A must for food safety and customer trust, particularly during warm weather when spoilage risks are higher.
Compostable and heat-resistant: Sustainable, but sturdy. Materials like bagasse, PLA-lined paper, and heavy-duty cardboard hold up better in hot conditions.
2. Separate Hot and Cold Items
The fastest way to ruin both a burger and a milkshake? Pack them in the same bag.
Use a dual-zone system in your delivery setup—insulated bags with dividers, or separate bags entirely—for keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Don’t make the mistake of stacking items by convenience rather than temperature logic.
3. Use Cold Packs for Chilled Items
For deliveries with salads, drinks, or desserts that need to stay cool, reusable ice packs or gel packs are worth the investment. Tuck them in discreetly between containers or line the bottom of a dedicated cold bag to avoid direct contact with food.
4. Limit Time in Transit
The longer your food is on the road, the greater the risk. Here are a few tips to keep the timing tight:
Use delivery radius restrictions during peak heat hours.
Partner with reliable drivers or platforms that prioritize speed and food handling.
Enable real-time order tracking for transparency and faster handoffs.
Pro tip: If you’re using third-party delivery apps, request that drivers use insulated delivery bags and avoid keeping food in hot vehicles between stops.
5. Label It Smartly
Labeling isn’t just for order accuracy—it’s also for temperature control:
Add stickers indicating “Keep Refrigerated” or “Perishable” for sensitive items.
For meal kits or prepared chilled meals, include storage and reheating instructions right on the label or inside the bag.
6. Train Your Team for Summer-Safe Handling
Your packaging won’t matter if your staff isn’t trained to pack it properly. Brief your team on summer-specific protocols:
Never leave food sitting under a heat lamp or by a sunny window waiting for pickup.
Double-check that cold items are kept in coolers or refrigerators until the moment they’re bagged.
Remind drivers not to leave bags in hot car trunks.
4 Golden Rules of Food Safety
Clean: Wash hands and kitchen surfaces often when handling food.
Separate: Handle raw animal protein separately. Never store poultry, seafood, and meat together.
Cook: Cook proteins completely until reaching a minimum internal temperature of 165 F. Electric probe thermometers are excellent for monitoring food temperature. Always insert the probe into the thickest part of the meat when ensuring that it is fully cooked.
Chill: Keep all inventory in a cool and dry place to keep bacteria at bay.
7. Offer a “Summer-Ready” Delivery Menu
If some menu items just don’t travel well in the heat, consider swapping in summer-friendly options:
Incorporate items like cold grain bowls, wraps, and grilled proteins that hold up during transport on your summer delivery menu.
On especially hot days, replace frozen desserts with chilled alternatives like puddings, yogurts, or no-bake desserts.
Avoid excessive sauces or hot cheese that are prone to separation and spillage.
8. Include a Quality Check Step
A quick double-check before an order leaves your kitchen prevents refunds and bad reviews later. Before sealing the bag, have a designated employee check for:
Correct temperature
Secure lids
Proper packaging (no overfilled containers or underwrapped items)
Take Away
No matter where your customers are enjoying your food, the quality should be consistent and crave-worthy. By summer-proofing your packaging, fine-tuning your delivery process, and planning ahead for rising temps, you can protect your food—and your reputation—from seasonal delivery meltdowns.
Because if your food can’t withstand the heat… customers will order from someone else’s kitchen.
By Eileen Strauss
