Transporting dessert shooters to their destination can be a bit tricky. This is mostly because they are often served in small, delicate containers that can easily tip over or spill.
If this is your first time getting an order for dessert shooters, you might be worried about this. Your goal would be to transport dessert shooters intact from the kitchen to your event and this post can help.
Tips on How to Transport Dessert Shooters Safely
Here are a couple of tips to help you transport dessert shooters safely without making a mess. With these ideas, you can move any dessert, whether cupcakes, fruit parfait, trifle, chocolate mousse, and so on.
Use a Sturdy Container
Perhaps the most relevant tip is to choose a container that is sturdy and has a tight-fitting lid. Usually, plastic or glass racks that have individual compartments work well for transporting.
Glass racks are available in nearly all glass sizes to be used in catering. Although these racks are durable they can be quite expensive. When packing your desserts, you don’t have to wrap each dessert individually.
Taking the wrapper off later would be very difficult, time-consuming, and even messy. Instead, you could choose a box big enough for them to fit comfortably inside, then wrap the box.
Sheet pans or even huge cake pans also work well for transporting dessert shooters. You can use cupcake or muffin containers with individual slots.
You Can Make a DIY Dessert Box
A more cost-effective and practical solution is to create a DIY box to transport the dessert shooters. To make this, you’ll need a cardboard box.
Get a box that’s large enough to accommodate your dessert shooters. Also, you’ll need a craft knife or scissors, ruler or measuring tape, parchment paper or wax paper, and tape. It could be a packing tape or duct tape.
To make this DIY box, measure the dimensions of your dessert shooters to determine the size of the box you’ll need. Ensure the box has enough height for the dessert shooters to stand upright without touching the lid.
Cut down the box if it’s too tall, or find a box that matches the required dimensions.
Line the inside of the box with parchment paper or wax paper. Otherwise, you can use inexpensive foam core from the dollar shop.
Using the craft knife or scissors, carefully cut evenly spaced slots into the interior walls of the box. These slots should hold your dessert shooters in place.
Make sure the slots are deep enough to secure the dessert shooters and keep them in an upright position. You can also make this out of wood. However, you’ll need the help of someone who is handy.
Chill the Dessert Shooters
Before transporting the desserts to their destination, make sure the dessert shooters are properly chilled or frozen. However, this depends on the type of dessert.
Many dessert shooters such as mousse, custard, or parfait, have delicate textures. They can become too soft or even melt at room temperature.
Chilling them will ensure they stay firm and prevent them from melting or becoming too soft in transit. You can refrigerate at temperatures between 32°F (0°C) and 40°F (4.4°C).
This temperature should maintain their texture and freshness by keeping them cold but not frozen.
Use Non-slip Liners
To steady the desserts, you could place non-slip liners or silicone cupcake liners in the bottom of the container.
Non-slip liners have a grippy texture and this would prevent the shooters from sliding around during transport. Non-slip liners are typically available in rolls or sheets.
You can find some in kitchen supply stores or online stores. Before lining your container with it, the dessert shooters should be well-placed and set properly.
If it is placed in layers, then the layers should be properly set in place. You can also place additional non-slip liners or padding in between the layers to prevent jostling around.
Ensure you’re not pressing down too hard in a way that could damage the desserts. To provide extra cushioning and protection, place a layer of bubble wrap on top of the shooters. This is if there’s extra space in the container.
Stack Them Carefully
Again, make sure to stack the desserts carefully especially since they are in multiple layers. Place each container on top of the other, and ensure that they’re stable.
Be mindful of any opportunity for the desserts to shift or mix. This is why a secure container or tray is important to support the stacks.
Use parchment paper or wax paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together.
Secure the Lid
Make sure the container’s lid is secure so it won’t come off at any point during transport. Getting a secure lid is as important as a reliable container.
Double-check the lid to confirm that it is properly sealed. It is important to avoid spills or mixing between layers. Use containers with reliable and tight-fitting lids.
If possible, employ additional methods of securing the lids like tape or rubber bands for extra protection. If you’re using a traditional cake or cupcake container, use tape or an elastic band to secure the lid.
Keep the Container Leveled
During transportation, try to keep the container as level as possible. This is to prevent the dessert shooters from shifting or spilling. Placing the container in a shallow box or a tote can help with stability.
However, regular boxes are a gamble because they slide easily. Place the container on a flat surface in your car like the floor or the trunk. Note that the car seat does not count as a flat surface in this case.
Using a slanted or uneven surface is not advisable. It’s also beneficial to use supportive materials such as towels or non-slip pads to ensure they remain straight throughout the journey.
Use a Cooler or Insulated Bag
This is not always compulsory, especially if it is likely that the deserts will be consumed before they get warm. However, If you’re concerned about that, you may put it in a cooler with ice or dry ice.
If you’re transporting dessert shooters for a long period consider using a cooler or insulated food bags for delivery.
This would keep them cold and fresh. Of course, if it’s hot at your side, carrying a dessert in your car’s trunk might not be a smart idea. This is unless your car has a hatchback with air conditioning.
Plan for a Prompt Delivery
Furthermore, always plan to make a prompt delivery. This would minimize the time the dessert shooters spend in transit. It would help in maintaining the quality and presentation of the desserts.
Avoid Extreme Temperatures
Dessert shooters are made with quite sensitive ingredients. For this reason, they may not fare well in extremely hot or very cold temperatures. Try to avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures for an extended period.
Transport with Care
The most important tip of all is to be gentle when handling the container. Avoid any unnecessary jostling that could smear the desserts. Keep the container grounded and avoid sudden stops or sharp turns while driving.
Cross-check Before Final Delivery
Before serving, give your dessert shooters a quick check to ensure they are still in good shape and haven’t smeared. Occasionally, you may need to do some minor touch-ups. Always be prepared for this.