Meal Prep Delivery Packaging: Wholesale Guide
The meal prep cycle
| Stage | Duration | What the container must survive |
|---|---|---|
| Filling | seconds | heat if hot-filled |
| Chilling | 2–12 hours | no warping |
| Cold storage | 3–5 days | no odour transfer, no cracking |
| Delivery | 30–90 min | no leakage when tilted |
| Reheat | 2–3 min | no deformation at 100°C |
| Re-close | once or twice | lid still engages |
A container that passes four of six stages will generate a complaint rate above 5%. All six is the specification.
Specification for the full cycle
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Resin | impact copolymer PP |
| Wall | 0.6 mm minimum |
| Lid | sealed or gasket snap |
| Freezer | rated to −20°C |
| Microwave | rated to 100°C |
| Compartments | split matched to macro plan |
Compartment splits that sell
| Plan type | Split |
|---|---|
| 500 kcal | 300 / 150 / 100 / 50 |
| 700 kcal | 400 / 200 / 150 / 100 |
| High protein | 450 / 250 / 150 / 100 |
| Low carb | 500 / 200 / 200 / 100 |
The split is a marketing decision as much as a packaging one — customers judge portion size visually, and an empty-looking protein section loses renewals.
FAQ
Can the same container be frozen and microwaved? Yes with impact copolymer; homopolymer cracks in the freezer.
Is a film seal better than a snap lid? Better seal, but the customer needs a sealer and the film is not re-closable. Most meal prep programs use a snap lid with a gasket.
Next step
Send the calorie tiers and the reheat method. We will match compartment splits and resin grade to the full cycle.
Related reading
- Microwave-Safe Plastic Containers: What the PP 5 Recycling Symbol Really Means
- Food Container Sizes Guide: ml to oz for Takeaway Lunch Boxes, Bowls and Sauce Cups
- How to Import PP Food Containers from China: A Step-by-Step Guide for Distributors
Models covered on this site: 1000 ml PF-4C1000 · 900 ml PF-3C900 · 470 ml PF-520 · see all models in this category.
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