Food Safety & Freshness
Keeping ingredients fresh in transit
FreshCrate boxes are packed with insulated liners and ice packs to keep ingredients cold during shipping. Ingredients are designed to stay safe even if your box sits out for a few hours after delivery, but you should refrigerate everything as soon as you can.
How long ingredients last
Most proteins are good for 3–4 days in the fridge after delivery, and produce for up to a week. Each recipe card lists a "cook within" guideline. If you won't cook a protein in time, you can freeze it the day it arrives.
If something looks or smells off
If an ingredient looks spoiled, is past its cook-by guideline on arrival, or the cold pack has fully thawed and the box is warm, don't eat it. Report it within 7 days under Account → Orders → Report a Problem for a refund or replacement.
Packaging and recycling
Most FreshCrate packaging is recyclable or reusable: the box is curbside recyclable, ice packs can be drained and the liner recycled at store drop-off points. Recycling instructions are printed on the insert in every box.