Your Snake River Farms Order Has Arrived: What to Do Next

Your SRF order just landed on your doorstep—exciting, right? We're thrilled for you to dig into the exceptional quality we're known for. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned SRF fan, we want to make sure you know exactly what to do with that beautiful box of beef. Let's walk through unpacking, storage, and everything in between so your order stays in perfect condition.

Understanding How Your Order Arrives

Here's our promise: We guarantee that your order will arrive frozen or partially frozen with all items included. But you might be wondering—what exactly does "partially frozen" mean? Great question, and one we hear all the time.

When your order arrives partially frozen, you'll probably see ice crystals or frost on the packaging. The center will feel firm and cold, while the outer portions might have a little give when you gently press on them—but everything stays nice and cold. You might notice small ice formations along the edges of those vacuum-sealed packages. Think of it as somewhere between freezer-solid and refrigerator-cold.

So why does this happen? Your order ships with dry ice in our specially designed insulated packaging. Depending on how long it's in transit, the weather, and when it gets delivered, some items might start to thaw a bit while others stay frozen solid. This is totally normal and completely safe. The outer layers might warm up slightly during the journey while the core stays frozen—it's all still well within safe temperature ranges.

Is it safe? Absolutely! As long as your meat arrives at 40°F or below, you're in great shape. The USDA backs this up—beef at this temperature can safely hang out in your fridge for up to 7 days, or you can pop it straight into the freezer.

Got concerns? Just give us a shout. As our founder Robert Rebholtz, Sr. said, "We want our customers to want to do business with us." We mean it.

Watch the Unboxing Video: Learn how our products are carefully packaged for transit, including tips on handling dry ice for safe delivery.

Unpacking Your Order Safely

Time to open that box! Here's what you'll find inside: a handy cook guide with quick tips, your packing slip (complete with any gift message but no prices—we keep that discreet), and all our eco-friendly packaging. Everything's packed in biodegradable green cell foam, and your goodies are tucked inside a reusable thermal bag.

All our products come individually sealed in air-tight packaging, perfectly aged and flash-frozen before we ship them out. The reusable thermal bag sits in a recyclable box lined with that biodegradable foam we mentioned. Quick note: Big items like briskets and hams won't fit in the thermal bag, but we still toss one in for you to use later. And shelf-stable stuff like jerky and salami? Those don't need any coolant.

Pro tip: Order looking a little light? Check for multiple tracking numbers. Sometimes we ship from different warehouses, so you might have packages arriving separately. Always worth double-checking those tracking emails!

Storage: Freezer or Refrigerator?

Alright, decision time—where should your order live? Here's the game plan based on what showed up:

• Frozen or partially frozen? Perfect! Just toss everything straight into your freezer. We guarantee it'll arrive frozen or partially frozen, so it's freezer-ready from the get-go. Your products will stay happy in there for up to 6 months. Keep everything in the original vacuum-sealed packaging, stick it in the coldest part of your freezer, and maybe jot down the date so you remember when it arrived.
• Feels cool but thawed? Grab a thermometer and check the temp. Per USDA guidelines, meat at 40°F or cooler can safely chill in your fridge for 7 days once completely thawed. Ham gets even more time—30 days after thawing. As long as it's below 40°F when it arrives, you can refrigerate it and use it within those windows.
• What does "partially" actually mean? Great question! Partially frozen or partially thawed meat has some areas that are still frozen while other parts feel softer or thawed. The outer layers might be thawed while the inner parts stay frozen—and that's completely normal and safe as long as it stays under 40°F.

Thawing & Next Steps

Ready to cook? Let's talk thawing. The refrigerator method is your safest bet, though it does require a little patience—thawing times depend on what you're working with and how big it is. As a general guideline, estimate about 6 hours per pound for thawing.

Quick tip: If your steak or roast is vacuum-sealed (and it should be), leave it in that package. Just set it on a plate or dish on an open shelf in your fridge. The plate catches any drippings—nobody wants a mess.

Want the full breakdown? We've got you covered with detailed guides:

How to Thaw a Wagyu Steak →
How to Defrost a Ham or Roast →

When to Contact Our Team

We're here if anything seems off. Order arrived thawed or you're not sure about the temperature? Reach out right away. Missing something? Contact us within 2 days of delivery with your order number and what's MIA. Because our products are perishable, we can't do returns—but if something's not right with your order, we'll make it right. That's our commitment to you.

Still have questions? Visit our Help Center or email us at help@snakeriverfarms.com with your order number and details—our team is here to help!