What to Do When Your Wild Alaskan Company Box Arrives

Wild Alaskan Company boxes are thoughtfully designed to ensure that your seafood arrives ready for your freezer — and ready for your next great meal. 

Whether you're a brand new member or still thinking about joining, this Wild Alaskan Company unpacking guide walks you through exactly what to expect, from opening your shipment to storing your seafood for maximum freshness.

Step 1: Handle Dry Ice Safely

Inside your WAC box, one of the first things you’ll notice is a bag (or several bags) of dry ice. Depending on when you open your delivery, there may still be solid pieces of dry ice remaining in the bags — or they may have already fully evaporated. Both situations are perfectly normal.  

If dry ice remains in your shipment, avoid touching it with bare hands, as it can cause cold burns. Never dispose of dry ice in a sink, toilet, garbage disposal, or airtight container.

To handle the dry ice safely, the easiest option is simply to leave the remaining dry ice inside the shipping box in a well-ventilated area until it naturally evaporates. If you'd like to speed up the process, carefully transfer it to a metal container using insulated gloves and add warm water. This will create a fog-like effect as it dissipates.

If you don’t see any dry ice in the box, don’t worry. The most important thing to check is your seafood. It should still be frozen or very cold to the touch. If you have any concerns about the condition of your shipment, our Member Experience team is always happy to help.

Step 2: Unpack the Insulation

Another thing you’ll find in your WAC box is a layer of biodegradable insulation. Unlike many seafood companies, Wild Alaskan Company never uses Styrofoam. 

Instead, we work with a compostable insulation that’s specially designed to keep the contents of the box frozen during transit, even on the hottest days of the year. As a perk, using this over traditional insulation options makes cleanup easier and reduces unnecessary waste.

To dispose of the insulation, you have the option of safely dissolving it insulation in your kitchen sink, composting it on your own or through your local facility, or even mixing it into water to use as plant food. 

Step 3: Transfer Your Seafood to the Freezer

The sooner your seafood makes it into the freezer, the better. 

While Wild Alaskan Company seafood is carefully packed to maintain its quality throughout shipping, moving it promptly into a freezer set at 0°F or below helps preserve its exceptional flavor and texture until you're ready to cook.

One of the biggest advantages of individually portioned seafood is flexibility. Instead of thawing an entire package, you can simply grab exactly what you need for tonight's dinner.

Read more about how to store seafood for maximum freshness.

Step 4: Keep the Vacuum Seal Intact

Each individually portioned piece of seafood arrives vacuum sealed for a reason.

That airtight seal protects your seafood from moisture loss, oxidation, and freezer burn — all of which can affect flavor and texture over time. Some products may also have a thin protective ice glaze, another layer of defense that helps lock in freshness during frozen storage.

Until you're ready to thaw your seafood, try to keep the packaging intact and avoid puncturing or tearing the seal while organizing your freezer.

If a package does lose its seal, don't worry — it's still safe to eat as long as it has remained properly frozen. However, because exposure to air speeds up quality loss, it's best to cook that portion within about one month. Properly sealed portions maintain their best flavor and texture for up to six months in the freezer.

Step 5: Recycle (or Reuse) the Packaging

Once your seafood box unpacking is complete, don't forget about the packaging.

The shipping box itself, along with any cardboard separators, are recyclable or perfect for reuse around the house. Any plastic film should be recycled anywhere this type of material is accepted.

And as mentioned above, the biodegradable insulation can safely be disposed of in two different ways — composted or dissolved. 

When You're Ready to Cook

When it's finally time to enjoy your seafood, make sure you know how to thaw frozen seafood properly.

For the best results, thaw your seafood slowly in the refrigerator. Remove it from its vacuum-sealed packaging before thawing and place it in a covered container or on a plate to catch any liquid as it defrosts. This method helps preserve the seafood's texture while maintaining food safety.

Once the fish is defrosted, make sure to peruse our collection of step-by-step seafood cooking guides.

Forgot to thaw dinner? Many Wild Alaskan Company recipes are designed to cook seafood directly from frozen, making weeknight meals even easier.

Your Seafood Is Ready Whenever You Are

Every Wild Alaskan Company delivery is designed with one goal in mind: bringing premium, wild-caught seafood from the source to your freezer while preserving its peak quality every step of the way.

Now all that's left to do is stock your freezer, pick your first recipe, and enjoy.