Condensation inside the container: cases arriving wet at the shelf

Water inside a container comes from condensation, meltwater or leakage. Lid openings and the gasket govern condensation; meltwater pools at the base.

19 July 2024Updated 28 September 2026

Short answer

When the lid is opened in warm, humid air, the air that gets in gives up its moisture on the cold surfaces of the container; this is condensation and it is not a fault. Condensation spreads over surfaces as a thin film, while meltwater pools at the base. To reduce it, keep lid openings short, close the container fully dry and check that the gasket seats.

Water inside a container has three possible sources. When the lid opens in warm, humid air, the air that enters cools, gives up its moisture and appears as droplets on the container surfaces and on the packaging: that is condensation, and it is most marked in summer.

Condensation: a thin film spread over surfaces, droplets on the cases.
Meltwater: with ice it pools at the base; a eutectic plate is sealed, so this water does not occur.
Leakage or wash water: found under one particular pack, or on the first trip after washing.

Nothing removes condensation completely; the number of lid openings governs the amount most. Do not leave the container open in a warm, humid place, close it fully dry after washing and check that the lid gasket seats: a gasket that does not seat lets humid air in throughout the journey. For fish and seafood GEBHARDT's Isotec TBX Seafood collects meltwater in a leak-tight inner tub and empties it through a rear valve.