Are you traveling with food for the holidays?
You have a favorite Thanksgiving dish or you want to arrive with dessert as a “thank you.” Whatever the reason, we have all traveled with food. And, the holiday season is the time of year when food hits the road. Follow these tips to ensure food arrives in good shape and safe to eat.
Great tips for traveling with food
1. Follow the two hour rule – non-perishable foods travel best. Anything over two hours and some foods will need to be transported in a cooler.
Non-perishable foods which are great travelers are: breads, cakes, cookies. They are great when you’re traveling with food for the holidays.
Dishes with eggs, mayonnaise and dairy products do not travel as well and should always be transported in a cooler.
When traveling with food for the holidays, baked goods are a great choice. They require less concern with contamination and bacteria developing.
2. Purchase a good cooler. Remember it will need to fit in the trunk or back seat of the car with other items. And, most likely you will have family or friends traveling with food for the holidays in the car with you – you’ll need to make room for them too!
3. Place perishable foods in the cooler with ice covering items. Keep items around 40F or lower
Purchase a cooler which will hold all of your food items and enough ice to keep them cold – at least 40F. If you are taking a cooler with you when traveling with food for the holidays, remember size makes a difference. Too large and it can’t fit in the trunk or may take up too much space on the back seat!
4. Keep hot food warm by wrapping them in foil and in heavy towels to maintain heat. There are also insulated containers designed to keep food hot/warm.
These awesome bags range in price. Choose one that will go the distance and last for years. Place dishes in and zip. You are ready to go when traveling with food.
5. Use a box to stabilize food dishes for travel. This avoids spills and stains in the car and on clothing too. When traveling with food for the holidays you don’t want to arrive with the food on your clothing.
6. For air travel with food – remember sauces, jellies and jams are considered liquids and will need to be checked. Do not be disappointed at TSA security checks. They will not give a special pass to Grandma’s special gravy because you’re traveling with food for the holidays.
Your favorite sauce will be good on the dinner table. But, if you are traveling by air, it will be considered a liquid and it must go in a checked bag.
7. The airplane is pressurized – things can pop open in your carry-on bag and checked bag. Place items in plastic sealable bags to protect clothing and avoid leaks ruining your suitcase or spilling out of your suitcase.
Liquids can pop open and spill from your bag and into the overhead compartment – which means also dripping down on someone. Put liquids in plastic bags which can seal close.
8. And the turkey – Do not travel with a partially cooked turkey or chicken if that’s your meat of the day – either cook it completely or wait and cook it at your destination. Do not pre-stuff the turkey to cook later, helps to avoid any possible bacteria contamination. Pack cooked turkey and dressing separately in plastic bags. It’s also best to carve the turkey for easier and safer transporting.
No partially cooked birds! Pack your uncooked bird in a cooler with ice covering it completely. Cook it when you arrive. That may mean leaving early when traveling with food for the holidays.
If you have cooked your turkey ahead of time, it will travel easier by carving and storing in a plastic zip bag. If you want to arrive with the bird still whole, wrap tightly in foil and cover with towels.
Happy travels & Happy Thanksgiving
Share your tips in the comments below! We’ve all traveled with food – how do you make it work?
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