Traveling during the holidays is not for the weak and you don’t want to be the one holding up that security line! Some travelers have an additional responsibility of bringing food to their destination or taking some leftovers home.
If you’re lugging dinner through JFK, LaGuardia or Newark, we got you covered. Double check which Thanksgiving treats you can bring with you and which dishes need to go in a checked bag!
The 3.4oz (100 ml) liquid limit is still in place, so keep that in mind when packing but most of your feast is safe once it’s solid (and there’s little to no liquid)! According to the TSA, “if you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, and it’s larger than 3.4 ounces, then it should go in a checked bag.”
Thanksgiving foods you can carry through a TSA Checkpoint in your carry-on:
- Baked goods: Homemade or store-bought pies, cakes, cookies, brownies and other sweet treats.
- Meats: Turkey, chicken, ham, steak. Frozen, cooked or uncooked.
- Stuffing: Cooked, uncooked, in a box or in a bag.
- Casserole: Traditional green beans and onion straws or something more exotic.
- Mac ‘n Cheese: Cooked in a pan or traveling with the ingredients to cook it at your destination.
- Fresh vegetables: Potatoes, yams, broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, beets, radishes, carrots, squash, greens.
- Fresh fruit” Apples, pears, pineapple, lemons, limes, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, kiwi.
- Candy.
- Spices.
Earlier this year the TSA approved 11 full-sized items that are allowed through security. These items include baby food and formula but also, live fish and eggs!
Thanksgiving foods that should be carefully packed with your checked baggage:
- Cranberry sauce: Homemade or canned are spreadable, so check them.
- Gravy: Homemade or in a jar/can.
- Wine: champagne, sparking apple cider.
- Canned fruit or vegetables: It’s got liquid in the can, so check them.
- Preserves, jams and jellies: They are spreadable, so best to check them.
- Maple syrup.
Ice packs should be frozen solid, if not TSA could confiscate them. If they are partially melted or slushy, they must meet the TSA’s requirements of being 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or smaller (unless it’s a medically necessary ice pack).
For a full list of food items from the TSA go here.
Extra Tips for a Smooth TSA Screening:
When in Doubt, Check It: If you’re standing in your kitchen wondering, “Is this a liquid?”—it probably is. Save yourself the stress and just check it.
Prepare for a Bag Check (or bring an extra one to check): Flying with a lot of food can look dense on an X-ray scanner. A TSA agent could likely pull your bag for a quick inspection. Be patient and pack your food in a way that is easy to see and access.
Pack Securely: For any liquids you check, wrap them tightly in plastic and then in a towel to prevent a gravy-related disaster in your suitcase.
You don’t have to gamble with your grub, just follow the solid vs. liquid rule to ensure your precious and delicious cargo makes it safely with you!