The Foods You Can and Can’t Take Through the TSA for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful, spend quality time with loved ones, and, most importantly, enjoy the best food. Whether you plan on bringing your secret recipe apple pie or you can’t go back home without your aunt’s Thanksgiving leftovers, experts at Daily Meal reveal the foods you can and can’t take through the TSA checkpoint. 🥧🦃
The TSA estimates that more than 30 million people will go through security checkpoints at American airports during the holiday season this year. And according to data from Daily Meal, the demand for learning whether or not you can take food through the TSA has soared by 1,179% in the past day alone. Data also shows that in the past week, there’s been a 110% increase in Google searches for ‘can you take homemade food through airport security,’ proving that travelers are curious – and maybe a bit confused – about the what foods they can pack in their carry-on this Thanksgiving.
So, which foods can you take through the TSA checkpoint?
Most solid foods can be carried through the TSA checkpoint, but there are certain Thanksgiving food items that you’ll need to transport in your checked bags.
Source: Daily Meal.
Thanksgiving foods you can’t bring on a plane
Here’s the bad news first. The TSA is clear about what foods you can bring through a security checkpoint, especially liquids and gels. This applies to any sauces, gravies, syrups, and gels like cranberry sauce. According to the official TSA website, the following foods are off-limits and should be carefully packed into your checked luggage if you plan to travel with them:
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Cranberry sauce (homemade or canned)
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Gravy (homemade, in a jar, or canned)
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Canned fruit or vegetables
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Maple syrup
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Preserves, jams, and jellies
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Wine, Champagne, or sparkling cider
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Alcoholic beverages over 140 proof
When it comes to alcohol, the standard 3.4-ounce sizing that applies to other liquids also applies here. These must fit in the single quart-sized clear bag that is removed from your luggage at the security checkpoint. Regardless of whether you pack alcohol in your checked or carry-on luggage, it must be no more than a 70% (140 proof) variety and must not be more than 5 liters. TSA has a strict policy on opening these bottles during your flight: “FAA regulations prohibit travelers from consuming alcohol on board an aircraft unless served by a flight attendant.”
Thanksgiving foods that can be carried through a TSA checkpoint
It’s not all bad news at the TSA checkpoints. There are several Thanksgiving goodies that you can carry on your flight if you want to travel with a pie in your lap. You can easily bring solid food items, and TSA says you can bring the following items through security at the airport:
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Baked goods (bread, cookies – homemade or store-bought)
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Pies and cakes
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Meats: Turkey, chicken, ham, steak (frozen, cooked or uncooked)
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Stuffing (cooked, uncooked, or boxed)
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Casseroles
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Candy
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Mac ‘n cheese (cooked or the ingredients to cook later)
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Fresh fruits and vegetables (from the mainland only)
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Solid cheeses
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Spices
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Creamy cheeses and dips (less than or equal to 3.4 ounces)
Keep in mind that anything you use to keep your food cold is also subject to TSA screening, so things like cold packs need to be completely frozen when they go through security. Any melted liquid is cause for disposal.
Food screening takes TSA agents longer, and the permission to carry some items may ultimately be at their discretion, so be patient if you bring food items through the busy security lines this season. TSA urges you to arrange your carry-on luggage in an orderly manner in case you need to remove or separate any items. With some planning and smart packing, you won’t have to throw any of your Thanksgiving feast away to get through the airport.
Daily Meal recommends
“If you’re heading to the airport during this time and you’re planning on bringing your favorite Thanksgiving dish with you, don’t count on being able to take just anything through airport security. The TSA has very strict rules about what foods you can get through airport security, and many Thanksgiving foods might have to go into checked bags (if you bring them at all).
Take a look at this list of what you can and can’t bring through TSA this Thanksgiving so you can plan ahead because nothing’s worse than taking the time to pick out a perfect bottle of wine only to have to toss it in the trash in order to get on a flight. Remember, too, that these rules count in reverse, so don’t count on being able to bring a doggy bag of grandma’s stuffing and gravy in your carry-on. When it comes to foods that fall into a grey area between solid and liquid, such as cranberry sauce, preserves, jams, and jellies, it’s always best to store them in your checked bags to be safe.
Also, keep in mind that, according to the TSA, even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. If you are traveling internationally, check with your airlines, as these rules might differ.”
