Can You Bring Food on a Plane?
Are you allowed to bring food on a plane? The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says yes. There is no limit to the amount of food that you can bring on a plane (as long as it fits in your carry-on bag). As appetizing as airplane meals are, bringing your own food on a plane guarantees you’ll have something tasty to eat during a long travel day.
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5 Tips for Bringing Food on a Plane
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Use Ice Alternatives
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Dispose of Certain Foods Before Disembarking
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Follow the 3-1-1 Rule
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Utensils
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Easy Plane/Snack Meal Ideas
- Sandwiches
- A cheese or charcuterie plate
- Sliced vegetables and hummus
- Muffins
- Granola bars
- Pasta salad
- Yogurt
- Overnight oats
- Almonds
- Fruit
Although the TSA does not limit the amount of food you can bring on a plane, there are some important rules you’ll need to follow.
Ice packs must be fully frozen when passing through TSA screening. According to the TSA, if “frozen liquid items are partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid at the bottom of the container,” they are considered a liquid and subject to the 3-1-1 rule.
Note that this rule does not apply to gel ice packs used for medical purposes (for example, to keep medicine cool).
Instead of worrying about your ice packs melting before you get through security, use frozen fruit or frozen vegetables to keep your food cool. Bonus: You’ll have an extra snack once the frozen food thaws.
Use a slim cooler bag that will fit in your carry-on without taking up too much space to keep your food at a safe temperature. We recommend the Bellroy Lite Cooler Caddy, which is the perfect size for travel. Made from Thinsulate insulation and waterproof lining, the Bellroy Lite will keep your food cold for hours.
If you’re taking an international trip and don’t eat your frozen fruit or vegetables, make sure to throw it away before you disembark your flight. Most countries have strict rules about what food products can be brought into the country, so always check what is permitted before bringing in snacks. Unsure? Declare your food upon arrival at customs to be on the safe side.
Peanut butter, hummus, salsa—these are all foods that the TSA considers a liquid, and therefore limits them to 3.4 oz. or less in your carry-on. Can’t decide if a food is a liquid or solid? Use the TSA’s helpful What Can I Bring search tool, where you can check.
Note that baby food is not subject to the same 3-1-1 rule, and is allowed in “reasonable quantities” in carry-on bags. (Just be sure to remove the items from your bag to be screened separately.)
Don’t forget to pack utensils and a napkin so you can actually eat the food that you’ve packed. Just make sure any knives you pack are plastic or round-bladed butter knives, otherwise the TSA will confiscate them.
When it comes to bringing food on a plane, pick items that are easy to eat without making a mess, and don’t have an offensively strong odor. We like to bring: