Carry on the stuffing, but check that cranberry sauce: TSA issues Thanksgiving food reminder

Just because you're traveling for the holiday doesn't mean you can't contribute to Thanksgiving dinner. However, the Transportation Security Administration doesn't want to spoil your trip or your dinner and issued a reminder on how to travel with food this holiday season.

Brian Heyman

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Nov 16, 2022, 5:30 PM

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Updated 765 days ago

Just because you're traveling for the holiday doesn't mean you can't contribute to Thanksgiving dinner. However, the Transportation Security Administration doesn't want to spoil your trip or your dinner and issued a reminder on how to travel with food this holiday season.

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The general rule of thumb is that solids can be carried on but liquids should be checked in your luggage.

"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," the TSA said in a release.

Thanksgiving foods that can be carried through a TSA checkpoint:

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.
Casseroles. 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.

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.

The TSA advises keeping any food that is in your carry-on easily accessible, as it may need additional security screening.

Still unsure if you can carry it on? The TSA says to check its "What can I bring" section on its homepage, tweet a question to @askTSA or reach out via Facebook Messenger.