Can You Bring Food on the Plane? Let’s Find Out

Would you prefer to carry your own food for an aviation trip, rather than relying on the food offered by the airline? Is the question ‘Can you bring food on the plane’ stuck in your mind? If so, you are not alone. Many passengers share the same query and struggle to find the truth. But, not anymore. Wondering why? We have compiled all the information on the topic in this guidebook. So, whether you’re going on a short-haul journey or a long trip, you’ll know whether you can take your favorite snacks with you or not. From airport security rules to onboard guidelines, everything has been covered in this manual. Therefore, be sure to study the facts thoroughly.

Can You Take Your Own Food On a Plane? Know Here

Were you still not able to find the answer to the above question, even after searching for the details for many days? If that is the case, here is the only solution you need for the query. Travelers are permitted to bring food on board the plane, both in carry-on bags and checked luggage, but there are specific guidelines to follow, as established by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). These regulations are different for solid food items and liquid food items. Let’s take a look. 

Solid Food

When it comes to solid food items, they are generally permitted on an aviation journey. There are only a few restrictions when it comes to bringing dry food products, as they are usually easy to carry and do not pose the risk of spilling, which is a significant concern with liquid food items. Passengers are allowed to bring items such as:

• Sandwiches
• Cookies
• Granola bars
• Muffins
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Wraps
• Rolls
• Cheese Slices 

Liquid and Paste

While carrying solid food is simple, taking liquid food items is a lot trickier. Therefore, before you even think of packing non-solid food items in your luggage, you should know the major guidelines. As per the TSA, any food item that is a liquid or has a gel or paste-like consistency must follow the 3-1-1 rule. 

• 3 (The containers that you bring your food item in must be 3.4 ounces or smaller) 
• 1 (The containers must fit in a one-quart-size bag)
• 1 (One person is allowed to bring one bag)

To understand the food items permitted on the plane entirely, review this table.

Food Items	Carry-on Bags	Checked Bags
Alcoholic Drinks	Yes ( should be 100 ml or less)	Yes
Alcoholic Drinks more than 140 proof	No	No
Liquid Chocolate	Yes ( The quantity should be less than 100 ml)	Yes
Creamy Cheese	Yes (Equal to less than 100 ml/ 3.4 oz)	Yes
Bread	Yes	Yes
Solid Cheese	Yes	Yes
Packaged Water	Yes ( The quantity should be less than or equal to 100 ml)	Yes
Solid Chocolate	Yes	Yes
Candy	Yes	Yes
Coffee Beans	Yes	Yes
Cooked Meat	Yes	Yes
Liquid Coffee	Yes (Equal to less than 100 ml/ 3.4 oz)	Yes
SeaFood	Yes	Yes
Peanut Butter	Yes (Equal to less than 100 ml/ 3.4 oz)	Yes
Cookies	Yes	Yes
Fresh Eggs	Yes	Yes
Gravy	Yes (Equal to less than 100 ml/ 3.4 oz)	Yes
Creamy Dips and Spreads	Yes (Equal to less than 100 ml/ 3.4 oz)	Yes
Dried Fruits	Yes	Yes
Frozen Food	Yes ( certain restrictions must be followed)	Yes
Gum	Yes	Yes
Gel Ice Packs	Yes ( certain limits must be followed)	Yes
Ice Cream	Yes (Equal to less than 100 ml/ 3.4 oz)	Yes
Juices	Yes (Equal to less than 100 ml/ 3.4 oz)	Yes
Maple Syrup	Yes ( The quantity should be less than or equal to 100 ml)	Yes
Vinegars and Oils	Yes (Equal to less than 100 ml/ 3.4 oz)	Yes
Pet Food	Yes (If liquid, please follow the 3-1-1 rule)	Yes
Cake	Yes	Yes
Pizza and Sandwiches	Yes	Yes
Soda	Yes (Equal to less than 100 ml/ 3.4 oz)	Yes
Cakes and Pies	Yes	Yes
Salt	Yes	Yes
Soups	Yes (Equal to less than 100 ml/ 3.4 oz)	Yes
Tea Bags	Yes	Yes
Tamales	Yes	Yes
Yogurt	Yes (Equal to less than 100 ml/ 3.4 oz)	Yes

Special Instructions For Baby Food 

If you will be traveling with a toddler, there are different rules for carrying baby food or baby formula. Understanding the needs of an infant, the TSA permits breast milk, baby formula, and baby food on airplanes, which do not necessarily have to follow the standard 3-1-1 rule. These items are also regarded as medical liquids; therefore, there is no need to consider the liquid rule or the weight of 3.4 ounces.

Before the screening process, please inform TSA officials that you have a baby food item in your carry-on bag. The officers may instruct you to remove these items so that they can be screened separately from the rest of your luggage. It is also advisable to use insulated bags instead of plastic bags to pack the infant’s food items. 

Can You Bring a Home Cooked Meal on a Plane?

Seeking healthier alternatives to packaged food items? Want to carry homemade food on the plane? Well, travelers can always bring home-cooked meals on board, but there are certain things they must keep in mind. When it comes to solid food items, they are permitted in both carry-on baggage and checked luggage. However, if you wish to carry liquid food items, you must pack them in checked bags. Also, please ensure that the food item does not have a strong odour. 

Delta Airlines and Singapore Airlines are good examples of carriers that allow homemade food items on the plane. Frontier Airlines, which is a budget-friendly air carrier, also allows homemade food. That said, please learn the Frontier Airlines Baggage Allowance beforehand.

Often Raised Queries