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One of my favorite things about traveling is eating. Experiencing the cuisine of a different place is almost always fun, and traveling gives me an excuse to do it multiple times a day. The only downside is when I have to give it all up to get on a plane. But this year, I've gained new insight into how to minimize the end-of-vacation blues by bringing back some of my favorite foods from abroad.
I am deeply hurt by the way I was treated when I was caught smuggling in Taco Bell at the movie theater. Surprisingly, TSA doesn't really care about bringing outside food on board (customs is another story, but let them do what they like). As long as you meet the liquid limits, you won't get hassle from TSA (check out their website for fun details like how they're happy to inspect live lobsters). So the question is not whether you can do it, but how to do it without spoilage or damage.
Freezing Butter and Cheese
I took a trip to Paris this year and, among all the amazing foods, French butter is to die for. As I was trying to stuff as much butter as I could into my mouth in five days, my friend who I was traveling with casually suggested that I vacuum pack the butter in plastic bags and freeze it. It was a do-it-yourself moment.
Vacuum packing helps keep food aromas in, but the freezing part is key. Freezing makes food harder and tougher, delaying the need for refrigeration and buying you time before it spoils. I froze four blocks of butter and it was still cold when I unpacked it. It took about 13 hours total to get from my freezer in Europe to my fridge in Brooklyn in late May. (This is the maximum travel time most frozen foods will last, so if you're planning on a long plane trip, skip to the next section.)
Many of your favorite food souvenirs can be frozen so they will last in your luggage. You can use anything that you can normally freeze, such as butter, hard cheeses, sausages, cured meats, bread, biscuits, cookies, and nut butters. Larger or harder pieces will stay cold longer than airy breads and small cookies. If you plan on buying food souvenirs during your trip, bring a small insulated bag to keep the food cold longer. You can also use ice packs or gel packs, but we don't recommend them. You'll need them completely frozen through TSA, but they're unreliable and they'll weigh more.
La Grande Epicerie vacuum-packed their butter in plastic bags, but you don't need to bring a vacuum packing machine with you on your trip. Some might argue that the sucked-in plastic holds the item's shape, but I don't think it helps much in that regard. The plastic just keeps the nasty spills, melting, and smells from escaping into your luggage. You can squeeze the air out of a zip-top bag, or use one of our compression travel bags, which don't require a vacuum.
To be clear, traveling with food, even in your car, can be a bit risky unless you can monitor the temperature. The USDA says fresh foods can only be left in the danger zone (40°F to 140°F) for a maximum of two hours. Once you open a frozen food and it seems to have returned to room temperature, it may be time to throw it out. That said, my family always keeps butter on the kitchen table. Freezing food can help preserve temperature for longer, but always be smart and use your sense of smell.
Swaddle Glasses
If fresh foods aren't allowed on your trip, bottled items can help bring a taste of your travels home. Dried foods are easy to pack in plastic packaging, but glass can be tricky. If you're bringing back 10 jars of Italian pepperoncino powder or three small bottles of Amalfi limoncello, make sure you pack them in bubble wrap. Luckily, your luggage is basically full of bubble wrap.
Unlike the pictures, don't make it look like you have food in your luggage. Wrap everything up. Liquid souvenirs like booze, sauces, jams, oils, vinegars etc. should be placed in small sealable plastic bags and wrapped in clothes you don't really like. I usually put bottles in socks and roll up bottles in a few pairs of pants or pajamas. Wrapping in cloth will protect it from any hard knocks, but if it does break, at least you'll be prepared to throw away your One Direction t-shirt.
Finally, pack any padded jars or bottles that are particularly fragile into your shoes or sneakers. These shoe forts will protect your precious food after you close the lid of your carry-on. Plus, they'll help your shoes maintain their shape. I once did this to bring home a set of six Venetian wine glasses in my checked luggage, and they came back in mint condition.
