Traveling and Flying with Frozen food, How to keep your food frozen

[Hershelsdeals]

I'll be traveling for about 36hrs without a freezer to a destination without kosher food, what's the best way to keep food frozen for at least 36hrs?

If you have done it before, please post your experience.

Here are the TSA rules and regulations for Dry Ice.

1. Packages of dry ice must allow for the release of carbon dioxide gas.
2. The limit for dry ice for both carry-on and checked baggage is five-pounds.
3. Packages of dry ice must contain the language "Carbon Dioxide Solid" or "Dry Ice" and must also have the net weight of the dry ice on the package.

Does anyone know how to "Packages of dry ice must allow for the release of carbon dioxide gas."?

[Something Fishy]

I think this has been discussed at length in the kosher food while traveling thread. (Can't search properly at the moment.)

[Marco Polo]

I've used freezer bags with regular ice packs. Didn't have an issue.

[Buruch]

Plus wrap it in tinfoil.

[Hershelsdeals]

I've used freezer bags with regular ice packs. Didn't have an issue.

How long were you able to keep the food frozen for?

[jj1000]

Does anyone know how to "Packages of dry ice must allow for the release of carbon dioxide gas."?

It just means you can't do this

[coralsnake]

It just means you can't do this

Its not a problem as long as you dont bring the coke bottle through security.

[Aj3042]

I've used freezer bags with regular ice packs. Didn't have an issue.

I've had big issues with this. They once didn't let me check in without removing the ice.

[Marco Polo]

How long were you able to keep the food frozen for?

Definitely close to 30 hours or more and it was frozen when i got to the hotel.

Picked up from Pom, survived a delay and a flight to LHR, then another flight to HND and a trip to the hotel.

[Marco Polo]

I've had big issues with this. They once didn't let me check in without removing the ice.

I had them stuffed in a my suitcase.

That may have helped as well since it was in the cargo hold.

[Hershelsdeals]

Definitely close to 30 hours or more and it was frozen when i got to the hotel.

Picked up from Pom, survived a delay and a flight to LHR, then another flight to HND and a trip to the hotel.

Nice!  How many ice bags?
What type of ice box did you use?

[IsraelGuy]

Dry ice is by far the way to go if you can get your hands on it. Traveled over 35hrs and everything was still frozen solid when we got there.

Allowing for release of CO2 means not air-tight. Dry ice sublimates and if you have it in an airtight container (like a fully sealed cooler) it will explode. I packed gel ice packs on top of the food, dry ice on top of that, and had it in a zippered cooler bag with the zipper not 100% closed- it just needs to be able to release a little bit of pressure. That way when the dry ice is gone you still have extra buffer time with the gel packs. Also had a styrofoam cooler wrapped in a trash bag, same thing, just didnt fully knot the trash bag. Again, since with dry ice there is no liquid phase + presealed gel packs + the fact that everything stays frozen = no risk of leaking food.

At least that's what I would do again.

Where you headed?

[Marco Polo]

Nice!  How many ice bags?
What type of ice box did you use?

I used one of those freezer bags you can get in a supermarket with maybe 4 or 5 ice bags.

[Hershelsdeals]

Dry ice is by far the way to go if you can get your hands on it. Traveled over 35hrs and everything was still frozen solid when we got there.

Allowing for release of CO2 means not air-tight. Dry ice sublimates and if you have it in an airtight container (like a fully sealed cooler) it will explode. I packed gel ice packs on top of the food, dry ice on top of that, and had it in a zippered cooler bag with the zipper not 100% closed- it just needs to be able to release a little bit of pressure. That way when the dry ice is gone you still have extra buffer time with the gel packs. Also had a styrofoam cooler wrapped in a trash bag, same thing, just didnt fully knot the trash bag. Again, since with dry ice there is no liquid phase + presealed gel packs + the fact that everything stays frozen = no risk of leaking food.

At least that's what I would do again.

Where you headed?

BOB

[IsraelGuy]

BOB

Enjoy. Bringing frozen pre cooked food with us to MLE was the best decision, I just hope the hotel doesn't charge you to heat it up.

[srf60]

This is what I did many times: took big boxes and lined them with Styrofoam I.e. watch trays, on all six sides, then put the frozen stuff without any dry ice etc. Was frozen solid more then 24 hrs later.
No issue by check in at all.
I've been stopped at customs in tlv, told them its cooked food and they let me go.

[Hershelsdeals]

This is what I did many times: took big boxes and lined them with Styrofoam I.e. watch trays, on all six sides, then put the frozen stuff without any dry ice etc. Was frozen solid more then 24 hrs later.
No issue by check in at all.
I've been stopped at customs in tlv, told them its cooked food and they let me go.

Watch trays?

[srf60]

Watch trays?

A watch is something that is worn on the hand. Usually it comes in a nice kinda gift box, but wholesalers ( and sometimes cheaper watches) get them on trays made from Styrofoam. It holds about a dozen pieces.

[Luvtotravel]

A watch is something that is worn on the hand. Usually it comes in a nice kinda gift box, but wholesalers ( and sometimes cheaper watches) get them on trays made from Styrofoam. It holds about a dozen pieces.

Where would I find them?

[srf60]

Good question. Ask someone who's in the watch business.....