Can you bring burritos on an airplane? Are the rules different for domestic and international flights? And just how long will burritos remain safe to eat when packed in your luggage? Read on for the answers.
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Bringing Burritos On A Plane |
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Can You Bring Burritos on Domestic Flights Within the U.S.A.? |
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Carry-On Baggage: |
Yes |
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Checked Luggage: |
Yes |
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Can You Bring Burritos on International Flights Originating in the U.S.A? |
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Carry-On Baggage: |
Yes* |
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Checked Luggage: |
Yes* |
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*You can bring burritos on board and consume them during the flight. But you might not be able to bring burritos into your foreign destination (see details below). |
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Can You Bring Burritos Into The U.S.A. on an International Flight? |
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Carry-On or Checked Luggage: |
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Burritos containing meat, poultry, eggs or fresh produce such as lettuce and tomatoes |
No in most cases
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How Long Will Burritos Last In Your Luggage? |
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Burritos, freshly made |
2 hours at room temperature |
Sources: Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, StillTasty.com
BRINGING BURRITOS ON A PLANE: FLIGHTS ORIGINATING IN THE U.S.A.
Can you bring burritos through airport security in your carry-on baggage?
Yes, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will allow you to bring burritos through airport security in your carry-on baggage. If the burritos aren’t already pre-packaged, they should be wrapped or placed in a resealable bag or container with a secure lid. There is no limit to the quantity of burritos you can bring in your carry-on: You can pack as many burritos as you’d like and will fit into your allowable hand luggage.
Just about any type of burrito can pass through the TSA checkpoint, as long as it is wrapped or in a container and isn’t overly soggy. Burritos made with steak, ground beef, pork, chicken, beans, rice, vegetables, or any other solid foods, are all allowable.
Read more: Here are the foods you can bring through airport security
If a burrito has salsa, sour cream or guacamole in it, will it pass through airport security?
The TSA will typically allow a burrito that contains these items to pass through airport security, as long as the burrito is not overly soggy.
But if you want to bring along a side serving of salsa, sour cream or guacamole, it will have to be a small one: These all fall under the TSA’s “3-1-1 liquids rule”, which requires that all liquids and gels in your carry-on luggage be stored in 3.4-ounce or smaller containers, all of which must fit into one quart-sized plastic bag.
Can you bring burritos on an airplane in your checked baggage?
Yes, you can bring burritos in your checked baggage when boarding a flight within the United States. You can bring as many burritos as you’d like in your allowable checked luggage; pack them in sturdy containers with tight-fitting lids. Since burritos are perishable, you should pack them along with some ice or a frozen gel pack to keep them cold throughout the trip.
Can you bring burritos on an international flight leaving the U.S.A.?
Yes, you can bring burritos on an international flight departing from the U.S. — but depending on where you’re going, you may not be able to bring the burritos off the plane once you arrive at your destination.
If your intention is to bring the burritos onto the plane in your carry-on baggage and eat them during the flight, you’ll have no issues. The TSA applies the same rules for allowing burritos through security at U.S. airports, whether you are flying domestically or internationally.
But taking the burritos off the plane and bringing them into a foreign country is a different matter. The rules around bringing in food items that contain meat, poultry, eggs and fresh produce can be strict in many countries. Be sure to check your foreign destination’s rules before leaving.
BRINGING BURRITOS INTO THE UNITED STATES
Can you bring burritos on an international flight back into the U.S.A.?
In most cases, the answer is no. The United States has strict rules about allowing travelers to bring in food items that contain meat, poultry, eggs and fresh produce like tomatoes and lettuce — if your burrito contains any of these, it likely won’t be permitted.
Note also that you must declare all foods that you bring into the United States — whether they are allowable or not — to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and permit them to be inspected by a CBP agent. This can be a time-consuming process. The penalties for failing to declare your food items can be steep; bear in mind also that the CBP routinely conducts random screenings for arriving passengers.
FOOD SAFETY: HOW LONG WILL BURRITOS LAST IN YOUR LUGGAGE?
Freshly made burritos can be kept safely for about 2 hours at room temperature. You can bring ice or a frozen gel pack to keep them cooler longer. But ice or gel packs in your carry-on luggage must be completely frozen when passing through airport security — if they are even partially thawed, the TSA screeners will likely bring them from you.
Note: While the above information is based on applicable Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidelines at the time of publication, the final decision for whether to allow a food item through airport security or into the United States rests with the TSA and CBP officers on duty at the airport. Regulations also change frequently: For the latest information, check the US Customs and Border Protection and Transportation Security Administration websites.
