Can you bring egg salad on an airplane? Are the rules different for domestic and international flights? And just how long will egg salad remain safe to eat when packed in your luggage? Read on for the answers.
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Bringing Egg Salad On A Plane |
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Can You Bring Egg Salad on Domestic Flights Within the U.S.A.? |
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Carry-On Baggage: |
Yes – but limit of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) allowed through airport security |
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Checked Luggage: |
Yes |
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Can You Bring Egg Salad on International Flights Originating in the U.S.A? |
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Carry-On Baggage: |
Yes – but limit of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) allowed through airport security* |
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Checked Luggage: |
Yes* |
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*You can bring egg salad on board and consume it during the flight. But you might not be able to bring egg salad into your foreign destination (see details below). |
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Can You Bring Egg Salad Into The U.S.A. on an International Flight? |
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Can you bring egg salad into the U.S.A.? |
No in most cases (see below) |
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How Long Will Egg Salad Last In Your Luggage? |
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Egg salad- homemade or store-prepared |
-2 hours at room temperature |
Sources: Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, StillTasty.com
BRINGING EGG SALAD ON A PLANE: FLIGHTS ORIGINATING IN THE U.S.A.
Can you bring egg salad through airport security in your carry-on baggage?
Yes, you can bring egg salad through airport security, but only in limited quantities. Egg salad falls under the Transportation Security Administration’s “3-1-1 liquids rule”, which requires that all liquids and gels in your carry-on luggage be stored in 3.4-ounce (100 ml) or smaller containers — all of which must fit into one quart-sized plastic bag.
Read more: Here are the foods you can bring through airport security
Can you bring an egg salad sandwich through airport security?
Yes, the TSA will typically allow a sandwich that contains egg salad to pass through airport security, as long as the sandwich is not overly soggy.
Can you bring egg salad on an airplane in your checked baggage?
Yes, you can bring egg salad in your checked baggage when boarding a flight within the United States. And unlike the case with carry-on baggage, you can bring as much egg salad as you’d like in your allowable checked luggage. To avoid spillage, be sure the egg salad is in a tightly sealed container and then overwrap it with heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic wrap, or place the container inside a heavy-duty freezer bag. Since egg salad is perishable, you should pack it along with some ice or a frozen gel pack to keep it cold throughout the trip.
Can you bring egg salad on an international flight leaving the U.S.A.?
Yes, you can bring egg salad on an international flight departing from the U.S., either in your carry-on baggage or your checked luggage. If your intention is to bring the egg salad onto the plane in your carry-on baggage and consume it during the flight, you’ll have no issues. The TSA applies the same rules for allowing egg salad through security at U.S. airports, whether you are flying domestically or internationally.
But bringing the egg salad off the plane and bringing it into a foreign country is a different matter. The rules around bringing in food items that contain eggs can be strict in many countries. Be sure to check your foreign destination’s rules before leaving.
BRINGING EGG SALAD INTO THE UNITED STATES
Can you bring egg salad 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 eggs.
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 EGG SALAD LAST IN YOUR LUGGAGE?
Egg salad, whether homemade or store-prepared, will remain safe for about 2 hours when stored at room temperature.
You can bring ice or a frozen gel pack to keep the egg salad 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.
See Also:
How Long Can Salad Sit Out Before It Becomes Unsafe To Eat?
Can You Bring Food Through Airport Security?
