Can you bring cookies on an airplane? Are the rules different for domestic and international flights? And just how long will cookies remain safe to eat when packed in your luggage? Read on for the answers.
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Bringing Cookies On A Plane |
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Can You Bring Cookies 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 Cookies 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 cookies on board and consume them during the flight. But you might not be able to bring cookies into your foreign destination (see details below). |
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Can You Bring Cookies Into The U.S.A. on an International Flight? |
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Can you bring cookies into the U.S.A.? |
Yes in most cases |
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How Long Will Cookies Last In Your Luggage? |
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Cookies, homemade or bakery: |
2 to 3 weeks at room temperature* (*2 hours at room temperature if frosting or filling contains eggs or dairy products, such as whipped cream or cream cheese) |
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Cookies, commercially packaged: |
1 month at room temperature after opening |
Sources: Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, StillTasty.com
BRINGING COOKIES ON A PLANE: FLIGHTS ORIGINATING IN THE U.S.A.
Can you bring cookies through airport security in your carry-on baggage?
Yes, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will allow you to bring cookies through airport security in your carry-on baggage. You can bring both store-bought and homemade cookies through the TSA checkpoint. If the cookies 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 cookies you can bring in your carry-on: You can pack as many cookies as you’d like and will fit into your allowable hand luggage.
Read more: Here are the foods you can bring through airport security
Can you bring cookies on an airplane in your checked baggage?
Yes, you can bring cookies in your checked baggage when boarding a flight within the United States. You can bring as many cookies as you’d like in your allowable checked luggage. To prevent cookies from getting crushed, pack them in tins or sturdy containers with tight-fitting lids.
Can you bring cookies on an international flight leaving the U.S.A.?
Yes, you can bring cookies 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 cookies 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 cookies through security at U.S. airports, whether you are flying domestically or internationally.
You can also bring cookies into many foreign countries. But some countries may restrict or prohibit homemade cookies — Mexico, for instance, does not allow most homemade food into the country. Be sure to check your foreign destination’s rules before leaving.
BRINGING COOKIES INTO THE UNITED STATES
Can you bring cookies on an international flight back into the U.S.A.?
Yes, the United States generally allows travelers to bring cookies into the U.S. when arriving on a flight from a foreign country.
Note that even though cookies are typically allowed, 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). 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 COOKIES LAST IN YOUR LUGGAGE?
Homemade or bakery cookies will usually remain safe to eat for about 2 to 3 weeks when stored at room temperature. The exception is cookies that contain frosting or filling made with dairy products or eggs, such as buttercream, whipped cream, cream cheese or custard frostings. These cookies keep safe for about 2 hours at room temperature, after which time they need to be refrigerated.
Commercially packaged cookies will generally keep well for about 1 month after opening.
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.
