How to Travel with Frozen Food
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There’s nothing quite like going home for the holidays and being greeted by a delicious, home-cooked meal. But what if you need to do some cooking upon your arrival? If you’re traveling with frozen food, you’ll need to take some extra precautions to ensure that your food stays frozen and doesn’t spoil. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just tossing the ingredients in a bag and heading to your destination. Without taking the proper steps, the food can become unsafe to eat, and no one wants to give a case of food poisoning as a holiday gift! Fortunately, our freezer storage containers make traveling with frozen food a breeze. Before you load up the car to head to your destination, read on to learn more about how to travel with frozen food safely.
Freeze your food at the right temperature.
When it comes to traveling with frozen food, there are a few things you’ll need to consider. There are even some things you’ll need to do before your anticipated travel date. For example, you’ll need to make sure that your freezer is set to the correct temperature. What temperature should a freezer be? Ideally, you should keep your freezer at 0° F or below. This is cold enough to ensure that food freezes solid. It also ensures that harmful microbes are inactivated and won’t damage the food while it is in storage.
Use the right containers.
Disposable plastic containers and foil aren’t the best options when it comes to transporting food. You need durable containers that won’t leak and which will keep your food safe while in transport. That’s why using our freezer storage containers is the best option when traveling with frozen food. These containers are made of durable materials like silicone, BPA-free plastic and stainless steel. Plus, they have tight-fitting lids that create a seal you can count on, so you don’t have to worry about your food leaking during transit.
Reusable silicone bags are excellent for travel too. They’re perfect for the freezer or fridge, and they work well for transporting solid foods as well as liquids. And when you reach your destination, you can even use them for steaming and saucing foods. When it’s time to head home, they fold flat for easy transport.
Pack containers tightly.
When packing your freezer storage containers, it’s important to pack them tightly. This will help prevent your food from shifting during transport and becoming thawed or damaged. The tighter your pack each container, the more likely it is to stay frozen on your journey. Just be sure to leave enough room for the lid to go on securely.
Keep the food frozen.
When you’re traveling by car, there are a few things you can do to keep your food frozen during the trip. First of all, try to minimize the amount of time that your car is stopped. The shorter the trip, the better. If you’re going to be making frequent stops or know it’s going to take several hours to reach your destination, pack a cooler with ice to keep your food cold. If necessary, stop for more ice along the way.
Be strategic when packing. Put the heaviest frozen containers in the bottom of the cooler and put lighter items on top. Arrange everything neatly so that it’s stacked close together with very little space in between. Packing frozen items together tightly will help them stay cold.
If you’re traveling during warm weather, put the cooler in the main passenger compartment rather than the trunk. Doing this means that the air conditioner will be able to help keep it cool. If you need to stop, park in a shady spot rather than in the sun if possible. The cooler temperatures will help keep your food frozen.
Closing Thoughts
We Have the Food Storage Containers You Need
Traveling with frozen foods can be tricky, but it’s doable with some careful planning and preparation. Be sure to pack your food in freezer storage containers and label them clearly so you know what needs to be eaten first. Take steps to keep everything frozen along the way, and your food will be ready to be prepared once you reach your destination.