Here’s a guide to the Thanksgiving foods that are allowed on a plane

Bringing food onto a plane can be a bit tricky, especially around the holidays. Curious about which Thanksgiving meals are approved by airport security? Here’s a list of festive foods that can go in your carry-on or checked luggage. (For the complete list of items you’re allowed to bring, check out the Transportation Security Administration’s website.)

Pumpkin Pie

You can check pies in your luggage or carry them on board. If you decide to check a pumpkin pie or any other dessert, Condé Nast Traveler suggests wrapping it in plastic, placing it in a durable cardboard box, and securing the box with a blanket or bubble wrap. For carry-on, ensure the packaging is tough enough to withstand security checks, overhead compartments, and TSA screenings.

Cranberry Sauce and Gravy

The TSA’s standard liquid rules apply to Thanksgiving sauces and spreads as well. Cranberry sauce, gravy, jams, and jellies must be checked if they exceed 3.4 ounces. If they’re in a 3.4-ounce container, you can carry them on in a quart-sized, clear, sealed zip-top bag, just like your shampoo.

Turkeys and Turduckens

Turkeys, turduckens, and other poultry—whether fresh or frozen—can be carried in both checked and carry-on bags, provided they’re packed with no more than five pounds of dry ice and the container doesn’t exceed the airline’s carry-on size limit. If packed in regular ice, the meat must be fully frozen when passing through security.

Wine

Like other alcoholic beverages, wine bottles larger than 3.4 ounces must be checked. Vine Pair suggests avoiding mishaps by packing wine bottles in a hard suitcase, cushioning the interior with soft clothes, and wrapping the bottles in additional clothing before placing them in the center of the suitcase.

Green Beans, Brussels Sprouts, and Sweet Potatoes

You can take your favorite Thanksgiving side dish home with you. Fresh vegetables are allowed in both your carry-on or checked luggage. However, be mindful of some restrictions: As of November 2024, passengers flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the mainland U.S. cannot bring most fresh produce on board.

Cornbread and Dinner Rolls

Bread of all kinds is allowed on planes, so feel free to pack as many dinner rolls or pieces of cornbread as you can into your bags.

Leftover Sandwiches

Why not turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into a sandwich for the journey (or the flight)? You can pack a whole sandwich spread in your checked luggage, or stash one in your carry-on to enjoy during the flight.

Not sure about other food items? Reach out to the TSA by sending a photo to @AskTSA, messaging them on Facebook Messenger, or visiting TSA.gov and using the “What can I bring?” search feature.