Fruit as an ice pack??

[kristenrice]

I read somewhere that you can freeze fruit (grapes, watermelon, etc) and use them as an "ice pack" to bring food in your carry on. Has anyone ever done this? Is food/fruit allowed through security? (We're flying domestic so no issues with foreign fruit.)

I must have my Kraft singles with my breakfast, but since we are eating out 3 of our 5 days, I really only need 2-4 slices of cheese. I have no interest in paying the outrageous price for *16* slices at the resort store so I was thinking about just bringing a few slices. I have a small, soft-sided, insulated lunch bag. If I cut up a cup or so of watermelon (high % of water content) and froze it, would it keep my cheese edible (safe) for 6 hours?

 

[jmcross]

I would think your cheese would be fine with the frozen fruit to keep it cold. My opinion is also that they would allow your bag of food through security as long as it's not in liquid form. Call the airlines and ask to be sure.

Good luck and have a great trip!

Joanne

 

[goofy4tink]

THe other thing you can use is a bag of frozen peas or corn....no mess, and it can wrap around your food items more so than fruit will be able to.

 

[dancin Disney style]

THe other thing you can use is a bag of frozen peas or corn....no mess, and it can wrap around your food items more so than fruit will be able to.

Yes...use carrots. They will stay frozen longer as they are dense. I would not use watermelon...it will get really messy as it thaws out and it will thaw quickly. Grapes might be OK. Also, wrap everything with something absorbent....paper towel, a face cloth.

Why not try it in advance to see what lasts longer and makes the least mess.

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes...use carrots. They will stay frozen longer as they are dense. I would not use watermelon...it will get really messy as it thaws out and it will thaw quickly. Grapes might be OK. Also, wrap everything with something absorbent....paper towel, a face cloth.

Why not try it in advance to see what lasts longer and makes the least mess.

Ooops, forgot carrots, good choice as well.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Call the airlines and ask to be sure.

TSA sets the policy, not the airlines.

Did you check the TSA website (tsa.gov)? These questions are answered there. You are allowed to take ice packs through security if they are frozen solid.

 

[chamonix]

Cheese is not a highly perishable food. You could even take it with nothing cold and it would be fine.

That being said, if you are worried about taking any type of frozen cold packs, fruit, veggies, etc through security, you could always just take a couple large ziplocs with you.....cheese slices in one (to keep them "dry") then at the airport after you through security go purchase a couple large drinks with lots of ice....drink the liquid (or heck, you might even just get the cups of ice and ask for nothing in them, but be prepared to pay the drink price nonetheless) then put the ice into a larger ziplocs around the smaller cheese ziploc. That should hold cheese for a couple hours. As I said, it's not highly perishable food.

Other options: mail it to your resort in a soft sided cooler with cold packs.....get groceries delivered (either locally or through something like amazon) or make a grocery stop yourself on the way from the airport. Or just don't bother with all of this and pay a couple extra bucks for cheese at WDW.

 

[kristenrice]

Thanks for all the great ideas!

I was leaning towards fruit (vs. vegetables) because I am far more likely to munch some watermelon or pineapple for a snack than I am to eat some frozen peas.

 

[CPT Tripss]

It's sad that Americans are reduced to asking travel questions such as this.