OT- how long for sandwiches without ice pack?

[kellia]

How long would it be safe to have sandwiches with lunchmeat in them in a cooler without an ice pack? Dd and dh are not thrilled with the prospect of eating pb&j for lunch at the airport next week, but I don't think an ice pack would make it through security. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[patsal]

If my kids do not want to put the ice pack in their lunches I prep the sandwich without condiments the night before and freeze it. It will keep it cool and be thawed out by the time everyone is ready to eat it.

 

[bookgirl]

I think the official food count is 2 hours at room temp, but I pack my lunch in the mornings and lunch is sometimes 3 or 4 hours later. I've never had a problem, but I don't eat mayo, it's mustard or miracle whip light. You might think about freezing something, anything just to keep your lunch at room temp or above, (freeze a couple of mini candy bars or a tomato or anything that has somekind of moisture content that will hold a cold).

 

[NotUrsula]

I prep the sandwich without condiments the night before and freeze it.

The problem with that method is that separate condiments are not allowed through security, either, so you still have to put them on before going through.

These days the recommended method for carryons (other than Rx meds) that need to be kept cold is to use a bag of frozen veggies or frozen grapes as your coolant.

 

[FayeW]

I make my kids sandwiches (cold cuts, tuna ect) with the condiments in the morning, and they are fine several hours later for lunch. Never any problems.

If you are very concerned about, put them in a thermal lunch bag, with the ice pack, and toss the ice pack at security if required. I would just get a cheap ice pack at the dollar store or even freeze water in a sandwich bag.

 

[kandeebunny]

We freeze candy bars, grapes, berries and use those to help keep things cool!

 

[meandtheguys2]

Mayo isn't an issue. The vinegar in it kills bacteria. I agree with freezing something, though to keep a chill, if that would make you feel better!

 

[Frantasmic]

I don't know the Transportation rules on this, but I wonder if you froze a 6 oz Juicy Juice carton and packed your lunches in the quart-size zipper bags, you might be able to get that through security.

Or, freeze a Go-Gurt tube and maybe that will keep your stuff cold and make it through.

 

[summerrluvv]

I remember the days of bringing my lunch (deli meat sandwiches) to middle school and it sat in my locker for four hours and I'm still alive and kickin

 

[delmar411]

it's 4hrs at room temp before bacteria starts to grow. Less as the temp rises.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

You shouldn't eat food that has been left out for longer than two hours.

http://msucares.com/health/food_safety/foodfaq1.html

 

[bookgirl]

Mayo isn't an issue. The vinegar in it kills bacteria. I agree with freezing something, though to keep a chill, if that would make you feel better!

Okay not that I don't believe you, but isn't mayo number one on the hitlist for foods that go bad. Or are you saying that it's not a problem for just a couple of hours on a sandwich in a thermal bag with out ice? The meat which I think is number two or three on the things most likely to go bad and make you sick list would be okay for that long so mayo might as well, but I wouldn't trust mayo for very long without cool temps.

 

[mepperson]

Okay not that I don't believe you, but isn't mayo number one on the hitlist for foods that go bad. Or are you saying that it's not a problem for just a couple of hours on a sandwich in a thermal bag with out ice? The meat which I think is number two or three on the things most likely to go bad and make you sick list would be okay for that long so mayo might as well, but I wouldn't trust mayo for very long without cool temps.

YES YES YES. Mayo is one of the worst - and was the cause of an entire personal family food poisoning episode about 10 years ago for us! It was a mayo-dressing on a spinach salad, left out too long. EVERYONE who ate that salad was violently ill - I even ended up at the ER.

Don't take a chance - just freeze some grapes or something as others have posted. then they have that to eat as well.

 

[grlpwrd]

Yes, don't take a chance, especially while on a trip.

Try to freeze at least something to keep it cold, like a juice pack (boxed or packet), freeze the bread, or the fruit or candybar like someone else mentioned.

I would not want to be ill or even risk it on a trip.

 

[kilee]

If you don't want to risk it altogether, isn't there a lot of other healthy snacks you could bring?

 

[cdrn1]

Well...when I was a kid, 30-40 years ago, our dad used to make us sandwiches for lunch out of honey loaf or old-fashioned loaf at 5 a.m. and after hours of weeding onions or transplanting mint, we would unwrap them at 1130 or noon and eat them. And never once, NOT ONCE, got sick. Even when it was 89 degrees in June. No advice here, just an anecdotal story.

 

[NotUrsula]

Don't bother trying to freeze juice boxes unless you can somehow find boxes that are smaller than 3 oz. -- they will definitely be confiscated. They are also usually lined with foil, so they show up really nicely on the x-ray.

 

[englishteacha]

Could you freeze a baggie of water/fill a baggie with ice cubes to keep the stuff cold on the way to the airport, then just toss the baggie once you get there?

 

[kellia]

Thanks for all of the replies! I think I will try freezing grapes, I bought a bag to bring with lunch anyway! That is a really good idea!

I got food poisioning once from Subway, so I am really leary of lunchmeat being left out too long. Especially with the little guys! We are going to have to leave the house at about 6:30am, our 1st plane doesn't leave until 10am and then we only have about 45 minutes between planes at noon. So I am afraid if the first plane is a little late we wouldn't have time to get lunch. Not to mention don't want to get icky overpriced airport food- yuck!

Those airport regulations are such a pain, though I do realize they are for our own good.