Thanksgiving leftovers can travel by car or by plane if you keep them cold and follow the packing rules for each trip. In a car, use leakproof containers and a cooler with ice packs, and get the food back to a refrigerator within the USDA’s 2-hour window, or 1 hour if the air is hotter than 90°F. On a plane, the TSA treats solid foods differently from spreadable or pourable ones: leftover turkey can usually go in a carry-on, but cranberry sauce and gravy over 3.4 ounces belong in checked baggage. Ice packs must be frozen solid at the checkpoint. See how long Thanksgiving leftovers last, the how to host Thanksgiving hub, and the Thanksgiving guide.
By car, then by air
For a road trip, pack turkey, stuffing and sides in tight containers, set them in a soft cooler, and keep the cooler out of a hot trunk when you can. The food should stay at 40°F or below. When you arrive, refrigerate it and use it within 3 to 4 days, or freeze it. Reheat leftovers to 165°F. Related: the USDA leftovers guide.
The TSA’s holiday packing advice is consistent: if you can spill, spread, spray, pump or pour it, and the container is larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters), it should be checked. That includes homemade or canned cranberry sauce and gravy. Solid cooked turkey, stuffing, baked goods and many casseroles may go through a checkpoint, though they can still be pulled aside for extra screening. Put food where you can take it out easily. For liquids rules, see the TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule. TSA has also published holiday food examples in its Thanksgiving travel briefings, including this 2023 food-packing release. Rules can be updated, so check TSA before you fly.
These are U.S. security rules, not a promise that every country or state will let the same foods in. Agricultural limits can apply on international or even some domestic flights. Do not pack leaking gravy next to clothing. If an ice pack has thawed into a liquid at the checkpoint, it may be treated as a liquid. When you land, get perishable leftovers into a refrigerator and reheat them to 165°F before you eat them.
A leftover sandwich for the road should stay cold until you eat it, then follow the same time limits. If the trip is long and you cannot keep the food cold, it is better to leave the leftovers behind or freeze them for later than to travel with a warm container of turkey.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take leftover turkey on a plane?
Usually yes, in a carry-on or a checked bag, because cooked turkey is a solid food. Keep it cold, and be ready for extra screening.
What about cranberry sauce and gravy?
They are spreadable or pourable. If the container is larger than 3.4 ounces, pack it in a checked bag.
Do ice packs have to be frozen?
Yes, at the TSA checkpoint they should still be frozen solid. A melted pack may be treated as a liquid.
Helpful kitchen tools
- OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Digital Instant Read Thermometer — Useful if you are cooking or reheating turkey to a safe temperature that week.
- OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Digital Kitchen Food Scale — Helpful for shopping lists and leftover portions.
- OXO Good Grips 2-Cup and 4-Cup Glass Measuring Cup Set — A basic tool if you are also cooking a side or gravy.
- Cuisinart Stainless 16-Inch Roasting Pan with Rack and Deluxe Basting Set — Worth having if your household is the one roasting the turkey.
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