Yes, solid foods are fine in carry-on; liquids and spreads must follow the 3-1-1 rule, and baby items can exceed that when you declare them.
What this means at security
Airport screening sorts edible items into two buckets: solids and liquids or gels. Bread, chips, whole fruit, nuts, hard cheeses, candy, chocolate bars, and plain sandwiches count as solids. Yogurt, soups, sauces, dressings, soft cheese, peanut butter, jam, and anything spreadable land in the liquids or gels bucket. Liquids and gels in your cabin bag have to sit inside one quart-size bag, and each container must be 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less. See the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
Screeners may ask you to pull food out, so pack it near the top. If something can’t be screened cleanly, you may be asked to toss it or check it. Keep the stash neat and easy to open.
| Food type | Carry-on status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bread, crackers, chips | Allowed | Keep sealed to prevent crumbs during inspection. |
| Fresh whole fruit | Allowed for domestic flights | Subject to agricultural rules when you land from abroad. |
| Cut fruit or salad | Allowed | Any dressing or syrup must meet 3-1-1. |
| Hard cheese | Allowed | Counts as solid. |
| Soft cheese | 3-1-1 applies | Spreadable or creamy styles ride with liquids. |
| Peanut butter, hummus, dips | 3-1-1 applies | Pack 3.4 oz (100 ml) containers in your quart bag. |
| Yogurt, pudding, custard | 3-1-1 applies | Each tub must be travel-size. |
| Jam, jelly, honey, syrup | 3-1-1 applies | Any jar over the limit belongs in checked bags. |
| Cooked meat or sandwiches | Allowed | Wrap well; sauces must meet 3-1-1. |
| Seafood on ice | Allowed | Ice packs must be fully frozen at screening. |
| Soups and stews | Not in carry-on | Liquid volume exceeds the cabin limit. |
| Baby food and puree pouches | Allowed over 3.4 oz | Declare and separate for screening. |
| Breast milk and formula | Allowed over 3.4 oz | Declare; ice packs may accompany them. |
| Powders (spices, protein) | Allowed | Large amounts can prompt extra screening. |
| Frozen foods | Allowed | Must be frozen solid; slush can be refused. |
X-ray images show density and shapes, not brand names. Dense foods can look like other items, and foil can cast bright streaks that block the view. That is why officers may ask you to open a box of chocolates, unfold foil around a burrito, or move snacks into a tray. Clear bags make this quick. Small steps like these cut down on repeat scans and keep the line moving.
Taking food in carry-on: what you can pack
Solids that sail through
Think grab-and-go snacks and items that keep shape without a sauce. Baked goods, protein bars, trail mix, pretzels, granola, jerky, apples, bananas, oranges, carrots, and hard cheeses fly fine. Sandwiches work too if the fillings aren’t swimming in dressing. Wrap tight, then place the bundle in a clear bag so officers can see it quickly.
Meals like burritos or wraps are usually fine. If yours carries salsa or a wet slaw, portion those extras into travel-size containers and slip them into your quart bag. The drier the main item, the smoother the check.
Liquids, gels, and creamy foods
Anything you can pour, pump, smear, or spread sits under the liquids and gels rule. That includes dips, peanut butter, tahini, cream cheese, ricotta, cottage cheese, yogurt cups, custard cups, chia puddings, chia jams, fruit compotes, gravy, and sauces. Each one needs a travel-size container and all of them together must fit in a single one-quart bag. The total number of containers isn’t fixed; space in the bag is your limit. The rule is spelled out on the TSA liquids page.
Travel-size means the container size, not the amount inside. A half-empty 8-ounce jar still breaks the rule, even if it holds 3 ounces of dressing. Split sauces into several small tubs if you need more, and cap each one securely. Keep the quart bag flat; a bulging bag can pop open inside your backpack. If you run short on space, buy spreads or drinks after security and keep your personal items tidy in flight.
Want a full jar of peanut butter or a big tub of hummus on arrival? Pack it in checked baggage or buy it after security.
Frozen items and ice packs
Cold packs and frozen food are fine in your cabin bag if they are frozen solid when you reach the x-ray belt. If the pack is slushy, officers treat it like a liquid. Breast milk coolers are handled with more leeway; gel packs for that purpose may travel even if partially melted, once you declare them. Canada’s screening agency uses the same approach and clarifies that only items solid at room temperature count as solids.
Regular ice in a cup melts fast and turns into liquid during your wait at screening. Use hard plastic packs or a small frozen bottle of water instead. If you plan a long layover, refreeze gel packs at your hotel the night before.
Baby and medical needs
Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and puree pouches can exceed 3.4 ounces. You do not need to squeeze them into the quart bag. Tell the officer you have them, remove them for inspection, and expect swabbing of containers or coolers. The TSA explains these allowances under medical-need liquids on its site and in the section for traveling with children. You’ll also find that ice packs for breast milk are allowed even when not fully frozen. See the TSA pages on formula and related items.
Are foods allowed in hand luggage on a plane?
Yes, the theme is the same in many places: solids are fine; liquids and spreads sit under size limits. Airports that use newer scanners may allow larger bottles, yet staff still screen edible items and may ask you to show them. Rules can differ by terminal and country, so read your airport’s hand luggage page and follow staff directions on the day.
Know the customs rules after you land
Security and customs are different stops. Security decides what can ride in the cabin; customs decides what can enter a country. Fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, and many animal products face entry rules when you arrive from abroad or when flying from places such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the mainland. Always declare any food on your form. U.S. Customs and Border Protection spells out the policy and links to USDA guidance. Read the CBP page on bringing food and agricultural items.
If you plan to bring gifts like cured meats, homemade jam, honey, or cheese from overseas, study the rules for your destination and keep receipts handy. Some items pass with inspection; others do not. Failure to declare can trigger fines.
Sealed, shelf-stable snacks like crackers or candy usually pass, while raw produce often runs into entry bans. Even a single orange can be an issue if it’s not declared. Agriculture officers protect crops and livestock from pests and disease, and they sometimes use beagles to sniff out items. When in doubt, say “I have food” and list the types. The officer will decide what can stay. That quick honesty saves time and avoids penalties.
Packing tips that speed you up
- Pack food near the top of your bag so you can lift it out on request.
- Use clear, resealable bags for quick visual checks.
- Keep the quart-size liquids bag in an outer pocket you can reach in seconds.
- Portion sauces, dressings, and nut butters into travel-size tubs with tight lids.
- Choose sturdy containers that won’t crack under pressure inside a backpack.
- Tape flip-top lids to stop slow leaks.
- Skip strong smells that bother nearby travelers in a closed cabin.
- Bring wipes and napkins; screening tables can be dusty.
- If you pack a stainless lunch box, leave a little empty space so officers can see through it.
- Label baby items and put them together in one cooler pouch.
- Skip foil when you can; clear wrap speeds visual checks.
- Place powders like protein or spices in their own small bag.
Airline and route gotchas
Cabin crew may restrict hot food or items with strong odors. Ovens on board are not for personal meals, and crew cannot store your items in galley chillers. Routes that pass preclearance or agricultural checkpoints may require extra checks of produce. If you are transiting a country with a second security check, your liquids bag may be inspected again. Long connections can mean warm cabins and melted ice, so plan portions that stay safe without refrigeration. When unsure, eat it sooner and keep the rest for later legs of the trip.
| Item | Pack it this way | Screening tip |
|---|---|---|
| Sandwich or wrap | Wrap tight; keep sauces in travel-size tubs | Place on top of your items for a quick look |
| Cut fruit | Rigid container with a short paper towel inside | Keep syrups at travel size or pack them after security |
| Hard cheese | Block or slices in a zip bag | No quart bag needed |
| Soft cheese | 3.4 oz (100 ml) rounds or cups | Goes in the liquids bag |
| Peanut butter | Travel-size portion cups | Liquids bag; one lid per cup to avoid mess |
| Yogurt | Single-serve cups | Liquids bag; expect swab of the outside |
| Cookies and bars | Factory wrap inside a clear bag | Usually stays inside your bag |
| Frozen pack | Hard-sided ice pack | Must be frozen solid unless used for breast milk |
Edge cases that trip people up
Salads with dressing
Dry salad travels well. Tiny dressing bottles can ride in the quart bag. Full-size bottles belong in checked luggage or in a store past security.
Soup cups and instant noodles
Carry the dry cup through the checkpoint and add hot water after security. Ready-made soup cups with liquid count against your 3-1-1 space.
Chocolate spreads and nut butters
These act like gels. Pack single-serve cups for the cabin or buy a jar in the terminal.
Pies, cakes, and frosting
Most baked goods ride as solids. Thick frosting can be flagged if it looks gooey. Keep slices firm and avoid loose fillings that smear.
Seafood and meat
Cooked items are fine for the cabin. Use frozen packs to keep them cold and block drips. Check the entry rules if you land in another country.
Meal ideas by flight length
Short hop (under two hours): stick to a small sandwich or wrap, a bar, and water. Medium flight (two to five hours): add a second snack and a piece of fruit. Long haul: choose a sturdy main like a baguette or rice bowl without sauce, plus fiber-rich snacks and a treat to keep energy steady. Bring electrolytes or tea bags and ask the crew for hot water or a cup of ice after takeoff.
Simple carry-on food plan
Want a quick, mess-free plan that clears security fast and keeps you fed? Use this template:
- One main item: a wrap, burrito, or baguette with dry fillings.
- Two snacks: nuts and a bar, or chips and jerky.
- One fruit that peels cleanly.
- One small treat, like a cookie or chocolate square.
- Optional travel-size tubs: nut butter, hummus, or a small dressing cup.
Pair this with an empty water bottle you can fill after screening, and you’re set.
When to choose checked baggage for food
Pick checked bags for big jars, family-size tubs, soup, stews, sauces, and anything that breaks the liquids limit. Wrap glass in clothing, add padding at the sides, and use a leak bag inside. If weight matters, balance the load across your suitcases.
Final pointers
Think “dry and compact” for the cabin. Keep liquids tiny unless they fall under baby or medical needs. Check destination entry rules for produce and animal products. Place food where you can reach it, keep containers tidy, and you’ll glide through.