How to Transport Your Favorite Thanksgiving Dishes Safely

Hitting the road this Thanksgiving? Whether you’re in charge of the pies or bringing your favorite sides to this week’s holiday dinner, you should know how to safely transport different types of Thanksgiving foods. Long car rides mean that you can’t just load up the trunk and call it a day; you need to take extra steps to avoid foodborne illnesses from dishes that have sat out too long.

We spoke to Toby Amidor, owner of Toby Amidor Nutrition and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Healthy Living High Protein Cookbook, to understand all the best ways to safely bring Thanksgiving dishes to the table this year—even if you have a ways to drive.

Some Foods Don't Need Refrigeration

If you have a long car ride ahead of you, make things easy on yourself from the get-go. "Opt to bring room temperature foods like cookies, cakes, bread or foods that do not need to be refrigerated or heated,” Amidor says. “Cornbread and other breads, cookies, store-bought pies, some cakes, wine.” Keep any baked goods in an airtight container to ensure they stay fresh while you drive.

How to Help Food Stay Cool

For those who still want to bring food that needs to be refrigerated, Amidor says that a cooler is your best bet. “If you drive and have a cooler, then fill it with ice, and you can transport food longer distances that way," Amidor says. "You just want to make sure to keep your food at 41 degrees or below if you're traveling over two hours,” she explains. “Use a thermometer to check the temperature and refill ice/cold packs at gas stations as needed.”

Upon arrival, you should always double-check with the host to make sure they have room in the kitchen for you to heat the hot dishes that you’re bringing along, Amidor adds.

Can You Travel with a Thanksgiving Turkey?

If you’re the one bringing the Thanksgiving turkey this year, you should know how to transport it properly after it’s been cooked. “If the turkey is too large to fit into a proper cooler (not a cold-lined bag), then cutting it into pieces to make it fit is your best bet,” she advises. 

However, if you’re able to cook your turkey once you arrive rather than ahead of time, that’s even better; “I would also recommend transporting a partially frozen turkey,meaning it still needs time to defrost, which will ensure the temperature is well below 41 degrees,” says Amidor.

Basically, your best bet is a pre-cooked turkey in a cooler or a partially-frozen turkey that can defrost in a cooler while you drive. “The main idea is to avoid having the raw, fresh turkey sit out in temperatures between 41-140 degrees, which is the temperature that bacteria like to grow and thrive, which can potentially get people sick,” Amidor says. 

Better Safe Than Sorry

Whether you’re making a short drive or a Thanksgiving road trip, keeping these food safety tips in mind is the best way to ensure you and your family stay safe this holiday. Above all, always bring a thermometer with you and check your food once you arrive (before putting it in the fridge again or reheating) to ensure they stayed at the proper temperature. When in doubt, throw it out. “You don't want an unthankful holiday if you end up getting everyone sick!” Amidor says.