Did you fall in love with a dish while on vacation and want to bring back some for others too? Here are a few tips that you can follow to bring all those delicious food items and drinks back home safely as souvenirs. From cup noodles to frozen Portuguese sausages, everything can be brought back if packed properly.
Pack the Items Tightly
One of the most important things to keep in mind while packing luggage is to ensure that there is close to no space for the items to move. Tara Mason, the chef of Animae, has been using this trick to bring chocolates, chips, and all her other favorite items back to the Philippines. She packs the food items and glass jars in t-shirts, which not only keeps them safe but gives her enough space to carry other items in her suitcase. For frozen food, opt for a zip-lock bag with some dry ice.
Carry Certain Bags
Seth Cohen, an employee of a global firm who has been traveling back and forth between the U.S. and the Middle East a lot, has a few tricks up his sleeves when it comes to safely packing food items. He suggests that you should carry bottle shipping bags and a collapsible soft-sided cooler with you because you never know when you might find the best bottle of drink. Resealable plastic bags come in handy if you want to bring back some spices.
Always be Precautious
Melissa Fernando, a well-known chef, advises travelers to be careful and prepare for the worst when traveling with food items. She talked about how she used to carry frozen hot dogs, bacon, and fruits like rambutan and mangosteen from Sri Lanka, and on so many occasions, items like pickles or curry powder would spill. In such cases, you should always carry food items in a separate suitcase so that there is no damage done to your clothes or other important belongings.
Go for Non-Stop Flights
Loading and unloading of luggage on flights repeatedly may damage fragile items. It’s easy to carry bottles and other glass items on a non-stop flight as it’s so much less hassle. Another trick that could be of help is to always carry an extra bag with you because you never know when you will end up needing it, and Zach Honig, a former travel writer, can vouch for that. He once traveled from Cape Town to New York and had to buy duffel bags from the airport to carry his case of bottles.