Yes, You Can Bring Food on a Plane—Here’s What the TSA Allows and What Travel Experts Say You Should Leave at Home

Key Points

• TSA allows solid foods in carry-on bags, while most liquid and gel foods must follow the 3.4-ounce limit.

• Strong-smelling, messy, or bulky foods can create problems for fellow passengers even when they are permitted through security.

• Travel experts recommend simple, non-perishable snacks, secure containers, and considerate timing when eating on board.

Flight meals, especially in economy class, are notorious for being bland and unappetizing—and that's only if you're getting a complimentary meal or snack at all.

Bringing homemade snacks or a packed meal onto a flight can save money without compromising your culinary standards, but what are the rules when it comes to bringing food on an airplane? Travel + Leisure chatted with the Transportation Security Administration and travel experts to find out both the explicit and unspoken rules when it comes to snacking on a flight. 

Here's what you need to know about bringing food on a plane.

What Kinds of Food Are TSA-approved?

Solid food items are permitted in both carry-on and checked bags, according to a TSA spokesperson. Any liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 ounces are not allowed in carry-on bags and should go in checked luggage instead. And one thing to keep in mind: peanut butter is considered a liquid by the TSA. While you can't have a jar of peanut butter in your carry-on, a peanut butter sandwich is A-OK.

However, TSA officers may ask travelers to separate items such as snacks and powder mixes from carry-on bags because these items can clutter the X-ray image, the spokesperson says. Keeping your snacks easily accessible and removable in your bag can help the screening process move faster for everyone in line.

If you're curious about a specific food item, visit the TSA's Food page for more information. As a general rule of thumb, any spreads, dips, soft foods (such as yogurt and ice cream), and anything packed or preserved in liquid will be confiscated at a TSA checkpoint. If you're traveling with a small child, though, breast milk is considered a medically necessary item, and can be packed in quantities larger than 3.4 ounces.

What You Shouldn't Bring on Board

Beyond what is allowed legally, there is the matter of being considerate to your fellow passengers, says Daniel Bubb , a former commercial airline pilot who currently serves as an aviation historian and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 

"People can bring food on planes," he says. "However, they should be aware of what they are eating and how other people will react to it. Who doesn't enjoy a tasty tuna fish sandwich? [But] other people might not appreciate the smell of tuna in close, cramped quarters."

Food allergies add another layer to consider. Some passengers may have severe allergies or can even feel ill from the smell of a certain food alone, Bubb says. Some foods, though they are not explicitly banned by the TSA, are prohibited from being brought onto certain airlines, such as durian, strong-smelling cheeses, and surströmming (Swedish fermented herring).

Vummy Kihaule, a senior travel consultant and safari journey designer at Tanzania Safaris , says it's important to consider your fellow passengers, especially since travelers have limited space to move and will effectively be stuck in their seats for the duration of the flight.

"Your meal should not be an experience for the others on the plane," she says. 

What to Pack Instead

Lucia Ruggieri-Maynard, a travel advisor and founder of Wander with Lucia , says the first question she asks clients is what cabin they are flying in. Travelers should check meal options and pre-order ahead of the flight, which helps travelers with allergies or dietary restrictions plan ahead, she says.

Ruggieri-Maynard also cautions against overpacking. "You're not packing for days without access to meals, and bulky snacks take up valuable space in your carry-on," she says. She recommends having simple, non-perishable options such as granola bars, fruit bars, and crackers. She recommends against anything messy, sticky, or strong-smelling. 

If you're packing a sandwich or a meal, a hard-sided container, like a bento box, keeps food from getting crushed and helps prevent spills, she says. Packing snacks in individual portions also gets around having to dig through your bag. 

If you've packed your own lunch or dinner, Ruggieri-Maynard recommends waiting until the main meal service to eat, which keeps timing in sync with the rest of the cabin. Similarly, there's a certain amount of etiquette that comes with eating on a plane —this may mean waiting for your seatmate to come back from getting out of their seat, eating quietly and keeping wrappers and crumbs in check, Kihaule says. 

There's also one more important detail to consider when eating on a plane: reclining during meals . Doing so can knock over a fellow passenger's food or cause a drink spill.

"Air travel is about patience," Kihaule says. "Reducing odors and limiting the impact of your food choices can make the cabin a comfortable place for all."

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