Keeping food cold without ice or gel packs

[Dawgluver]

Depending on the airport, you can also get some pretty decent food to take on the plane after you pass thru security. Fort Lauderdale had some really nice selections the last time I flew and you could tell they were super fresh just by looking at them. It was definitely a bit pricey though and I'd hate to feed more than 1 or 2 at those prices.

Yes, usually nice expensive food to be bought before boarding. Just make sure it doesn't have a strong odor! I'm reminded of a family who boarded our plane late, just before the doors were closing, and they were carrying on the stinkiest garlic/fried fish/toe jam smelling stuff in styrofoam containers. The odor lingered for the entire flight. Many glares from fellow passengers.

 

[Oldvine]

My husband carried a lunch for 40 years. It was only the last 10 years that the work place had a refrigerator for lunches which allowed him to take something other than sandwiches. I agree with Got Garlic. With a little thought, you can build a lunch that does not require refrigeration until lunch time. Kids have carried lunches to school for decades without refrigeration.

 

[Mad Cook]

Sure. For about $8-$10 you can get a dried out sandwich with no flavor, and a small packet of nuts. Unless you're seated in first class, most airline food is nearly inedible, IMO. You can still get free (for now) coffee and soft drinks, and some offer pretzels, peanuts, or a cookie.

Gosh. We never used to have to pay for it. It came as part of the deal. The best I ever had was on Royal Jordanian on the way to and back from Amman. The food was delicious with a middle eastern twist. And I was in "peasant" class not anything fancy.

 

[GotGarlic]

Gosh. We never used to have to pay for it. It came as part of the deal. The best I ever had was on Royal Jordanian on the way to and back from Amman. The food was delicious with a middle eastern twist. And I was in "peasant" class not anything fancy.

Food used to come with the trip, but they've been cutting back, as I said before.

Dawg, I've found that if you order a vegetarian meal, it's fresh and pretty good. Once, I got a beautiful plate of cheese and crackers, fruit, yogurt and nuts.

 

[StormyNight]

Thank you for all your replies!! For one, I had no idea cheddar cheese could be safe up refrigerated for an entire day. Also I'm loving the laughing cow wedges idea, and the mozzarella...though I have a harder time with the mozzarella idea....

I have done the ice thing, and since we need to take three planes to get where we are going, it is a huge PITA. That is IF we can even get any ice. Most times with very tight connections (We've done 45 minutes International!!) most of the times by the time we get through Immigration we are literally running through the airport to make out next flight. There is usually No time (though I make it!) to even run to the restroom, let alone to get ice or wait in lines to buy food. Believe me, if we have a reasonable layover we are definitely buying restaurant food since we have no idea when we will eat next!

As for food on flights, I would definitely buy those snack boxes IF they were offered for us to purchase! This May we flew to the Maritimes in Canada (we live in the West USA) and on each of the three flights we took to get there we got a soft drink and that is IT! Even one flight was Supposed to have food for purchase but ended up not having anything. I don't know about you, but if it's in the afternoon and all I'm having is a soft drink until 11 or 12 at night (airport is an hour away from family) I tend to get cranky and head-achey and I really really don't like stressing when my next meal us going to be.

I love the melon idea, especially if I can eat it after it's thawed! Much better than the banana for sure! Thanks again.

 

[GotGarlic]

Thank you for all your replies!! For one, I had no idea cheddar cheese could be safe up refrigerated for an entire day. Also I'm loving the laughing cow wedges idea, and the mozzarella...though I have a harder time with the mozzarella idea....

Just curious - what concerns you about mozzarella cheese? I'm not talking about fresh mozzarella but the mozz that is aged a bit so it's more firm. It won't go bad in a day or two.

 

[Somebunny]

GG, I'm thinking perhaps the OP doesn't care for mozzarella as much as other cheese.


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[GotGarlic]

GG, I'm thinking perhaps the OP doesn't care for mozzarella as much as other cheese.

Here's what she said:

Also I'm loving the laughing cow wedges idea, and the mozzarella...though I have a harder time with the mozzarella idea....

That doesn't sound to me as if she doesn't like it.

 

[Addie]

I buy my ticket on line like most of you do. But then I call their main number and speak to a real person to let them know what flight I am taking and that I am a diabetic with heart issues and have dietary needs during a long flight. Because of the distances between gates, I can not walk and have to have wheelchair service. (I do tip the person who is pushing me through the airport.) Because I made that call, when I reach my gate, the person who will be checking the loading passes, will call me up and put me on board first. They also will have orange juice on hand for me. I may or may not need it. I also let them know what meds will be in my carryon. I cannot take my nitro spray, but I can take my nitro pills. And since the airlines and TSA consider me as being handicap and making every effort to cooperate with their rules and regulations, I zip through security. It doesn't matter how long the line is, I always go to the front of the line. I don't ask for special treatment, I just want my trip to be uneventful. Most of the flights I have taken have those box lunches. A piece ofmeat between two dry pieces of bread and a couple of condiments in those squeeze things. They used to cost $5 a box. But I think the cost has gone up. Save your money. That phone call gives me so many unasked for privileges. I have gotten the impression that they were waiting for me at security.

Just a quick note. When they were interviewing for TSA jobs, I was sent by my agency to Logan Hilton where they were processing the applicants. I got paid more the $18.00 p.h. just for asking, "Your SS number please?" If they hesitated for more than three seconds I called over the guard and the person was escorted off the airport premises. If it was off by one number, I would ask them to repeat it. If they said it the same way, then I was to assume it was a typo when they applied on line. I would call over a supervisor and the applicant would go with that person to show them his card. The person just before me was making one dollar less just to look at the SS card and picture ID. I was step #3 in a four step process. I did that three times a day. And I got paid for my down time when there were no applicants at the moment.

Fun job? No! It was 90ºF. in June and when we weren't processing, we were in a huge tent with about 300 computers and not enough ACs. And the floor was the black top of a large parking lot. The temp would reach over 100ºF. in that tent. But I stuck it out. The money was too good and the job to easy to quit.

 

[StormyNight]

Here's what she said:



That doesn't sound to me as if she doesn't like it.

I do like it, thanks I think nowadays with so much emphasis on food refrigeration so many people (including myself) think just about everything (especially dairy!) has to be refrigerated at all times!

Ok, so Mozzarella is ok - what about the Laughing Cow small round cheeses covered in wax? I've looked on their labels and they say to keep refrigerated. But I wonder if they mean long term, and short term they would be fine? That would be wonderful! I could make a meal of those and fruit no problem!!

 

[GotGarlic]

I do like it, thanks I think nowadays with so much emphasis on food refrigeration so many people (including myself) think just about everything (especially dairy!) has to be refrigerated at all times!

Ok, so Mozzarella is ok - what about the Laughing Cow small round cheeses covered in wax? I've looked on their labels and they say to keep refrigerated. But I wonder if they mean long term, and short term they would be fine? That would be wonderful! I could make a meal of those and fruit no problem!!

They will be fine. They won't mold in a day without refrigeration. As I mentioned, cheese is preserved milk so it's intended to kept at room temperature for a while. I wouldn't use soft cheese like fresh mozzarella or Brie, though. Aged cheeses keep better.

 

[Kayelle]

Hard dry salami hangs above every deli without refrigeration. Cheese, salami, crackers and fruit and you have a meal.

Besides, you're in constant air condition in an airport and plane. It's not like it will be outside in the heat all day.

 

[Aunt Bea]

When you think about this the actual trip may take you 17 hours but your lunch choices may only need to stay fresh for 7-9 hours. If you start your journey with cold fresh food in an insulated container it will stay cool for a good portion of that time.

Another item that I would pack, although the USDA frowns upon it, are hard boiled eggs in the shell.

These types of things can also be good options when traveling.

 

[medtran49]

Besides ordering a vegetarian meal that someone mentioned, you can also order a kosher meal to get a fresher meal. My girlfriend that traveled a lot let me in on that tidbit over 30 years ago.

 

[Kathleen]

Could you freeze a fruit cup or a pudding cup? By the time it thawed, it might be lunch time. Frozen peas in a bag make a great ice pack for an injury. Perhaps frozen peas packed into a plastic container could make a good ice pack? I know you can freeze gummi bears and they are good once they thaw. Of course, I don't know how long it takes because I cannot leave them alone long enough to let them thaw on their own.

 

[Dawgluver]

As far as Laughing Cow cheese wedges go, they're sitting out on the shelf at the store, not refrigerated. The ones we take on trips are in a round cardboard box, and each wedge is wrapped in foil. The Baby Bells are the ones in wax, and they should be fine too.

I've heard the vegetarian and Kosher meals are good, IF they're offered!

Not sure if we'd be popular with seatmates if we brought on tuna or HB eggs. I have a sensitive sense of smell, and a strong gag reflex, and sure wouldn't want to sit next to someone who was eating them!

I recall getting some onion soup from an early morning airport diner, made from some of the world's oldest and stinkiest onions. It was all they had, and I was hungry. The poor old gal sitting next to me on the plane tried to strike up a conversation. She learned that it wasn't a good idea.

 

[taxlady]

I can't imagine a firm cheese having a problem in one day. I have left firm cheeses out at room temperature and after several days they get a bit "sweaty" and rubbery, but still edible.

 

[GotGarlic]

I can't imagine a firm cheese having a problem in one day. I have left firm cheeses out at room temperature and after several days they get a bit "sweaty" and rubbery, but still edible.

Yes. I don't know why we have to keep repeating that. If it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it, but there's nothing unsafe about it.

 

[CharlieD]

even soft cheese vacuumed packed is not going to get ruined during one day travel.