Strategies for Transporting Food

Inspired by conversations on the Food52 Hotline, we're sharing tips and tricks that make navigating all of our kitchens easier and more fun.

Today: Don't let your beautiful dishes go to waste.

You've done all the work (cooking is hard work!), now it's time to sit back, relax, and EAT!

In order for the last step to take place, you need to arrive at your destination with food safely in hand. Whether you are driving or taking the subway, dishes should be packaged up and transported as safely as children. They should make car seats for food, no?

For those traveling long distances, freezing ahead dishes of time can be the best solution; you won't have to deal with coolers and ice. That frozen pumpkin pie will arrive perfectly thawed. 

Here are our tips for keeping your food safe -- so that your Thanksgiving is everything it should be.

Seal those containers!

First, secure all lids -- tightly. Taping down with electrical tape is a great strategy if you're afraid they'll come undone.

 

Be Strategic About Car Placement

When putting dishes in the car, the floor of the backseat is the best place. If you have helpers back there, make use of their laps!

More: Make side dishes that travel well.

Box it Up

Create your own customized boxes from existing cardboard boxes, like SKK does. Simply break the boxes down and reassemble them, taping them together to fit the size of the dish you are transporting. 

Chek to see if your cardboard box has a flap on the bottom -- as vvvanessa points out, one without a flap is more secure. There's nothing worse than picking up a box and having the contents fall all over your party dress.

  

Bundle with Love

Once you have the right sized box, be sure to pad the dish with kitchen towels or newspapers so that it doesn't rock around in the box. If you don't have a cardboard box lying around, a roast pan will do just fine; use the same towel padding method and you will be good to go! 

And next year, invest in a cupcake carrier that doubles as a cakebox  or a pie box.

How do you make sure your food arrives safe and sound? Explain your method in the comments!

Photos by James Ransom