Carrying on Frozen Food

Rhonda · Post by **Rhonda** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:22 pm

We are leaving next Monday for St. John & are thinking about carrying on some meat. Has anyone used the frozen blue ice? Does the airlines consider that a liquid if it is frozen? We have always checked our cooler but with the airlines charging we are thinking about carrying it on. Any advise will be appreciated!

bevm · Post by **bevm** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:04 pm

When our friend came in April she just packed her cooler tight with frozen filets and pork chops and everything was still frozen when they got to the villa and stayed frozen in the fridge for a few days...
I'm sure others will chime in..

waterguy · Post by **waterguy** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:09 pm

If you are doing carry on the blue ice is a no no.

Ron in South Texas · Post by **Ron in South Texas** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:51 pm

I took food to the Bahamas this summer as a carry-on in my polar bear cooler. I had 2 frozen chemical packs and techni ice. Went thru security without an issue. I flew from San Antonio to Dallas and then to Nassau. Maybe TSA dudes are nicer in Texas. By the way, the polar bear cooler is great. Everything was frozen "rock solid" when I took it out of the cooler after 14 hours.

pjayer · Post by **pjayer** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:24 pm

Last week, we brought 10 filets, 10 chicken breasts, 6 lbs. of bacon (YUM!), and two loaves of gluten-free bread in a carry-on, 24-pack, Polar Bear cooler. I froze the meat and bread the week before our trip. The night before we left, I put everything in the cooler and placed it back in the freezer. I used no techni-ice or chemical packs. After 12 hours, everything was frozen solid when we arrived at our villa. On the day we planned to cook, I put the meat in the fridge to thaw before we left for the beach. It was our first experience as cooler people. But, it was well worth the time and effort, since we were a large group.

jimg20 · Post by **jimg20** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:09 pm

We took our 12-pack polar bear on with meat and a sheet of techni-ice without a problem in May. We got a short hand search from TSA in the NW Arkansas Regional Airport. The food was frozen solid after a 12 hour trip. We packed our cooler much like pjayer did. Make a note to yourself and hang it on the front door to remind you about the cooler that is still in the frig. I had a vision of myself pulling into the airport parking lot and remembering the cooler still in the frig.

Bacon does not stay frozen very well. Ours was beginning to thaw when we got in. Our butcher said that it was because of the salt content.

One person here wrote in a different thread that they stuck the techni-ice in the bottom of the cooler until they cleared security. Once inside the airport, he pulled it up to cover the food.

JIM

cptnkirk · Post by **cptnkirk** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 4:50 am

We just put all our frozen stuff in one of those hot cold bags no ice. Throw it in a backpack and it is still frozen 12 hours later with minimal thawing.

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:06 am

We have never used any techni-ice. Just freeze it all, including the cooler. We leave the house at 4 and get the villa about 5 and everything is still frozen with no problems

parafins · Post by **parafins** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:45 am

I'll bet you can wait to get back down there again.If you don't mind Rhonda,where are you going to stay? I think Samuel Cottages didn't work out for you the last time we talked. Have a good trip and be safe! Parafins

2beachbums · Post by **2beachbums** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:52 am

We bought a medium sized collapsable cooler at Kmart that says it holds ice for 30 hours. We packed all our frozen meats and refridgerated deli meat and cheese without ice. Everything was still cold and frozen when we got to our house after a 16 hour travel day! It worked out great because we just collapsed the cooler on our return home. Diddo the note to remember the cooler in the morning!

Have a great time!

crasherino · Post by **crasherino** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 12:59 pm

Techni ice is technically not allowed as a carryon, but as many have noted, its not always enforced.

As others have also noted, the Polar Bear Coolers are great. I found out about them from the board and they have become my go to gift when I need something in that price range.

Pack it full of meat on the way down (with or without techni ice) and simply use it as a carry one for sh!t you bought while in STJ, for the way back.

The only problem I've had with them is that they've screwed up my address twice in shipping.

usvi-on-line