Holidays are often a mixture of stress and enjoyment. One thing that most people would agree on is that holiday food alleviates any aggravations and adds to the pleasure of the occasion.
Every Thanksgiving my family gathers together at my sister’s house in Long Island. Since we are separated by distance, it isn’t often we all get to see each other so it’s one of my favorite times of the year. Although she is a gracious host and provides us with an array of scrumptious food, I always make sure to bring other side dishes or desserts so that she doesn’t have to bear the brunt of all of the cooking. However, in 2022 most of my edible contributions never made it to the dinner table.
We packed up the car early that Thursday morning with our luggage and trays of candied yams, icebox cake (my sister’s favorite) and a foil-covered green bean casserole balanced precariously between bags and boxes. While we cruised south on the Taconic State Parkway a split-second incident completely changed our family road trip. The Toyota driving alongside us swerved slightly into our lane in order to avoid hitting a large branch that was partially blocking his path. Reflexively, my husband also veered our car to prevent a collision. The exteriors of both cars were fine– but disaster struck the interior of our vehicle. I watched a slow-motion tumble of aluminum pans and my cake carrier. Lids popped off, sending sticky syrup sloshing onto the upholstery and French fried onions crumbling into every crevice. A chorus of groans filled the car and I heard my son mutter, “Mom, the cake is upside down.”
Your car and your holiday meals don’t have to be ruined. Check out 5 ways to safely transport food while traveling. (Click here to see the video or keep reading below!)
5 HACKS TO TRANSPORT FOOD IN THE CAR
1. Use a Yoga Mat or Shelf Liners to Prevent Sliding
Dishes sliding around in the backseat? Lay down a yoga mat or non-slip shelf liners before placing your food containers. These materials grip the bottom of your dishes, keeping them in place, even on sharp turns or sudden stops. Bonus: they’re easy to clean and reusable!
2. Secure a Slow Cooker with a Bungee Cord
Slow cookers are fantastic for making meals ahead of time, but they can be a nightmare to transport. To prevent spills, wrap a bungee cord around the lid and handles to keep it tightly sealed. This helps avoid unexpected leaks and ensures your delicious dish arrives safely at its destination.
3. Storage Bin & Cooling Rack for Easier Transport
A sturdy storage bin is a game-changer for transporting multiple food items. You can set a serving dish or tray at the bottom of the bin and then place a cooling rack on top of them. The rack provides an extra tier that allows you to stack more prepared food on a stable, level surface, preventing dishes from tipping over. The best part is, this setup allows you to carry in numerous dishes at one time, rather than having to go back and forth to the car.
4. Painter’s Tape to Secure Lids
Tired of lids popping off in transit? Use painter’s tape to hold them in place without leaving a sticky residue. It’s strong enough to keep things sealed but easy to remove when it’s time to serve. This works well for foil-covered trays, plastic lids, and even drink containers.
5. Paper Towels on a Cookie Tray To Prevent Sliding
When transporting cookies in the car, the last thing you want is for them to slide around and break before reaching their destination. A simple trick to keep them in place is to line your cookie tray with paper towels or a dish towel. The soft fabric or absorbent paper creates just enough friction to prevent the cookies from shifting while in transit. This helps protect delicate decorations, prevents stacking cookies from smudging or sticking together, and keeps everything looking bakery-fresh upon arrival. Plus, if there are any unexpected bumps or sudden stops, your cookies will stay put instead of ending up in a messy pile!
Traveling with food can be tricky, but using simple hacks can prevent messy spills and keep your dishes intact. These small precautions ensure that your holiday feast arrives safely—without the stress of cleaning up a backseat disaster.
