As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, many air travelers are preparing for some of the busiest holiday travel seasons ever. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), more than 18 million passengers will pass through its screening checkpoints from Tuesday, November 26, through Monday, December 2. Reportedly, this will be a 6 percent increase over last year’s numbers. For those travelers wanting to take something towards the family’s Thanksgiving dinner, the following can be taken through the TSA checkpoints.

Which Thanksgiving items can safely go through NSA checkpoints?

Many family members want to contribute to the Thanksgiving dinner by taking related items on their plane journey. However, it is important to understand TSA’s food transportation rules before packing these dinner contributions.

In some cases, foodstuffs can accompany passengers through the checkpoints while stashed in carry-on bags, others are considered liquids, or have liquid components and are thus subject to the 3.4-ounce rule.

Carrying your contribution to your Thanksgiving dinner

According to TSA regulations, while liquid items could be a problem, solid food can generally be taken through in carry-on bags, even something like a casserole, a turkey, or a pie.

However, food items may need some extra checks when passing through security. The TSA advises travelers to carry them in an easily accessible compartment and take them out for separate screening to prevent delays.

Carrying liquids through the TSA security checkpoint

When it comes to liquids, these must be placed in a container that holds no more than 3.4 ounces of the substance. Meanwhile, TSA’s definition of liquids has more than you would think. For instance, if you are carrying peanut butter, the TSA defines that as a liquid.

Basically, they state that “if you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it”, your food falls into this category. Because of this, anything more than 3.4 ounces will need to travel in your checked baggage.

Meanwhile, the TSA has provided a list of popular Thanksgiving food items, while specifying which can travel in carry-on bags and which in checked baggage.

Thanksgiving foods that can be carried through the checkpoint:

• Baked goods: Homemade or store-bought pies, cakes, cookies, brownies and other sweet treats.
• Meats: Turkey, chicken, ham, steak. Frozen, cooked or uncooked.
• Stuffing: Cooked, uncooked, in a box or in a bag.
• Casseroles: Traditional green beans and onion straws or something more exotic.
• Mac ‘n Cheese: Cooked in a pan or traveling with the ingredients to cook it at your destination.
• Fresh vegetables: Potatoes, yams, broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, beets, radishes, carrots, squash, greens.
• Fresh fruit: Apples, pears, pineapple, lemons, limes, cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, kiwi.
• Candy.
• Spices.

Thanksgiving foods that should be placed in checked baggage:

• Cranberry sauce: Homemade or canned are spreadable, so check them.
• Gravy: Homemade or in a jar/can.
• Beverages: Wine, champagne, sparking apple cider.
• Canned fruit or vegetables: It’s got liquid in the can, so check them.
• Preserves, jams and jellies: They are spreadable, so best to check them.
• Maple syrup.

Moreover, should you be unsure whether a particular item is allowed through the TSA security point, visit TSA’s website and search with the “What Can I Bring” feature, or on the free MyTSA app. If your item isn’t listed, you can ask questions via @AskTSA on social media platforms or by texting to “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872. Meanwhile, live assistance is available from 8 am to 6 pm (ET), all year round.

Happy Thanksgiving!