Can you take pie and other Thanksgiving goodies on a plane? Here's what you need to know before heading to the airport.
Ready your turkeys and start prepping your pies, because Thanksgiving is just around the corner! It’s one of the busiest travel days of the year—if not the busiest—which means Thanksgiving traffic will be in full swing and the airport is bound to be bustling.
If you’re one of the many people flying to visit family and friends for this year’s festivities, do yourself (and everyone else) a favor and find out which Turkey Day treats you can take on the plane before you arrive at the airport. After all, following the TSA’s carry-on rules makes getting through airport security faster for everyone.
Unfortunately, the rules don’t specify what to do with popular Thanksgiving desserts. So can you bring pie on a plane—specifically, pumpkin pie? And if so, are you allowed to stash it in your carry-on, or do you have to risk a serious mess in your checked luggage? We asked former TSA officials Keith Jeffries and Caleb Harmon-Marshall to break down the current carry-on rules and how they affect the holiday dishes you hope to travel with this Thanksgiving.
Keep reading to find out whether or not you can bring pumpkin pie—and the rest of your feast—on your flight this year.
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Can you bring pie on a plane?
Yes, you can bring pie—including pumpkin pie—on a plane, according to both Jeffries and Harmon-Marshall.
Most travelers are aware of the TSA’s liquid limit, but pies are considered solids, not liquids. So you can bring your pie with you in the cabin and rest assured that a TSA official will not tell you to toss it before you get there. However, “TSA will test it,” says Harmon-Marshall. “Make sure to remove it from your bag and place it in a bin by itself for accessibility.”
What other Thanksgiving foods can you bring on the plane?
Pies aren’t the only Thanksgiving staple to get a pass from the TSA. “Travelers can bring all types of cooked food, including turkeys or hams, through TSA,” says Harmon-Marshall. “The only thing travelers should be concerned about is the liquid that comes from cooked food.” Translation: The items need to be completely dry.
Other baked goods, like pumpkin rolls, cakes and stuffing, are always allowed. And if you’re looking to bring frozen foods in your carry-on, that’s A-OK too! Just be aware that you can get into trouble if it starts to melt. “If the food thaws before going through TSA, pour out any liquid that has formed during thawing before going through [security],” Harmon-Marshall says. This includes any ice packs used to keep your food cold.
Other foods like mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and cooked vegetables should also get through the TSA checkpoint without a problem.
What Thanksgiving foods aren’t allowed on the plane?
Remember that not all Thanksgiving foods can go in your carry-on. Liquids, unless they are 3.4 ounces or less, need to go in your checked luggage, as does anything in a can. And if you’re thinking about bringing soup or soft cheeses like brie or Camembert along for your flight, think again. They’ll also get you flagged by the TSA.
Here are just some of the items you’re likely need to check—or leave at home (unless they match the size requirements):
- Gravy
- Wine
- Dip
- Jam
- Cranberry sauce
- Canned fruit
- Soup
- Nutella
- Very soft cheese
While most passengers are aware of the rules, “gravy, cranberry sauce and the traditional Thanksgiving carving knife create confusion for some,” Jeffries notes.
And don’t even think about trying to sneak in banned foods or sharp cooking tools in your carry-on. “I witnessed a passenger who had wrapped the Thanksgiving ‘family carving knife’ in multiple layers of aluminum foil because they believed that the X-ray at the TSA checkpoint could not see through the aluminum foil,” Jeffries says. “The knife was clearly visible, and they had to place the item in their checked luggage.”
Remove canned goods from your carry-on as well. “Canned goods are among the top items confiscated during this season,” says Harmon-Marshall. “Even if the liquid level is noticeably low, if the bottle says 8 ounces, officers will consider that to be all liquid.”
It’s tricky, we know! But you don’t just have to say a little prayer before heading through security and hope it will be OK. “If a passenger has a question about what they can bring, go to www.tsa.gov and search the ‘What Can I Bring?‘ section,” says Jeffries. Best tip ever!
What’s the best way to take pie on a plane?
Traveling with pie can feel intimidating, but TSA actually makes it pretty simple. Since pies, including pumpkin pies, are allowed, a little smart packing is all you need to get it there in one piece. Here are some easy tips to make the process easy.
- Wrap and protect your pie. Use plastic wrap and then foil. Place it in a rigid pie carrier or shallow container so the top can’t get crushed, and carry it upright in your bag.
- Keep your pie cool, if needed. Cream, custard or Oreo pies need an insulated bag. But don’t forget: Ice packs must be fully frozen. “If the ice or ice packs are partially melted and have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they will not be permitted,” says Jeffries.
- Always put your pie in your carry-on, and take it out for screening. Don’t check a pie in your baggage. Sadly, it won’t survive the trip.
- Keep your pie away from heavy items. Don’t pack anything that might press down on the pie.
Have any TSA food rules changed this year?
TSA’s food rules didn’t completely flip in 2025, but the changes that did happen actually make life a little easier for anyone traveling with food and frozen goodies. Beginning in April 2025, big airports rolling out new CT scanners started letting 11 specific items—like breast milk, formula, medicine and fully frozen ice packs—breeze past the usual 3-1-1 limits.
And while the classic liquids rule still exists, the Department of Homeland Security hinted in July that bigger changes may be coming. So for now, your gravy, cranberry sauce and peanut butter still have to behave and follow the 3.4-ounce rule, but anything in that new exemption list gets a smoother ride.
If you end up having food items you can’t bring on a plane, try not to stress out. “If the local TSA screening officer is concerned about a particular item,” says Jeffries, “they will either deny the item from entering the checkpoint and/or consult with the TSA supervisor for consideration on the item in question.”
The bottom line: The rules haven’t vanished, but they’re finally starting to feel a little more traveler-friendly.
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Sources:
- Keith Jeffries, security professional and former senior executive with the TSA; email interview, Nov. 19, 2025
- Caleb Harmon-Marshall, former TSA officer and founder of Gate Access; email interview, Nov. 19, 2025
- TSA: “Food”
- ABC News: “DHS Secretary Noem says airline carry-on liquids limit could be changed soon”
