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My next trip is composed of two domestic flights with a short connection. I will be travelling with carry-on luggage only, containing cheese that is best kept a fridge temperature.

What is the best solution to keep it refrigerated during the whole journey ? Time from fridge to fridge is about 5h.

  • My current fare does not include checked in luggage
  • Ice packs may be allowed (company website does not list them in forbidden items), but I'd rather avoid freezing the cheese
  • There is some leeway in the temperature, no need to keep it at a constant 3°C. Anything below 8-10°C should be ok.
  • Cheese size is ~10x5x5 cm

EPILOGUE

First trip - Joe Blow was right, the cheese was denied boarding by security. Had it been sliced first it would have made it through.

Second trip - I wrapped two of those cheeses in a thermal bag, and checked the suitcase that contained them. While I had ample time at the connecting airport to board my second flight, the baggage did not. The last flight was late at night so the cheese spent the night at the airport, only to be delivered in the morning. It was still slightly cold (so was the night in early November) and perfectly edible.

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  • What country? Domestic or International?
    – Doc
    Oct 16, 2016 at 22:35
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    Depending on the cheese, refrigeration may not be necessary at all. See for example askkaren.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/325/~/… These are US guidelines. The rest of the world tends to be even more relaxed, e.g. most people in the Netherlands wouldn't bother with putting a Gouda in the fridge ever and it's not uncommon in France to see a desert cart with soft cheeses out in the open for many hours.
    – Hilmar
    Oct 16, 2016 at 22:54
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    > I'd rather avoid freezing the cheese -- I do not have any solid data on this but I seriously doubt an ice pack or two the size of a travel cooler could freeze something.
    – user4188
    Oct 16, 2016 at 23:01
  • Products which are designed to keep medication (such as insulin) cool while travelling might work for you. Frio, for example, doesn't use an ice pack, and is available globally via Amazon. It's a flat, envelope-type design and has sizes which would easily accommodate your cheese.
    – Giorgio
    Oct 16, 2016 at 23:10
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    You do not refrigerate cheese. But wait - would a cheese that size make it through security??
    – Fattie
    Oct 17, 2016 at 12:29

1 Answer 1

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The easiest solution is not to worry about it. Cheese was created because it keeps much better than fresh dairy products, and most (all?) hard cheeses and uncut soft cheeses will keep fine for weeks at room temperature.

But if you must, a solid ice pack wrapped in a towel and placed in a plastic bag with the cheese ought to do the trick. Emphasis on the solid there: TSA permits ice packs as long as they're completely frozen.

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