Bringing a dish for Thanksgiving? How to transport your groceries safely
I love hosting parties and large gatherings, especially during the holidays. But I also enjoy letting someone else host, especially when I don’t have to be responsible for roasting the turkey! Still, I usually like to bring at least a page or two to ease the burden on friends and family. Plus, more food on the dinner table is always welcome. However, transporting your delicious dishes can be precarious. Aluminum foil and plastic wrap are quite thin and most casseroles are quite fragile – they don’t easily withstand the usual bumps and curves of the road. Luckily, there are a number of solutions to ensure they survive.
Oxo
A baking dish with a secure, airtight lid is invaluable when you need to transport your baked goods (or baked goods) from one location to another. I really like this Oxo option because it has easy-to-grip handles – a real plus when transporting your food from fridge to car to oven to table.
One shopper said it helped her save her dessert: “I have always used an earthenware baking pan and would have done so forever if I hadn’t planned on bringing a complicated cake to my mother’s house for dinner. The downside to my current dish is that it doesn’t have a lid, and that’s what I wanted. The luxury of being able to stack some items to transport them. …I love this and now I reach for this pan exclusively. It’s much easier for me to handle, which means I can wash and dress it more easily. “You don’t have to ask for help getting things in and out of the oven or washing them in the sink.”
Oxo
That’s right – it’s a carrier for all carriers out there and the smart way to store delicacies on the way to Grandma and prevent them from breaking on the journey home.
I’m in love with this clever bakeware rack from Oxo. It features foam insulation and an aluminum mesh lining to keep dishes hot or cold for hours. The liner is easy to clean in case of spills or drips. My favorite feature is the zippered pockets on the outside that can hold utensils, napkins, and anything else you need to bring with you.
“I love this brand. “Oxo is a guarantee of high quality products and this carrier is no exception,” he said a five star reviewer. “Well made, very robust, leak-proof. … It keeps food hot for about 2.5 to 3 hours. Perfect for lasagna, enchiladas, etc. Very happy with this product!”
Zilpoo
Who needs a cupcake disaster or a pie asco on Turkey Day? Not you, that’s for sure!
Anyone who has ever had to transport baked goods will tell you how dangerous it is – a single slip can cause the carefully prepared baked goods to spill or break. That’s why I like round food storage containers like these from Zilpoo: They’re designed to fit into (and securely hold) cake pans or a batch of cupcakes.
A baker said these are perfect for 9 inch cakes – plus they stack. “After years of searching, I found these containers. I like the simple design – not too bulky, stackable, light, transparent, airtight. The perfect protection for my pies from all dangers and foreign bodies. Protection against smeared filling, cracked crusts etc finger picking. I found them a bit expensive, but they are worth it.
Hamilton Beach
This slow cooker is portable and features a locking lid, making it perfect for holiday cookouts and tailgate parties.
Slow cookers are great not only for soups and stews, but also for stuffings, gravies, and sauces. If you often bring your slow-cooked culinary creations to a potluck, consider investing in this Hamilton Beach number. It features a temperature probe to ensure perfectly cooked meals, and its locking lid makes it easy to transport. Besides, it is easy to use, said one happy buyer. “I hate electronics (ask my husband), but I can use them just fine. You simply press the power button and then select the time and heat settings. …Now I can be one of “those” people who deal with the office kitchen because we’re doing a potluck.
Hamilton Beach
How about a sturdy travel case to match the slow cooker? This is insulated to keep your food warm and the long handles make it easy to carry. It fits most slow cookers with a capacity of 4 to 8 liters and the front zippers open for easier loading and unloading.
one shopper raved on the usefulness of this cover: “I needed a cover to provide insulation and protection when transporting my Crock-Pots to events with covered dishes. …I saw this rack and the dimensions seemed to fit my largest Crock-Pot plus.” It features an interior mesh with Velcro to keep the lid in place. Perfect! The price was right, so I gave it a try. The quality is very good and it works well with my 6 liter device, with some space. … The straps wrap completely around the case for added security when carrying a heavy harness. We recommend.”
The reviews quoted above reflect the most current versions at the time of publication.