Best way to freeze baby food on plane?

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kellyst

Registered User
going on Air France next week to Paris/Florence for a 5 day trip and would like to bring frozen baby food with me for the whole period. i've read here and also called Air France to see if they will freeze baby food for me. they say 'yes', but i'd like to ask people who has done it before, what's the best storage boxes to use? i don't really know in what 'shape' are the plane freezer compartments. i could
1, pack them in zip lock packets... FLAT
2, or ice cubes and then in zip lock packets.
3, Or could be in the circular disposable small boxes from Glad as well.

any ideas which shape to pack the frozen food so it's the most plane freezer friendly? since i need them to freeze ice packs for me as well, i'm a bit concerned about how much they can actually freeze for me. in going for 5 days.. i'm bringing at least 10 meals, is that possible?
 
Sorry I don't know the answer to your question, but I'm also thinking about taking frozen food for our little one when we go on our trip. I've bought a little portable cooler (see http://www.fridge-to-go.com/product...62edf&cat_id=a806f07ee3bd901169f8e30462be727b) for getting to and from the airport and just in case it doesn't all fit in the plane's freezer. It doesn't need separate ice packs as the ice packs are built into the cooler and you just put the entire cooler in the freezer first. It's supposed to keep food cold for up to 12 hours.
 
I think it is better to buy a small cooler as airlines generally are not allowed to put outside stuff in their cooler. We have had this expereince before ( Cathay) . We had some stuff that we were carrying in small cooler( 25 x 15 cm) and asked them to store it but they refused.

You have asked Air France office here but things can change very easily in the aircraft as the FA can tellu that they are not allowed. If Air France is telling u that u are allowed I would ask them to give u in writing and also inform u the size to make sure that u dont have a problem in the aircraft
 
Thanks for the tip. Have heard about Fridge-to-Go, would be interested in how it works out for you. but as our flight is quite long, it's 13hr to Paris + 3 hr lay over + 1 hr to Florence (i'm cringing even when i typed this).

Yeah i think that would be easier if i'm on shorter flights.. i think really from getting from home to destination, it's probably 20 hrs minimum.. ewck..

do let us know how the Fridge-To-Go works out!
 
Neha, hmm.. that's a good idea. i'm very concerned that they would still refuse on board, then i'd be sooo very very stuck with meals of food going bad.. hmm hmm what to do.

the small cooler wouldn't work :( as i have such a long flight.

also not to mention getting the frozen cooler past security.. geez.. all the headaches.. i'm getting so nervous about it now, so much could go wrong...
 
If u have small cooler u can get ice from the FA and use that to extend the time. I know it is tough because it will be like 20 hours till u reach your final destination

Security in HK I think will be a lot easier to explain but in Paris can be a different story all together
 
The hold of the plane is actually the coldest place, much colder than the cabin itself obviously - so what I did when we flew London to HK was to check the entire cooler bag in (icepacks and all). I packed each individual meal in ziplock bags as that took up less space. When we got to HK (15 hours after checking in the bag) the food was still frozen solid and went straight into the freezer here so no problems. Hope this helps.
 
actually snagito idea is a good one. It will work and u dont have to worry about explaining to security people etc
 
snagito, when you check the entire cooler bag, was it INSIDE another luggage? or just separately as a separate luggage, does it make a difference you think? hmm, now i have to be creative on layover time...

now i'm thinking, maybe i can ship over the frozen food in advance.. haha :p
 
I have taken frozen baby food with me on trips many times. Just put them in ice cube sizes (depending on age of baby and appetite!) or in a variety of small little plastic boxes and wrap them in the frozen ice packs and put into a cool bag. As soon as you get to your destination transfer to hotel freezer. It usually works to get you through at least 4 days ish... word of warning though, aeroplanes do not have microwaves so defrosting them takes AGES..!!! I have had many a screaming baby whilst I have still been waiting for the food to get to at least warm!!!!
 
by the way, I also dont tend to take too much meat - usually only take meat for that day but for subsequent days I would only take frozen veggy food.... and take a can of tuna or something to mix in.
 
I have a Fridge-to-go and, as far as I can tell, it may be a bit colder than a regular coolbag, but it won't keep your food properly frozen. So, for that reason, I think Lisa1's advice about not taking meat is spot on.

If the veggies defost a little and you refreeze them at your destination, it's not a big problem but you can't do that with meat.

As an aside, I'm travelling with pouches of pureed organic food I bought in 360. They are pure, with no artificial ingredients and will save a lot of hassle, in my opinion.
 
I think I'll actually do what Snagito suggested and pack the entire Fridge to Go (which is not very big) into a suitcase and then check it into the hold. When I've previously carried frozen food back to HK in my suitcase, it has stayed frozen even without a cooler bag, although it was a shorter flight. So I'm hopeful that it will be okay with the addition of the cooler bag and putting it in the hold. But just in case, I also won't bring much meat. If there is any sign of thawing of the meat when I get there, I'll throw it out just to be on the safe side. Will let you know how it works out.
 
It was inside a bigger suitcase. Another thing that helps is to pack the cooler bag really tight as possible and then cover the top with a kitchen duster or something so there is no space left inside, works very well I found, the smaller containers/ice packs/bags etc keep each other cool too if you see what I mean. I found that meat dishes kept well (bolognaise sauce etc) but fish I was worried about as that tends to spoil quickly - took a few cans of tuna/sardines etc as back up and then mixed into the rice and pasta dishes. All the best!
 
great.. getting so much info from this thread. but more questions. did you guys cook full meals and freeze (i mean WITH the rice/pasta)? or did you just freeze the vege and the meat and get fresh rice/pasta at the destination?
 
Yes I made some full meals. Mac n cheese was one and then savoury rice was another and then bolognaise sauce (with meat) but no pasta with it -just the sauce - then added fresh pasta with it when serving - mild chicken curry was the other -then added steamed rice with it when serving.. SO helpful to have the meals with you already I found.. Hope it works out fine for you and that you have a wonderful time.
 
I pack the cool bag with food into the hold as it is colder and take a 2nd cool bag onboard with me with just the food for that day (including for when I arrive so that you can 'hit the ground running'). I usually also freeze full meals, but I also take little bags or boxes of pasta, rice and lentils or couscous or similar so that you can cook it up when you get there to add to food as well. I also take a portable travel warmer with me which I find a god send for bottles and for defrosting food. Once the food runs out I usually 'borrow' veg and fish or chicken from my 5 year olds plate for the baby and mix it up with some rice or pasta. If it is dry you can always add a small amount of apple juice. This is OK if your baby is old enough for 'chunks' but if you still need it fully pureed you will need to take your blender with you (which I have also done in the past!). The lengths we go to for our children!!! (by the way, I also always take a sponge and washing up liquid with me so that I can wash all the bowls, spoons, bottles/blender etc straightaway - you find in a lot of hotels they dont like to 'touch' baby things and also if you arrive at your destination late you need to be prepared for the morning)...
 
hi kellyst

im flying air france to Paris next month with an 8 week old baby and would be grateful for any feedback on your trip. im expressing all my baby's feeds so will need to refridgerate my milk if possible.

Thanks!
 
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