So you`ve informed yourself that sweets are subject to airline policies and restrictions, especially for International flights and you know you can take chocolates but, Will Chocolate melt in checked luggage? Not if stored properly.
Chocolate in checked luggage may seem like an unsafe place for it, but thanks to the temperature in the aircraft’s belly being lower than 65′ F, your chocolate should not melt.
I just pack my chocolate separately in these bags, that way I’m sure even if for a reason some melt, not everything will be ruined
Your chocolate requires room temperature, the cargo hold – temperatures are kept at a cool 65’F or lower, so it’s just like having an extra-large refrigerator!
Types of chocolate
There are a few different types of chocolate in the market, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and liquor chocolate. There is something for everyone with a sweet tooth.
Solid chocolate
- Boxes of chocolates
- Chocolate candy bars
- Milk chocolate
- Chocolate Cookies
- Chocolate chips
Artisan Chocolate
Lose yourself in a world of these individualy handcrafted chocolates, each lovingly crafted to perfection.
Each piece is individually made with attention and care that’s reflected through its unique shapes and forms – these truly are chocolate masterpieces!
You won’t find them anywhere else than with hand-made confections and with the price to match, but a price tag is not always a deal breaker for a real chocolate lover.
Liquid Chocolates
Liquid chocolates are a delightful treat bursting with sweetness and flavor. An array of delicious recipes can be made using liquid chocolate, from cakes to cookies to fondues – the possibilities for indulgence are endless!
These will be
- Nutella
- chocolate sauce
- chocolate syrup
You might be tempted to check in your liquid chocolates in your hand luggage so as to have more control, be aware that you can only take 95 grams.
The Chocolate Melting Problem
The biggest problem you`ll have when traveling with chocolate is that it could melt, melted chocolate does not look as lovely and we eat everything with our eyes, it`ll not be as tasty.
As any chocoholic knows, not all chocolate is created equal – some melt faster than others. Not surprisingly, dark chocolate with its higher cocoa content dissolves more quickly compared to milk or white varieties.
if your favorite bar doesn’t last as long when near a heat source, we`ll look at ways to fly with your chocolate(but please understand I`m not a chocolatier but speaking from years of experience taking chocolates internationally for self-consumption).
Bringing chocolate on a plane in the summer can be tricky! The complexity of its composition means that changes in temperature – such as being stored inside checked baggage during hot weather – could cause it to melt.
Depending on where you’re traveling and when checked baggage may expose your chocolate bars goodness could quickly turn into a sweet ooze.
Travelers should take all necessary precautions when bringing their chocolates with them!
How To Carry Chocolates In Flight Without Them Melting
Beat any unexpected heat in the checked luggage hold by freezing your chocolates before you hit the road!
To ensure they stay intact, pack them in an insulated container and some icepack but preferably in a freezer bag.
Guaranteed to keep them looking and tasting as sweet as when you left home!
This post is about chocolate in checked luggage, but you`ll be glad to know you can also take your chocolates, candies, and other foodstuffs in your carry-on luggage.
According to https://www.tsa.gov
You are allowed to take well-packed food in your carry-on or checked luggage. To make things clear before you start packing.
Understand that liquid foods and gels will undergo x-ray screening, with no exceptions.TSA officers make the final decision on whether certain items are permitted into the secured areas of the airport.
So be prepared you might have to part with some of your products. There are days you might meet some bad-tempered officer who`ll make your life hard, so for me personally, I just do pack my chocolates in my checked-in baggage.
Cacao/cocoa powder
If you’re planning to bring something like cocoa powder through airport security there should be no issue.But having said that, it does not mean you can bring in 20 Kg of cocoa powder, this may double the screening and you may have to answer some tough questions.I brought about 7 kg of cocoa powder from Ghana once and got a warning because the TCA agents felt that was too much cacao for one person`s consumption.
Should you declare or not declare?
Once you are off to baggage claim and passed immigration, you may see a line for people with items to declare and a separate line for people with no items to declare.
These lines are usually green and red in most airports, green for nothing to declare and red for something to declare.
You might join the red line for people with something to declare but the customs agent may choose to let you through without searching your luggage even if you have solid food items.
On the opposite side of the coin, you might join the green line indicating you have nothing to declare but the customs agents may still stop you and search your luggage.
If you have nothing to declare chances are you can get through without any delay but you could always be subject to random secondary screening.
What if My Luggage is Delayed or Lost?
Although lost luggage is an uncommon issue, it’s always good to be prepared.
If your bags arrive late or miss the flight altogether and are stored in “lost luggage,” then keeping chocolates at room temperature should keep them safe from spoilage.
So even if there happens to be a delay on the way with some of your chocolate in tow – fear not– as long as they stay out of direct sunlight during their journey, they will be fine.
But now this is not the case with chocolate syrup or liquid chocolate, when an airline lost my luggage for 2 weeks, there was nothing there to salvage.
Final word On flying with Chocolate
You can enjoy a variety of sweet treats without having any difficulty getting through the united states TSA security!
Take them in your hand luggage or checked pieces as solid chocolate or whatever works best for you.
However, make sure liquid chocolates are in accordance with the liquids rule and be prepared for additional checks if packing fudge or cocoa powder.
For international flights, inform yourself because airport security differs in each country.
Bon, voyage -tastefully!
This is so funny because my first thought was why not just buy chocolate when you reach your destination but then I though about my mother-in-law and it all came into focus. She eats chocolate with Coca-Cola every day for breakfast and has even been known to carry a Coke into a restaurant in her purse if she knows they only have Pepsi! She made her kids eat healthy cereal all their lives for breakfast while at the same time she sat right there in front of them eating her chocolate and drinking her Coke.
I think that freezing the chocolate could be a great idea when leaving it in your checked baggage but I do worry that it will make the chocolate somewhat dry or powdery when it is thawed out. Have you experienced anything like chocolate turning powdery before?
Hello Joseph
That`s really interesting, I have never heard of anyone eating chocolate for breakfast.Now to your question about chocolate turning powdery, I have never experienced this but believe me, I have traveled with enough chocolate.
No chocolate do not turn powdery when thawed, they retain taste and texture. the only issue I had once was when my suitcase got misplaced during a layover so the suitcase did not turn up for 3 weeks, by then, the chocolate having been frozen then thawed inside my suitcase was just inedible but that was (as already said) a special case.
This is a great topic especially since you would have to fly to get some the world’s best chocolate. I would have no clue how to go about storing something such as chocolate in a checked bag. I wouldn’t have even thought about going through customs with something like chocolate but now I know.
Have a great day
M.T. Wolf
Hi Mike,I come from the world capital of chocolate and I do have to take loads of chocolate when I travel(ever heard of Toblerone)? After transporting chocolate for over 20 years internationally, you can bet I have mastered the art of flying with chocolate without them melting.
I hope next time you fly, you can confidently pack your chocolate properly.