Can You Take Overnight Oats Through Airport Security?

If you are looking to avoid eating airline food, the ideal food option is to take overnight oats along, but before that, you must know whether can you take overnight oats through airport security. 

Oatmeal is a perfect and fantastic meal option to take whenever going on a long flight for hours; it keeps you feeling full. To travel safely and healthily, it is essential to eat a healthful snack or meal so you do not find yourself stressing about rushing through long queues at airport restaurants and then getting back to make it in time for your flight. 

However, taking sustenance aboard for long hauls over the years has become a bit tougher, especially when passing through airport security because of the numerous TSA food-related rules

So let’s find out: Can you take overnight oats through airport security?

Can You Take Overnight Oats Through Airport Security?

When it comes to whether you can take overnight oats through airport security, TSA has never mentioned anything specifically on its website regarding oatmeals. 

Nevertheless, after conducting some research, we were able to find a tweet where someone had already asked TSA on Twitter. The question was whether an individual could bring and if their overnight oats would pass through airport security and make it to the plane. 

The stated reply to the tweet from TSA claimed that overnight oats were covered by the guidelines published under the liquids rule, implying that all containers containing oats to pass through airport security in hand luggage must be packaged in a packing of 3.4 ounces, 100ml, or lesser, packed within a single, clear, plastic, resealable quart-sized bag. 

Therefore, the only way to bring overnight oats in carry-on baggage through airport security is in containers under 100ml.

Fitting Overnight Oats In Hand Luggage:

Considering the implied quantity limit on bringing overnight oats, packing for the eatable is difficult for travelers. But, there are still some ways through which you can ensure to fit overnight oats in hand luggage conveniently. 

Travel Without Toiletries: 

You cannot expect to fit multiple bottles full of overnight oats in a single quart-size bag precisely when traveling with toiletries. So, if you are willing to take deodorant, toothpaste, and other toiletries while carrying oats, it is time to eliminate toiletries from the quart-size bag. 

This will give you enough space to fill your quart-size single bag with containers of 3.4 ounces of overnight oats. 

Solid Toiletries: 

In our preceding suggestion, we asked you not to travel with toiletries and instead fit the quart-bag with oatmeal. However, toiletries are essential for cleanliness; hence, to make ample space in a quart bag and ensure hygiene, switch to solid deodorant sticks rather than aerosol sprays. Likewise, do not pack shower gel but soap bars or even buy solid toothpaste.

With no toiletries in the quart-bag and when packing a normal-sized serving of overnight oats that is 8 ounces or 1 cup in hand luggage, you would be able to fill at least two to three travel-sized containers.

These little tubs are perfect enough to make it through a decent mid-flight breakfast. 

Solid Bars Of Oat: 

Rather than opting to switch toiletries around the luggage, why not just change the form of the overnight oatmeal, meaning pack solid bars of oats? 

A solid bar of oats is an optimal traveling food choice that can easily be stowed in hand luggage without you having to worry about passing through security or concerning yourself with liquid rules. 

Conclusively, any solid bars of oats are a great and low-hassle method for all lovers of oatmeal to have their nutrition without compromise when in the air. 

Oatmeal For Infant: 

If you are bringing overnight oats for the sake of your infant, you, fortunately, get a free pass against the 3-1-1 liquid’s rule and are allowed to exceed the limit of 3.4 ounces. Feel free to prepare and pack as much overnight oatmeal as your toddler would need for the flight. 

Even passing through airport security will not be problematic, but at the security terminal, you must remove the overnight oatmeal from your hand luggage by retrieving it and placing it for security screening in a separate bin. 

However, remember, your toddler must qualify for the infant criteria the TSA has outlined. The child should not be old enough to walk unassisted through airport security because if this happens, they will no longer qualify as a toddler, and the exemption will not be applicable. 

TSA Approved Eatables: 

Generally, the Transportation Security Administration is prone to applying similar rules for liquids to your cosmetics and food. It is to say that it does not matter whether you are packing your perfume or chicken noodle soup because, technically, in both cases, you have to adhere to the liquid limit of 3.4 ounces. 

To ensure that all our readers are well prepared for packing, we bring you a list of all the foods that need to be limited to a volume of 3.4 ounces to pass through airport security when you carry them in hand luggage.

  • Overnight Oats
  • Gravy
  • Creamy cheese 
  • Yogurt 
  • Hummus
  • Syrups
  • Salad dressings
  • Honey
  • Jelly
  • Oils
  • Jams 
  • Sauces
  • Ice cream 
  • Soups

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS):

Is oatmeal allowed in checked luggage?

Yes, oatmeal is allowed in checked luggage. 

Can you bring oats on a plane?

If oats are solid, feel free to bring them, but when traveling with overnight oats, abide by the liquids rule.

How do you pack oatmeal for travel?

Pack oatmeal in travel-size containers or bottles that are 3.4 ounces or 100.

Do overnight oats need to be refrigerated?

Refrigerating overnight oats would work well if you want to preserve overnight oats and increase their shelf life. 

Conclusion: 

Though you can take overnight oats through airport security, we recommend otherwise. Save up all the quart-bag space for your toiletries and not overnight oats; instead, simply choose to travel with oat bars that are much less problematic and trouble-free.

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