Top Tips for Transportation
Invest in a few high-quality dishes with lids
Dishes with secure snap-on lids can save you (and your car) from a major mess. If you regularly tote food around, you can also buy a few handy insulated travel bags with straps to make your life even easier.
Pro tip: It never hurts to secure lids more than you think you need to. Wrap rubber bands around dish handles to hold the lid tightly in place. You can throw an extra-large band around the center of the dish, too, for extra security.
Always transport heavy dishes in the trunk
It might be tempting to have your passenger hold the casserole on their lap or stash it in the backseat between bags, but it's much safer to store everything securely in your trunk – especially heavy glass dishes, slow cookers, and so on. In the event of a car accident, heavy objects can become dangerous projectiles. When thoughtfully packed, your dishes should do just fine stashed away in your trunk.
Keep food secure in a cargo organizer
Despite the name, this Cargo Organizer does more than organize. The cargo organizer anchors to your INFINITI's trunk, which means your dishes are less likely to go flying if you hit a bump or brake suddenly. Stow your dishes within the compartments, pad any extra space with dish towels to hold them even tighter, and you're good to go.
Use a grippy cabinet or drawer liner to keep dishes from sliding in the trunk
If you're transporting food in casserole dishes and baking sheets, you certainly don't want them sliding all over your trunk. Grab a roll of thick, grippy cabinet liner, and cut it into strips to cover your trunk. Place your dishes on the liner, drive carefully, and it will help hold them in place until you reach your destination.
Place larger dishes in a padded laundry basket or cardboard box
If your larger dishes don't fit into the cargo organizer and you're uneasy about placing them directly onto the floor of your trunk, laundry baskets and cardboard boxes can become great food carriers in a pinch. Place your dishes into the box or basket – heaviest items on the bottom – and cushion the extra space with an old towel or towels. Then, place the entire container on the grippy liner. Not only will this help hold your dishes more securely, but the towels will also help keep them warm.
Keep things from jostling by using a trunk cargo net
Another method for keeping food secure is a cargo net. The net easily clips into your INFINITI's trunk and provides a stretchy, durable compartment for bags, boxes, and whatever else you're transporting. Like the cargo organizer, this is a useful trunk accessory that you'll use far beyond simply transporting holiday food.
Secure large baskets or boxes with bungee cords
If you have bungee cords that you use for sports gear and equipment, you can repurpose them to get your food to your destination in one piece. Anchor your laundry basket or box to the floor of the trunk using bungee cords and the hooks (if so equipped) in your INFINITI's trunk to keep things a bit more stable as you drive. Consider them seatbelts for your precious (and delicious) cargo.
Protect your trunk with a carpeted mat
Even with the most careful packing and smooth driving, traveling with food can be a mess risk. Protect the floor of your trunk with a carpeted trunk mat so that a spill doesn't ruin your holiday festivities. Don't stress about vacuuming or scrubbing out your entire trunk – just pop out the mat and your job is much simpler. These mats also help protect your trunk from typical wear and tear.
How to Keep Hot Food Warm When Transporting
Wrap food in foil and old towels
Using old bath towels and dish rags to pad your dishes not only protects them from sliding or breaking, but they also help things warm en route. Wrap hot or warm foods in a layer of aluminum foil, followed by a layer of insulating towels. This will trap the heat, so you don't pull up to the party with an ice-cold casserole.
Stick heating elements under dishes
If you choose to use any sort of heat packs or hot water bottles, it's ideal to put them under your dish when transporting. Remember that piece of wisdom that heat rises? Place the heat under your dish, and it will rise straight into your food.
Put items in insulated bags or coolers
If you've got thermal bags or coolers at your disposal, these are incredibly useful when transporting hot dishes. Don't let the word “cooler” deter you; while these are typically used to keep heat out, they can also be used to keep heat in.
Driving Tips to Prevent Spills
How do you transport food in a car without spilling? Expertly packing, padding, and securing the hot dishes in your trunk is half the battle. Even if you think the food is steady enough to withstand aggressive off-roading, let's not test it. Prevent spills during your travels with these three main rules:
- Going the speed limit.
- Taking turns gently.
- Giving yourself plenty of braking space.
Parents may remember the drive home from the hospital with their newborn baby. Drive just like that – only this time, it's green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. It's not uncommon to encounter slick, icy roads during your holiday travels. These tips for braking on slick wintery roads can help protect your food and, most importantly, your passengers.
Cleaning Up Spills
Even with the most careful packing and driving, sometimes spills happen. Whether you've got an upturned pie on your passenger seat or mashed sweet potatoes smeared across your trunk, we've got you covered. Check out these Cleaning Tricks to Keep Your INFINITI Looking Like New for pointers on cleaning up your festive mess.
Transporting food in the car doesn't have to be a messy hassle. Find the right cargo organizers and other accessories online at INFINITI Parts & Accessories today.