Transporting a frozen lasagna - 10 hour trip

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:10 hours? Honestly, I'd get some dry ice.

Why? Even in a cheap cooler ice lasts for 12-24 hours.

It will not go bad, but i I’ll not say frozen solid. If they plan to cook it after she arrives, that is fine. If they plan to referee, it could be a problem. I am assuming the cooler will be inside the heated car.

I agree. Any cooler with some ice should be fine. It will likely not be frozen totally solid when you arrive, but if you stick in frig when you get there and cook it within a couple days, I don’t see the issue

[Anonymous]

I think of the tomato sauce making scene in The Godfather. I would bring my equipment and ingredients and make it with the family fresh. Take up less room than a cooler even with the pan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Presumably you have to go to the grocery store anyway upon arrival at the rental so why not just pick up your perishables ingredients then and bring your casserole dish and other non perishables with.
Then just make it there.

I must take longer than others to make lasagna as idea of arriving after 10 hour drive and then going to grocery store and the making a lasagna sounds horrible to me. I like idea of strive, turn on oven and sit back while it warms up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Presumably you have to go to the grocery store anyway upon arrival at the rental so why not just pick up your perishables ingredients then and bring your casserole dish and other non perishables with.
Then just make it there.

I must take longer than others to make lasagna as idea of arriving after 10 hour drive and then going to grocery store and the making a lasagna sounds horrible to me. I like idea of strive, turn on oven and sit back while it warms up.

If it is frozen the whole trip, it isn’t going to be made that night. Easy to bring all of the ingredients and pans with you.

[Anonymous]

I always insulate with newspapers on top and bottom. Works like a charm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Presumably you have to go to the grocery store anyway upon arrival at the rental so why not just pick up your perishables ingredients then and bring your casserole dish and other non perishables with.
Then just make it there.

I must take longer than others to make lasagna as idea of arriving after 10 hour drive and then going to grocery store and the making a lasagna sounds horrible to me. I like idea of strive, turn on oven and sit back while it warms up.

If it is frozen the whole trip, it isn’t going to be made that night. Easy to bring all of the ingredients and pans with you.

Lasagna is easy to make but time-consuming; I wouldn't want to do it on vacation. But I would invest in a top quality cooler and not stress as much about food safety.

[Anonymous]

Agree in addition to ensuring it's frozen solid and layering it top and bottom with ice, that you should pre-chill the cooler. I do this even with a thermos for my kids' lunches. Depending on the food, I fill the thermos with either hot water or ice water for a bit prior to putting the food in. It does make a difference in food temp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I just did 5 hrs with a cardboard cooler.

Everything stayed frozen solid from the Delaware coast to Maryland.

No air that is the key.

This is funny because you travled...ONE whole state!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Presumably you have to go to the grocery store anyway upon arrival at the rental so why not just pick up your perishables ingredients then and bring your casserole dish and other non perishables with.
Then just make it there.

I must take longer than others to make lasagna as idea of arriving after 10 hour drive and then going to grocery store and the making a lasagna sounds horrible to me. I like idea of strive, turn on oven and sit back while it warms up.

If it is frozen the whole trip, it isn’t going to be made that night. Easy to bring all of the ingredients and pans with you.

Normally when I am traveling with something already made, it's because I want an easy meal on the other end. With no grocery run or assembly required. Packing a cooler is not difficult either. And if OP has time to shop and make the lasagna on this end first, that's what works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Presumably you have to go to the grocery store anyway upon arrival at the rental so why not just pick up your perishables ingredients then and bring your casserole dish and other non perishables with.
Then just make it there.

I must take longer than others to make lasagna as idea of arriving after 10 hour drive and then going to grocery store and the making a lasagna sounds horrible to me. I like idea of strive, turn on oven and sit back while it warms up.

Does Op have to have her lasagna on Day 1 of her trip? Just make it on Day2, 3, or whatever your meal plan is for the trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I just did 5 hrs with a cardboard cooler.

Everything stayed frozen solid from the Delaware coast to Maryland.

No air that is the key.

This is funny because you travled...ONE whole state!

One whole state is irrelevant. 5 hours is.

Anyway, I agree that it should be fine if you make it but do not bake it, have it frozen solid ready to bake, put it on ice, maybe pre-chill the cooler as someone suggested, and keep the cooler in the coolest part of the car possible. Make sure that it is well well-baked when you get there and not simply reheated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all!

I don’t know how good it is but my dad likes it. We’re heading to a rental and I wanted to make him happy. Though fresh is best, I also think frozen is better than made without proper equipment or ingredients.

for future reference, your dad likes that you make it. You could buy a stoufers, sprinkle on some extra cheese at the top, throw out the box and show up with it wrapped in foil and he wouldn't know or care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all!

I don’t know how good it is but my dad likes it. We’re heading to a rental and I wanted to make him happy. Though fresh is best, I also think frozen is better than made without proper equipment or ingredients.

for future reference, your dad likes that you make it. You could buy a stoufers, sprinkle on some extra cheese at the top, throw out the box and show up with it wrapped in foil and he wouldn't know or care.

DP, but I really have to wonder why People like yiu are on the food board, as yu clear.y don’t care about food.

[Anonymous]

I don’t really get the dilemma. A frozen solid lasagna would take several hours if not all day to thaw even on the kitchen counter at room temp. If it is in a basic cooler with ice, nothing special, it will still be at least partially frozen after 10 hrs but definitely at or below a refrigerated temp when you arrive. Put in frig and bake within a day or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t really get the dilemma. A frozen solid lasagna would take several hours if not all day to thaw even on the kitchen counter at room temp. If it is in a basic cooler with ice, nothing special, it will still be at least partially frozen after 10 hrs but definitely at or below a refrigerated temp when you arrive. Put in frig and bake within a day or so.

I don’t think it’s a dilemma. People just want to be food safe and I can appreciate that.

Also we’re waiting on a recipe here, OP.