Your guide to packing a picnic and recipes that actually travel well

FAQs

What’s the best order to pack a picnic bag?

It’s best to pack from heavy to light, so that bulkier items don’t squash those that are more fragile. Begin with drinks in cans or bottles, and any hard food like hard cheeses or heavy fruit. Next, you can layer up salads or dips in containers. And finally, finish with sandwiches, pastries or any soft fruits or baked goods.  

How long can picnic food be left out safely?

Most foods can be safely left unrefrigerated on a picnic for 2 hours, if it isn’t very hot (think, over 30 degrees). It’s worth being extra careful if you have meat, dairy, eggs and seafood on your menu, as these should ideally stay chilled until you eat them. You can get around this by leaving them in the cooler bag until it’s time to eat.   

What are the best picnic foods that don’t go soggy? 

Low-moisture foods with structural integrity are ideal, such as sandwiches or wraps with cured meats, hard cheeses, and grilled vegetables rather than fresh. You can also opt for foods that get better with a bit of mingling time in their containers, like pasta salads, tabbouleh or couscous salads, or potato salads with light dressings. Snacky, ‘picky bits’ like sausage rolls, boiled eggs, nuts, olives, trail mix and crackers are also good picks if avoiding sogginess is the goal.  

Should you assemble sandwiches at home or on-site?

If you’re using a sturdy bread and relatively low-moisture fillings, you’re safe to make your sandwich before you go and take it with you. If you’re using soft white bread, and wet fillings like tomatoes, pickles, salad leaves and mayonnaise, you may find your sandwich is more satisfying and less soggy if you pack the ingredients separately, then make your sandwich upon arrival at your destination.

Another option is to half-make it with any drier ingredients, then add wet things like tomatoes or pickles once you are at your location. Be careful not to wrap a sandwich tightly if the bread or fillings are still warm as this will effectively steam it and make it soggy.  

How do you transport salads without them getting watery?

The key things to remember when packing salads for transport is to properly dry your salad leaves after washing, and to always dress the salad upon arrival at your location just moments before you eat it. This is because dressings contain salty ingredients and salt draws the moisture out of your salad ingredients, creating the soggy, limp leaves you want to avoid. It’s also important to keep the salad as cool as you can for the journey, as heat will encourage the leaves to release their water.  

What snacks travel best without melting (especially in summer)?

Raw vegetable ingredients like carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and radishes are good for crunch. Nuts, olives, boiled eggs, and tinned fish are also brilliant options that won’t melt on you. Avoid cheeses and cured meats which can sweat and deteriorate. 

How do you pack fruit for a picnic so it doesn’t bruise? 

Some fruits are naturally better travellers than others: apples, plums, oranges, cherries and grapes are good options. More delicate fruits like banana, peaches and nectarines benefit from being put in a container with extra cushioning from paper towels, or napkins.  

How do you pack cut vegetables so they stay fresh and crunchy?

The key is in keeping them cold. Use ice packs to help vegetables retain their water which is the key to their crunch. You can also transport carrots, celery, cucumber and radishes in cold water in a container, which helps them stay cool and hydrated.  

What’s the best way to pack drinks so they don’t leak?

To avoid leaking drinks, opt for bottles with screw-top lids with silicone seals and locking mechanisms. Double-walled bottles such as thermoses are extra good at avoiding leaks and they have the added benefit of being less affected by temperature changes, keeping your drinks hot or cold.