You Can Take A Live Lobster Through TSA, But You Can't Skip This Step Beforehand

Well, add this to your list of things you were today-years-old when you learned. Live lobsters are officially airport travel-approved. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website, you can technically bring lobsters on board, as long as they're kept in sealed translucent containers for easy inspection. The only potential snag is the agency's cautionary note to check with your airline first to make sure they give lobsters the green light so you can avoid any unwelcome surprises at the ticket counter. Once you've gotten a thumbs-up for flying with live shellfish, you can proceed with confidence.

While the TSA is notoriously finicky about liquids and certain containers, a surprising number of edible items have the agency's seal of approval. You can carry on homemade or store-bought foods from outside the airport, but only if they meet the 3-1-1 liquid rule. That means the food weighs less than 3.4 ounces and can fit in a 1-quart bag. This applies to items like ice packs, but don't store live lobsters directly on fresh ice, as it can damage them. You can also bring other purchased foods onboard, from cheese to fresh meat, protein powders, and even eggs. Just be warned that you may get some additional screening from TSA agents (and potentially questionable glances from fellow travelers).

It's hard to travel the shores of New England without being bombarded with all of the delicious lobster on offer. Perhaps most famous are the lobster rolls chock-full of luscious meat bound delicately with mayo or butter and piled high in freshly toasted buns. When visiting the area, you would no doubt be tempted to grab a live lobster or two to take home before flying out of cities like Portland (PWM) or Bangor (BGR). In fact, the sweetest lobster flesh is found in the chilly waters between Maine and Canada due to the fact that the cold water slows down lobster metabolism, allowing sugars to develop in the meat for the tastiest lobsters you can buy.

If you happen to be winging it out from airports like PWM or BGR, you may have visions of homemade lobster rolls dancing in your head. Portland airport even offers live lobsters for sale in the terminal that can be packed for travel if you make a late-breaking decision to bring a lobster home. And who could blame you when restaurant lobster rolls have crept up to eye-wateringly high prices, with some sandwiches featuring on menus at upwards of $48. Plus, the most essential ingredient for making primo lobster rolls at home is fresh 1- to 2-pound live lobsters, which are easy to source in certain waterside towns. But before you reach the security line, get ready to be a crustacean conversation starter, and make sure you've checked with your airline well ahead of time to avoid any surprises.