This Hack Lets You Bring Larger Liquids Through TSA — What to Know

You’re heading on a trip to celebrate warm weather when you encounter a problem. You aren’t checking a bag, so you have to fit all your toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, face wash, body wash, perfume, etc.) in one quart-sized bag. You also want to fill your Stanley tumbler up with your favorite beverage to drink during your flight, but you have to go through airport security. Millions of travelers face the same issue thanks to the 3-1-1 liquids rule from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). 

Recently, a clever “travel hack” went viral on TikTok. It suggests that if you wish to carry larger liquids onto your plane, you can freeze them before reaching the airport and take them through security. We spoke with the TSA to confirm the validity of this method and understand any potential restrictions. 

Here’s everything you need to know about carrying frozen liquids through airport security. 

3-1-1 Liquids Rule

According to the TSA, you must follow the 3-1-1 rule for liquids in your carry-on baggage. This rule states you can bring one “quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint.” Each item inside the bag must be smaller than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters. Any liquids that are larger than this or do not fit inside your single quart-sized bag allotment must be packed in your checked bag. 

Keep in mind that things you don’t typically think of as liquid may still fall under this rule. Since it’s spreadable, peanut butter is considered a liquid for TSA purposes and must be smaller than 3.4 ounces to go through the checkpoint. I ran into this issue a few years back when trying to bring jam home from Italy. In my mind, it was solid, and I thought I’d have no problem flying from Italy to the U.S. However, when I tried to board my connecting flight to my final destination, I had to check my bag or throw out the jam.

While the 3-1-1 rule is strict, there are two important exceptions: medications and infant and child nourishment. According to the TSA website, “TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your flight, but you must declare them to TSA officers at the checkpoint for inspection.” Similarly, formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food are considered medically necessary liquids, so you can bring larger quantities of these through the checkpoint. Still, you will need to inform the TSA officer.

You are also able to carry larger quantities of duty-free liquids in transparent, secure, tamper-evident bags if they were purchased internationally and you are traveling to the United States with a connecting flight. Note that you need to have the original receipt for the liquids and must have made the purchase within 48 hours. 

Related: 25 Things You Should Do Before Boarding a Plane, According to a Frequent Flier

Carrying Frozen Liquids Through TSA

So, is there truth to the frozen liquids hack? Yes, but with some caveats. Frozen liquids are allowed through security as long as they are completely frozen. If they are partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they must meet the standard liquids requirements. Ultimately, the TSA officer will decide whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.

“Fully frozen liquids are acceptable as solids at TSA checkpoints in greater quantities,” a TSA spokesperson told Travel + Leisure. “Liquids, gels, and aerosols – which include those things you can spray, spread, spill, pump, or pour – are subject to TSA’s 3-1-1 rule at airport checkpoints.” 

Many of the liquids you want to get through TSA, like shampoo and toothpaste, cannot be frozen. In those cases, this hack won’t get you very far. Although you can freeze water, it will likely be more effort than it’s worth, especially considering most airports have water fountains you can use to fill up your water bottle for free on the other side of security. Plus, if you don’t have TSA PreCheck or Clear and end up waiting a long time to get through security, your frozen drink might start melting and will have to be thrown out anyway. 

Bottom Line

Yes, you can bring frozen liquids over 3.4 ounces through TSA, but they must be frozen completely solid. Is this a travel hack that I’ll regularly use? Probably not. I’d rather fill up my water in the airport lounge than carry around ice and wait for it to melt.