What restrictions are there for bringing cooked food back from Puerto Rico on the airplane?

Question

I am visiting PR this summer. My mother grew up there and wants me to bring back some of the local food from her childhood. What can I bring and what would be the best way to keep it fresh?

Answer 1

You have  to  contact  the  USDA......

Customs



  



U.S. citizens do not need to clear Puerto Rican Customs upon arrival by plane or ship from the U.S. mainland. All non-U.S. citizens must clear Customs and are permitted to bring in items intended for their personal use, including tobacco, cameras, film, and a limited supply of liquor (usually 40 oz.).

What You Can Take Home

U.s. Customs -- On departure, U.S.-bound travelers must have their luggage inspected by the U.S. Agriculture Department because laws prohibit bringing fruits and plants to the U.S. mainland. Fruits and vegetables are not allowed, but otherwise, you can bring back as many purchased goods as you want without paying duty.

For more information, contact the U.S. Customs Service, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20229 (tel. [phone];

www.customs.gov, click on "Travel" and then "Know Before You Go Online Brochure") and request the free pamphlet Know Before You Go.

Answer 2

greeneye has the best answer. freeze it and rap it in newspaper real good. TSA will not take if prep good.

Answer 3

I think that she will like to get some "dulces" such as "dulce de coco", "tembleque", "arroz con dulce" and the lovely "churros" and also there are some other good stuff like "alcapurrias, piononos and all this kind stuff but it will be hard to keep it fresh so I reccomend you to buy them freez instead to buy them ready to eat.

By the way, if you want to buy them ready to eat then just put them in the fridge and then  wrap them in aluminum foil paper and them will be good by 12 hours after taking them out the

fridge.

I hope you get all the good stuff from my country!

Answer 4

She would looove some "pasteles" try to get raw alcapurrias, some places will sell them to you uncooked, freeze them immediately just like the pasteles.  This is what most rican crave.  Keep them frozen all the way till you are about to head out to the airport then wrap in a couple of layers of newspaper and plastic bags, it keeps them frozen longer.  I don't know how long is your flight but I always wrap them very well and then put them in my suit case (now a days you don't know when you will encounter an ignorant ATS agent that may not allow you to take it with you as carry on), between my clothes to further protect from the heat.  I have also bought small cooler that fit into my suit case,(I did this once to take stuff all the way to Hawaii).  If she has a sweet tooth, there are "dulces de coco" and "Polvorones" that you can buy almost anywhere and take with you (carry on), they are very fragile.  Hope this helps!