From cupcakes to casseroles, we’ve got 10 slip, slide and spill-proof ways to pack for a potluck or dinner party, and take your dishes on the go.
Place Cupcakes in a Deep Roasting Pan
After decorating, put your potluck-ready cupcakes back in the muffin tin and place the entire vessel inside of a large roasting pan that’s deep enough to clear the tops of the cupcakes. That way, the tin will keep them from sliding while the lip of the roasting pan will protect that gorgeous frosting.
Use Binder Clips to Secure Foil Pans
To prevent your dinner from tumbling out before you hit the party, place a clean foil pan on top of the one carrying the food. Then, seal the edges with a clip and give yourself a pat on the back.
Use a Shower Cap to Cover Salads
It turns out there is a reason you’ve been hoarding all those hotel shower caps; they make for excellent salad guards. Simply snap over the salad bowl and get ready for your spill-proof entrance. This handy food transporting hack works so well, you may want to invest in a fabric shower cap strictly for this purpose.
Bring Soup in Jars
Think you can’t bring soup to the family dinner? Think again. Keep your soup from splashing all over the trunk of your car by pouring it into glass jars. It’ll stay warm for a while, so whether you serve it at room temperature or plan to heat it up at the party, this mess-free mode of soup transport is really the only way to go.
Bring Devilled Eggs in Cardboard Egg Containers
Don’t toss your empty egg container. After your devilled eggs have been boiled, peeled and stuffed, place them back in their original packaging to keep them from tipping over.
Use a Salad Spinner to Carry A Cake
Put that salad spinner to use by using it as a makeshift cake carrier. By taking out the inner bowl portion, the cake should fit snug.
Carry a Slow Cooker in a Laundry Basket
Keep your slow cooker snug, secure and ready for the party by lining a laundry basket with a few towels and placing it inside.
Fashion a Casserole Sling Using a Kitchen Towel
Once it’s cooled a bit, wrap a large kitchen towel or a small blanket around your casserole dish, tying a knot at the top of the lid to keep it secure. Use the long pieces as a handle, being careful that your DIY sling is secure. This method also acts as an extra layer of thermal protection and will keep your casserole piping hot, longer.
Bonnie Mo is a Toronto-based editor and writer for Food Network Canada. She’s also a contributing editor over at slice.ca. For more recipe ideas, visit bonniemo.ca, or catch her on Instagram @bonniemo.