Whether you’re a caterer, a guest headed out to a potluck, or just someone who likes to have meals on the go, you may have found the need to package some soup to carry along with you. However, you might be worried about an accidental spill that could leave your car messy, sticky, or smelly.
Transporting soup in your car can be a spill-free experience. The rest of this article will provide more details about these methods. Many of these options should be available in your kitchen. If not, I’ll provide links to a few Amazon solutions as well.
Here are the 6 best ways to transport soup without spilling it:
1. Pour Your Soup Into Mason Jars
With their air and water-tight qualities, mason jars are a reliable, spill-proof way to carry liquids. They can also withstand heat, so you can pour your soup in while it’s still fresh and hot. Simply screw the lid on tight, and you’re good to go. As a plus, the glass helps keep contents warm for a while, even though you might be planning to heat the soup up later.
Pro Tip: Try packing your soup in a mason jar with a slice of bread at the top. While mason jars seal well, the bread adds additional protection by absorbing any liquid before it seeps out. You can pour the soup over your slice of bread later to add extra texture to an already tasty soup.
If you’d still like some extra protection for the contents of your mason jar, leak-proof silicone sealing lid inserts such as the Mason Jar Lifestyle Lid Inserts (available on Amazon) can come in handy.
Simply tuck them into the lid of your mason jar, and you’re all set for leak-free transportation. They’re reusable and long-lasting, and their air and water-tight properties mean that not only will your soup not escape, but the aroma will also be locked in tight, leaving your car to maintain its fresh smell.
2. Use a Vacuum Flask (Thermos) To Store Your Soup
A vacuum flask is another worry-free way to carry your soup on the go. A high-quality thermos should have a lid that fits securely to prevent any liquid from seeping through. A bonus of using a reliable thermos is that your soup will stay hot, so there’ll be no need to heat it up later.
If you’re looking for a reliable thermos that won’t let liquids seep out, I recommend this vacuum-insulated one. Thanks to its inner silicone lip, this thermos is leak-free once the lid is securely screwed on. It can keep your soup hot for over 12 hours as an added benefit.
A good quality thermos should be able to provide years of leak-free service. You can help maintain the durability of your thermos through good care and handling: store it safely to avoid any drops or high-impact collisions. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper cleaning and storage.
3. Use a Container That Is Larger Than the Amount of Soup
If you don’t have access to mason jars or a vacuum flask, you can pour the soup into a container that’s bigger than the amount of soup that you have, even if you only have a few servings.
By using a bigger container, there’s more space allowance for the inevitable sloshing that comes with driving with liquids in the car, meaning that it’s less likely for your soup to seep out through the edges of the lid.
To make this approach more spill-proof, line a box with some foil and place your chosen container inside it. Crumple some newspapers and pack them tightly around the container. The newspapers add some extra insulation that helps keep the soup warm if need be.
Also, if the newspapers are packed tightly enough, they can add some stability that’ll keep your container upright. This minimizes the chances of leakage or toppling over if it’s a bumpy ride.
4. Use a Leak-Proof Container
Food and beverage containers are a handy way to store food and liquids, and some of them come with extra functionality that allows you to keep contents secure, even while you’re on the move. Aside from being a spill-free storage solution that helps keep the interior of your car clean as you drive along, these particular containers are a great way to keep your soup fresh and tasty.
A dedicated soup carrier, like this one on Amazon, is a great way to carry your soup around in the car without the worry of it spilling. These plastic containers have a snap-on lid that locks tight to prevent any leakage. The handle is designed to stay cool, even if the soup is hot, making it safer and easier to hold if need be.
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5. Use a Dedicated Beverage Carrier
For larger quantities of soup, or if you need to transport soup more regularly, you might want to consider using carriers that are designed for the safe transport of liquids, especially in large amounts.
A high-quality option should come with a tight-fitting lid that not only prevents spillage but also maintains the temperature of its contents and protects your soup from contamination. This option works best if you have catering needs or would like to be able to serve your soup without transferring it into another dish.
The one that I recommend is made from durable, high-quality plastic and is an excellent choice for safe and easy transportation of liquids. With latches that secure the lid tightly and a faucet that is drip-proof, you can be sure of a mess-free ride, all while keeping your soup hot. What’s more, you can serve your soup directly from it, meaning that you don’t have to transfer your soup into another dish later on.
6. Use Cling Film and Rubber Bands To Seal the Soup
You can use cling film to prevent your soup from spilling inside your car. After pouring your soup into a dish of your choice, cover the top with cling film. To make sure the cling film sits securely, you can wrap it all the way around the dish. Cover the soup with the dish’s dedicated lid, making sure the lid sits properly in place.
If your dish happens to have handles on each side and your lid has a handle on the top, you can use two thick rubber bands to further secure the cover onto the dish. Wrap each band around the handles on the side, then pull to hook them around the handle on the lid. Doing this helps to keep the lid tightly in place.
You can also use a combination of the previous methods here:
- If possible, use a dish that’s bigger than the amount of soup that you have to create an allowance for any sloshing that might occur.
- Once you have wrapped the dish in cling film and placed the lid on it with the rubber bands, put it in a box stuffed with newspapers to help keep the soup warm.
- Remember to make sure that the newspapers are packed tightly around your dish to prevent it from moving around.
Place the box on the floor of the back seat and gently push the front seat up against it to make sure it stays upright.
The Easiest Way To Transport Soup Without Spilling It
The easiest way to transport soup without spilling it is to pour it into a dish that’s larger than the amount of soup that you have. This way, there’s more space allowance for any sloshing that might occur, reducing the chances of your soup splashing out. You can also further minimize the possibility of spillage by using cling film and rubber bands to wrap up your dish securely.
How To Package Soup for Transport Correctly (How Pro Drivers Do It)
Pro drivers use a dedicated beverage carrier for packaging soup for transport correctly. This method works well if you need to transport soup more regularly, especially in large quantities.
Best Containers for Transporting Soup
The best containers for transporting soup are:
- Mason jars: Mason jars, like these, are a reliable and spill-free way to transport soup because they are air and water-tight. They can also withstand heat, so you don’t have to wait until your soup cools down to pour it into your mason jar.
- Vacuum flasks: Vacuum flasks prevent liquids from seeping out because they have tight-fitting lids, which make them water-tight. As a plus, vacuum flasks keep liquids hot, so there will be no need to heat your soup later.
- Leak-proof containers: Aside from being a great way to store food, some food containers are made with extra functionality that prevents leakage, keeping contents secure.
- Dedicated beverage carriers: Dedicated beverage carriers are a spill-proof way to transport soup, especially in large amounts. Dedicated beverage carriers are best for caterers who need to transport soup regularly.
Recap: The Best Ways to Transport Soup
- Pour your soup into mason jars.
- Use a vacuum flask (thermos) to store your soup.
- Use a container that is larger than the amount of soup.
- Use a leak-proof container.
- Use a dedicated beverage carrier.
- Use cling film and rubber bands to seal the soup.
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For more, don’t miss Do Vegetables Lose Nutrients When Cooked in Soup?
Anne James has a wealth of experience in a wide array of interests and is an expert in quilting, cooking, gardening, camping, mixing drinks (worked as a professional bartender), and making jelly.
Anne has a professional canning business, has been featured in the local newspaper as well as on the Hershey website, and has been her family canner for decades. Anyone growing up in the South knows that there is always a person in the family who has knowledge of the “old ways,” and this is exactly what Anne is.
With over 55 years of experience in these endeavors, she brings a level of hands-on knowledge that is hard to surpass. Amazingly, she doesn’t need to reference many resources due to her vast wealth of experience. She IS the source.
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