You Already Own The Perfect Container For Transporting Deviled Eggs

When it comes to picnics, the packaging and transportation are as important as the food itself. The picnic basket, blanket, thermos, and Tupperware is a classic image in the American food cannon, but that image doesn't include a container that's fitting for one of picnicking's MVPs: deviled eggs.

A picnic classic today, deviled eggs are a potluck favorite, and they need protection for the soft whites and delicate yolk toppings when they're on to go. Don't even try to put them in a plastic zip-top bag. Instead, use the carton the eggs came in: The holes are pre-shaped for eggs, and they provide support without cramping the toppings. Because among other mistakes you may be making with deviled eggs, seeing them get smashed when you transport them is definitely something you want to avoid.

Unlike PB&J, fruit slices, deli meat, or cheese cubes, deviled eggs are a picnic food that's neither durable nor quick to make — cooking and packaging deviled eggs is likely to occupy a decent portion of the picnic prep time. That's okay, they're worth the effort, and by protecting the result of that effort, egg cartons themselves become a picnic all-star.

When repurposing egg cartons from holding raw eggs to holding deviled eggs, you should plan around two key concerns: safety and structural integrity.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that store-bought egg cartons "should be considered one-time-use packaging" because bacteria can remain on the package. As such, it's important to wash the carton if it's made of plastic or styrofoam. If the carton is made with paper, create a barrier between the packaging and your deviled eggs by lining the paper cartons with either plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

Once the carton is cleaned or lined, there are still logistics to tackle. Egg cartons are designed for the eggs to sit vertically, rather than on their side, as deviled eggs are usually prepared. To best make use of the egg carton method, bisect your eggs along the horizontal midpoint rather than tip to tip. You might have a harder time getting the yolk filling into egg halves, so consider piping the filling into the centers rather than scooping it with a spoon.

If plastic wrap and aluminum foil are not satisfactory buffers for you, there are still other methods to transport your deviled eggs.

Even if you won't reuse the egg carton for transportation, it can still help you. Line the egg carton with plastic wrap for a buffer, then line the plastic wrap with aluminum foil, pressing the foil into each section until it creates a mold of the egg carton. You can then remove the foil and place it in a plastic container, giving the container an egg-by-egg structure it doesn't usually have.

Alternatively, you can put the eggs in a muffin tin, which also gives support and vertical space for the eggs. This allows you to place them inside a regular container without worrying if they will wobble around. Add cupcake liners into the baking tin so the eggs are easy to remove, and for a quick cleanup.

However you provide support to your deviled eggs, the key is to minimize wobbling and any potential for the eggs to get messed up en route to your picnic.