Packing chicken nuggets for school lunch without them turning soggy 👏
My friend @devinnorma told me this trick several months ago and I haven’t looked back! She uses it for packing grilled cheeses and it works PERFECTLY for nuggets as well! 🙌🏻
Here’s exactly what I do
Boil a little water and pour it into her thermos
Loosely put the lid on (do not seal it) and let it sit while the nuggets cook
Cook nuggets in the air fryer according to the package directions
Right before they’re done, dump the water out
Dry the inside of the thermos and the lid completely
I use the select-a-size paper towels and rip one rectangle paper towel into thirds. I use one third to wipe the inside of the thermos and lid so they are completely dry.
I place another third in the bottom of the thermos with the sides coming up. Then, I add the nuggets straight from the air fryer while they’re still HOT. Once the nuggets have been added, I use the remaining third of the paper towel to top the nuggets, tucking it into the sides that are not covered by the bottom paper towel.
Then I throw the lid on and send her on her way!
Also, every Friday morning I make one extra nugget for each of us and we all eat them together before the day starts. Not sure why we started this “Friday Mornin’ Nugs!” tradition but it’s become one of our favorite little family traditions 😋
#schoollunch #schoollunchideas #schoollunches #chickennuggets
Packing chicken nuggets for lunch without them turning soggy can be a real challenge, but using a thermos cleverly changes the game. From my own experience, I've found that the key is managing moisture and heat retention carefully. Before packing the nuggets, boiling water in the thermos for a few minutes warms the container and helps maintain the temperature longer. I also loosely place the lid while the nuggets cook, which prevents condensation buildup inside the thermos—a major culprit for sogginess. Immediately after, draining the water and drying the inside thoroughly with paper towels is crucial to keep the environment dry. Using select-a-size paper towels torn into thirds works wonderfully. One third to dry the thermos inside and lid, another third placed at the bottom to absorb residual moisture, and the last third to cover the hot nuggets helps trap steam without letting it settle directly on the food. This layering technique keeps the nuggets crispy and delicious by lunchtime. For those using air fryers to cook chicken nuggets, packing them straight in while hot leads to optimal texture retention. The hot air fryer exterior also contributes to keeping the nuggets warm before packing. Additionally, I recommend preparing an extra nugget or two for family bonding moments, like the 'Friday Mornin’ Nugs' tradition—sharing a quick bite together before the day starts adds a delightful personal touch to lunch routines. This method isn’t just practical but also enhances the school lunch experience by ensuring favorite foods remain appetizing. Experimenting with this thermos packing trick has made my kids more excited about their lunches and reduced the food waste caused by soggy, unappealing nuggets. If you’re looking for an easy, effective way to keep nuggets crispy and warm, this approach is definitely worth trying.