Posted by Chris Randle on 11th Mar 2022
How to Choose Large Picnic Baskets?
Close your eyes. Imagine warm weather, a gentle cool breeze and the great outdoors. Perhaps a beautiful countryside spot, large picnic baskets with a red and white checkered lining, your favourite food and closest friends and family right alongside you. All things necessary for the time old tradition - picnic. When we think about picnics, we imagine al fresco dining, whilst enjoying Mother Nature. Whatever the occasion may be for your gathering you need the right equipment to carry all your food and utensils safely.
A picnic is a great way to make a field day and make memories with the delighted children running around in nature, bonding with friends or just relaxing with your partner. Fill your large picnic basket with an assortment of delicious food and treats to please everyone's tastebuds, from the little children to the grandparents. You can pack away your picnic spread in a traditional picnic basket and feel comfortable that everything you bring along will be secure - and careless enjoy the perfect outing.
What Is a Picnic Basket?
A picnic basket or picnic hamper as it's also called is a basket traditionally made of woven wicker. Its purpose is to hold food, drinks and tableware. The picnic set is an essential piece of equipment when picnics are in question.
Picnic baskets are the perfect way to store and transport, but also organise your food, beverages and condiments. Some baskets have insulated compartments to hold hot and cold foods and beverages, dishware like wine glasses and plates in secure pockets. Modern baskets include items like cutlery, condiments, corkscrew, blankets etc.
Classic-style picnic baskets are traditionally made of wicker or similar material. They consist of single large storage space, most usually with a big handle and flaps that either open at both ends or on the top. They come in all various different sizes and colours. The varieties are available for specific occasions or functions.
A Short History
One of the earliest associations of picnicking comes from the tales of Robin Hood and his Merry Men who would informally dine on bread, cheese and ale under the trees.
According to a legend, picnics become popular after the French Revolution in 1789 in Britain. At that time the royal parks became open for the public and as a result having a picnic in the park represented freedom and hope.
Woven baskets have been in use from the earliest times. The reason why this is, is because they are light but at the same time sturdy and can adapt for various different purposes. The largest baskets seem to resemble trunks and that might be where we get the picnic baskets from.
Picnics also evolved from the tradition of elaborate movable feasts among the wealthy for example in the Victorian era. In this time picnics were very grand affairs with tables, linens, crystals, chairs and servants. This is far out from the basket hampers and blankets we usually associate picnics with but the idea was ultimately the same because more than 200 years later people still enjoy picnics with the same emotions.
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How to Choose Large Picnic Baskets?
Before choosing a large picnic basket you should think about how you'll be using it to be certain you're choosing the right one.
The best picnic basket for you will depend on many factors, like budget, style, material and how much capacity you'll need.
Price
And in the end, there is the price of a picnic basket. The cost of the picnic basket has a range from affordable to expensive. Sometimes less expensive baskets will have fewer features and more basic designs, while the more expensive ones will be more luxurious and will have all the accessories in them. You should first select all of the features on your wishlist and then seek out a picnic basket that fits your budget just to ensure you're getting the best value for your money.
Material
The material for the picnic basket is important to be considered because it brings different qualities to the table. The durability of the picnic basket depends on the type of material used in the making and the construction. One of the most common and most used materials for picnic baskets is willow. Manufacturers chose this material for its pliability, which means that it's less likely to split in the process when the materials are woven together. You can easily bend willow around the corners, making it overall a fantastic material for picnic baskets.
It should be noted that contemporary picnic baskets can be made of polyester fabric, plastic and canvas. These might not be as iconic as the traditional picnic baskets though.
Size / Capacity
When buying a basket, size matters a great deal. There are several categories of picnic baskets depending on how many people are aimed to serve. However, the dimensions within these categories can vary considerably. There are two-person picnic baskets, four-person picnic baskets and six-person picnic baskets. The choice if of course depends on your individual needs.
If you have a big family or just want to pack extra then a six-person basket is a no brainer. However, if you're the romantic type and want a picnic with your partner, you can choose a two-person basket. If you are a social butterfly and want to go with some friends then you can opt for the four-person picnic basket. A choice for every occasion and need.
Whatever basket you choose make sure it has enough room for good, beverages and utensils.
Aesthetics
Traditional wicker baskets have a rustic and romantic appeal due to their quintessential design and natural materials. Their design is simple yet stylish. Usually, they have lined fabric on the inside and can either have a few compartments for utensils or just one single compartment and flip-up lids that latch. Whether you prefer a classic, traditional picnic basket or something more modern and different, you'll want your picnic basket to look pretty when you're out and about.
Portability
A very important feature for a picnic basket is the ability to be portable, to take places. Following that the weight and the handles affect a great deal on the portability. The lighter the basket the easier is to carry. The handle of the picnic basket is for trouble-free carrying to your desired destination. Traditional wicker baskets almost always have one stationary handle.
Accessories
Picnic baskets have come a long way from ordinary plain baskets just with one single compartment and handle to modern and variable types. These days the baskets come with lots of accessories. Some of the accessories include plates, wine glasses, sets of cutlery, salt and pepper shakers, cutting boards, wine openers, blankets and much more.
Accessories add to the occasion and can be quite fun to use it. However, it's up to you to consider whether you would like to bring your own accessories from home or if you would like to have an all-in-one set.
Here is a list of accessories you can find in certain picnic baskets:
| Plates | Napkins | Wine glasses |
| Coffee mugs | Forks | Spoons |
| Knives | Salt/pepper shaker | Corkscrew |
| Blanket | Coffee Flask | Wine stopper |
| Cutting Board | Cheese knife | Insulated Cooler |
Types of Picnic Baskets
Picnics are here to stay. There is no question about that. However, the way we transport food and beverages to picnic has greatly changed over the decades. Today there are lots of options you can choose from. From the classic wicker material to a variety of fabrics, plastics and wool, they might be found in all shapes and sizes.
You can still decide to go for the rustic, classic wicker basket or you can go for a more modern type if that is something you would like. The option entirely depends on your personal preference.
Traditional Picnic Basket
This type of picnic basket is one of the most common ones or the one we are most familiar with. Its common material is woven wicker usually willow and it has a sturdy handle for easy carry. The traditional basket usually comes empty and the interior is lined with red and white (or blue and white) checkered decorative fabric, although you can find some baskets without. You can also find traditional baskets that come with a full set of accessories, like utensils, cutlery, wine glasses, plates, blankets and so much more.
The traditional type of picnic basket has a simple and elegant design and is the classic go-to basket for picnics. It is very durable, which means you'll enjoy it for years to come.
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Speciality Picnic Basket
As the name itself suggests, these types of picnic baskets are used for transporting specific food or drink, for example, wine and cheese. They are smaller than the other picnic baskets, especially the traditional ones and are mostly used by connoisseurs. They are quite easy to transport and come with accessories but don't have the same capacity as some other baskets.
There are two sub-types of speciality picnic baskets. The first one is a wine and cheese basket. These have specific design which makes transporting wine and cheese more easy for your picnic. For example, they can be made with an insulated interior that can hold only two bottles of wine.
The second speciality picnic basket is for coffee and tea. These can either include compartments for hot beverages or can look like traditional picnic baskets with special sections for coffee.
Picnic Basket With Cooler
Again there are two sub-types of picnic baskets with coolers. The first type is very similar to the traditional picnic basket. They're made of wicker and have an insulated cooler within to keep food and beverages cool and fresh.
The second type is more modern: you can simply pack it for easy storage and usually it's made from waterproof materials like polyester. These types of baskets are available in various colours and designs. They also keep the food and drinks at the right temperature.
Picnic Backpack
The picnic backpack although serves the same purpose as the rest of the baskets, does not fit the traditional definition. As the name suggests it's a backpack that has been converted to hold food, drinks and picnic accessories. They are modern and versatile and often made from waterproof materials. They have well-organised compartments to hold all picnic accessories. Picnic backpacks are great for hiking, or long-distance travel.
What Should I Pack In My Picnic Basket?
Picnicking is in some way an art form, as you are packing for more people and want everyone to have their favourite go-to snacks, food and drinks so they can enjoy and be happy.
You can always prepare the classic picnic treats - sandwiches, pies, Scotch eggs, sausage rolls, chicken drumsticks. These are all considered finger foods that can travel well. Bring a picnic baguette with salami, spinach, basil, pesto and mozzarella or create a vegetarian rainbow sandwich for a special mouthwatering treat. Don't forget to pack chips and crackers to go with the cheese and dips.
Cold boxes and ice packs are an essential part of your picnicking to make sure that the food stays as cool as possible. If you're bringing wine glasses consider packing a lightweight tray to place them during pouring or in between sips.
Picnics are never just right without picnic baskets. Nothing beats that genuine and homey feeling that these baskets provide during outdoor trips. This is probably the reason why most people still use them. Although you can always use plastics in packing your picnic essentials, nothing can compare to the romantic and comfortable feel of a nice picnic basket.
FAQ’s
Picnic baskets come in various different sizes. You can find picnic baskets for groups as large as eight or as small as two. Some picnic baskets come empty some of them come with a full set of accessories, like plates, utensils, cutlery and so on. Whatever you’ll choose will depend on the number of people you’re planning to serve. Just make sure the basket has the capacity large enough to store a full meal.
Traditional picnic baskets are made of woven wicker or some other similar material. The inside is sometimes covered with linens, which serve both as a decorative feature and to protect the inside of the basket. Today's modern baskets can be made from various different materials including synthetics, plastic etc. Some of them are very similar to backpacks.
You can always use tote bags, or any sort of bag or backpack and some cooler for your beverages if you don’t have any picnic baskets. However, the experience of a classic-style, carefree picnic might not be the same.
As food goes you should probably have pre-prepared sandwiches, pies, cakes, fruits and vegetables, pre-made salads, snacks for the little ones and really any other items that need minimal preparation. Don't forget to pack some beverages to cool down like some nice lemonade or perhaps a quality bottle of wine. Also, bring a blanket as an essential part of the whole picnic experience. If you’re planning to bring your whole family, you might want to bring toys for the children to play with, or a camera to photograph the lovely surroundings and to capture the moments with your loved ones.
Definitely. There is something timeless about a picnic basket. Not only they are a handy and incredible practical item to own but also encourages the gift recipient to go to the great outdoors and make memories together. Be sure to get a basket that has all the in-set accessories.