Have you ever had that long morning’s work or those extensive boring lectures where your mind just drifts to the next best thing? And what is that next best thing you ask? That would be your lunch. That’s right, that steaming, mouthwatering food you get during your break from all that stress during the day, and your energy source for another afternoon battle.
Isn’t it also wonderful if you have packed your food and brought it to your office or school? No more deciding where to eat or what to eat, and no more waiting in line at the cafeteria. Just take your lunch box out of your bag and you have that stomach-filling food you so looked forward to.
However, the downsides of bringing your own lunch box are that it takes away the warm mouthwatering qualities of your lunch. It becomes a bit soggy due to the condensation in the box, and the food becomes cooler than you want it to be. What a bummer. Personally, it takes away my appetite and I’ll probably skip lunch altogether, leaving me irritated throughout the day.
With the advent of technology nowadays, lunch box manufacturers have to upgrade your traditional lunch boxes into a container that is able to provide you that scrumptious homemade lunch that you are looking for. If you want to take control over your lunch instead of letting others decide what YOU get to eat, an insulated lunch box could give you a solid hot meal during that crucial midday break.
Not sure what to get? Not a problem, we’ll give you the best options there is for insulated lunch boxes for your hot food. Want to survey insulated lunch boxes on your own but don’t know where to start? We got you covered too! At the end of this article, we left you a shortlist of what to look for when you’re purchasing your insulated lunch box with the intent of bringing your own hot food to your workplace or school.
Why You Should Opt for an Insulated Lunch Box
You might be having second thoughts on buying an insulated lunch box. I mean, it does take a portion of your month’s budget and it also entails commitment if you plan to bring your lunch with you. I, myself, am a big non-morning person. So, prepping my lunch means waking up way before my usual wake-up time and adding a new activity on my morning routine. But the following reasons will hopefully persuade you to get your own insulated lunch box.
Cost-Efficient
Let’s be real here. Purchasing an insulated lunch box will cut a small portion of your budget for this month, but think about all those take-out and cafeteria costs. It becomes cost-efficient and saves you more dollars in the long run. What’s a little effort for additional savings in your bank, right?
Environmentally Friendly
People are now switching into a more environment-friendly option for almost everything, including lunch containers. Swapping out the usual paper and plastic disposables to a reusable container is definitely a plus for me and, hopefully, for you as well. The scientists haven’t found another planet for us to live on, so we should do our fair share in saving what we can on our planet, no matter how little that share is.
Safer
If you have read our article on food safety, then you know how important it is to keep your food on a certain temperature to avoid foodborne illnesses, especially for food that you’re taking with you. Insulated lunch boxes help keep your food warm and, expectantly, away from spoilage.
Healthier
Because you prepared your food, you know well what is going into it. You can easily tailor it to your needs and wants, and remove any allergen from the recipe. There is no need to think twice whether you get the nutrients that you need or whether you just get the fats and sodium.
Not Limited to Your Lunch
Lunch boxes aren’t just restricted to your lunch. Want a romantic picnic and surprise your special someone with your culinary skills? How about packing your own food for camping? Lunch boxes are very convenient for any occasion that you plan to take your homemade food may it be breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a simple snack.
Our Top Picks of Insulated Lunch Boxes
Different manufacturers of insulated lunch boxes produce containers with different capacities. We’ve picked the best companies that create insulated lunch boxes with varying capacities for you to choose from. Here they are:
Simple Modern Provision Food Jar
Okay. I’ll tell you this in advance that this is not a lunch box. It’s more of a to-go bowl than a box but it works perfectly if you would like to bring a warm soup or stew on the go. If you have a little one, this container would be perfect in keeping your baby’s food warm. It comes in a 12 oz and 16 oz capacity.
It is made with a double-wall exterior and is vacuum-sealed between the walls, stopping the deduction of heat from the container. Simple Modern also used a copper-coated insulation layer on the exterior of the inner wall of the vacuum sealed area for additional insulation. Plus, the lid is designed for maximum insulation and it gives a sleek look to the container itself.
The thing I love the most about this food jar, aside from its insulating capacity, is that it has plenty of designs to choose from. From your basic monochrome to a fun printed design to even a custom-made one. You’ll definitely be able to show off your personality while saving mother earth, and your pockets, one little step at a time.
Specifications:
- Capacity: 12 oz and 16 oz
- Material Type: 18/8 Stainless Steel
Thermos Stainless King Food Jar
Here’s another food jar that I want to add to the list and I promise you that this is the last. I added this since the Thermos brand has been known for its quality and performance in insulated food containers. They have a long-standing history of producing durable and reliable products and, now, they have added the Stainless King series to the line of their well-made products.
Thermos has its long-standing vacuum insulation technology that allows the retentions of the temperature for a very long time. It is said that this product is able to retain heat for up to 7 hours. Extended morning hours of work or unexpected traffic on the way to your picnic date? You don’t have to worry anymore if you are using this food jar. The stainless steel used in this 16 oz jar makes the item durable and, at the same time, gives its sleek design. With its additional foldable spoon, you need no more for your soup and stew needs.
Specifications:
- Capacity: 16 oz.
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Product Size: 3.7” x 3.7” x 5.5”
ZIONOR Bento Lunch Box
Finally, a legit lunch box on the list. Zionor’s Bento Lunch Box is a sleek two-layered food container fit for your lunch needs. The lunch box is made of premium food-grade stainless steel that contributes to the durability of the product. Zionor is said to tests their product to ensure that they give their customers the best there is. The material and its double-layered wall contain the heat inside the lunch box keeping your food warm for a longer period. They also included a superior seal element PP to prevent any leakage of food from the box to your bag.
What I like about this product is that it comes in different designs. You can choose from a two-layered lunch box with three compartments or a one layered 5-compartment lunch box. So if you are the type of person who likes to have multiple dishes for your meal or would just like to bring extras for share, then this lunch box is definitely for you. It also comes with different colors to match a bit of your personality with your lunch box.
Specifications:
- Material: 304 Food Grade Stainless Steel
- Product Size: 7” x 5” x 2”
TiLeMiun Insulated Bento Box
This lunch box is a much simpler option and relatively cheaper. The TiLeMiun lunch box is your basic 2-compartment container that comes with portable utensils. It is made from 18/8 stainless steel that contributes to its insulating capacity. The lid is also made from food-grade plastics that are BPA-free material to ensure that the lunch box would be leak-proof and at the same time safe for you and your family. It also comes with a cutlery set that includes a spoon and fork, and a case. This item is best for your kiddos because of its simplicity, size, and functionality.
Specifications:
- Capacity: 22 oz
- Material: 18/8 Stainless Steel
- Product Size: 8.3” x 5.9” x 2.3”
Things to Consider When Looking for Insulated Lunch Box
The things we have listed here are only a portion of the many insulated lunch boxes and other insulated food containers that are available in the market. You probably want to check it out yourself and consider the following when purchasing your insulated lunch box, whether you are buying it for yourself or your little one.
Capacity
The capacity of your container, or the size, matters most when you’re buying a lunch box. This tells you how much food are you able to carry with you. I suggest you get a bigger size lunch box so you could fit all that you need and want. A smaller lunch box limits the amount of food that you can put in it. Unless you are on a diet, then a bigger container would be better.
Sections
It is already your lunch break and you are looking forward to that homemade lunch you brought with you. Except that when you opened your lunch box, it looked like it had been shaken and tumbled with all the food being thrown around. The pasta mixed up with your veggie salad isn’t a good site at all. That’s why sections are pretty important to consider when buying your lunch box. How many dishes do you intend to bring with you on a daily basis? How many sections do you think you need? Would you prefer a divider or would you rather have your food sectioned by layer?
Leak-Proof
This is especially important when you are bringing soup or dishes that have a sauce. You want to make sure the liquid part of your food would stay in your container and not all-around your bag. So it’s best to make sure that your lunch box is leak-proof.