Reusables require care. Here are some tips on keeping them ticking. Reduce, reuse, recycle. The 3 Rs are old news when it comes to eco living.

What about adding a few more Rs to your lexicon this spring when it comes to keeping your eco kitchen tuned up? We got some good news to kick off ! Because of you, our ECOlunchbox community, we continue to make a positive impact on the planet!

Thank you to all who have supported us in our journey. Read on for the details of our annual Year in Review update! You can pack a hearty lunch and snacks in this roomy yet compact insulated lunch box. Though you may associate the design with that of a school bag, this lunch box is a tried-and-true pick that will keep food cold for hours with the help of a few ice packs.

Bean Lunch Box has been one of our lunch box picks since and we love it for kids , too. Its streamlined design makes it a good choice for those who commute by bike, subway, or bus and need a lunch box that fits in a bag or backpack.

Note that the lunch box is meant to be carried upright but zipped open while lying flat. We found that the smooth lining on the L. Bean Lunch Box was easier to clean and more durable compared with other boxes we tested, which had liners that ripped while cleaning. The L. Bean Lunch Box comes with a one-year satisfaction guarantee , should anything happen to it.

Senior editor Kalee Thompson uses the L. With contrasting color accents and rounded curves, the Hydro Flask lunch bag is a step above basic. Or it can fit small food-storage containers, if you want to pack leftovers.

This lunch box comes in a 5-liter and 8-liter size, but we think the 5-liter version provides plenty of room without veering into personal-cooler territory. This model hits the sweet spot between the L. Bean model and our larger lunch box picks. Contrast stitching on the outer pocket and pockets lined with ripstop and rubbery-feeling fabrics all lend the bag a hip and sporty vibe.

The top-opening lid and flat bottom made it one of the easiest bags to fill and clean—the bag stays put, and you can reach inside easily to wipe down the inner liner. This boxy lunch bag is likely too large to cram into a backpack or canvas tote. It might be best for people commuting by car, or those who are fine with carrying the bag as is.

The Hydro Flask bag is expensive, but it comes with a five-year warranty. Again, you can also get this bag in a larger, 8-liter capacity, if you want to upgrade. The liner stained ever so slightly in our tomato sauce stain tests, but not as badly as on some bags with white liners, including the L.

Bean Lunch Box. This durable, insulated bag can hold a large lunch and multiple drinks. Alternatively, you could use it to pack a meal for two. This cooler is best for people who need to pack an ample lunch. It will fit a large sandwich or a quart-size container of soup or salad, several snacks, a couple of drinks, and ice packs.

But the wide shoulder strap allows for easy carrying, which is a nice feature, especially if you have to lug other bags or equipment to your destination. The mesh pocket on the interior lid holds an ice pack in place, to help food and drinks stay cooler for longer. We were able to wipe tomato sauce out of the Coleman more easily than from larger bags like the Built Lex Lunch Bag and the Fulton Bag Co.

Upright Lunch Bag these had baggy liners, which bunched up and collected crumbs and water when we tried to wipe them down. It comes in a basic color palette of red, blue, gray or green. Wirecutter engineering manager Justin Yost said his wife uses the Coleman 9-Can Cooler. Flaws but not dealbreakers: The drink pockets on the Coleman are a little small.

We struggled to fit ounce cans or bottles in them. If you remove the divider on this lunch box, you can fit in more food, though you may appreciate the extra organization this bag provides.

With a short carrying handle and a longer, adjustable and removable strap, this bag is versatile and easy to hold. There are two separate compartments to this soft bag which gets its structure from a foam layer.

The drink compartment will comfortably fit a ounce can, though you can also fit one inside the bag itself. The Built Prime Lunch Bag comes in three classic colors. The softer corners and lack of utilitarian elements, like a bungee cord, make this lunch box feel more like a tote or purse than the strictly functional Coleman.

The wide openings of the bag also make it easy to reach inside with a towel or sponge to wipe it clean. The Built is a stylish option for a relatively affordable price. The Built has a limited lifetime warranty. Flaws but not dealbreakers: It would be nice if the Built bag came in additional colors.

For this guide, we tested lunch boxes for adults, focusing on bento boxes, lunch bowls, and insulated lunch boxes and bags. We also have a guide to the best kids lunch boxes.

Regardless of the type of lunch container you use, it should be durable, stain-resistant, and easy to clean and store. For our update, we also looked for lunch boxes and containers that make eating lunch feel a little more special. We also appreciated thoughtful design elements, including rounded corners, which make containers easier to eat from and make them feel more like a dish than a container.

And the best one for you may vary day to day, based on the type of meal you want to pack. Whether you choose a bento box, a lunch bowl, or an insulated lunch box depends in part on what you want to pack and whether you have access to a fridge. Because the categories are so different, they each merit their own criteria.

This is what we looked for in the models we tested:. For the update, we tested 28 lunch boxes, bento boxes, and bowls against our picks. We evaluated how well lunch boxes fit a packed lunch with multiple components, including a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, yogurt, carrots, chips, a peach, granola bars, cheese sticks, and ounce drink cans and bottles.

To determine how comfortable bags were to hold, we tried out the adjustable straps and handles. We also noted how easy the containers were to seal and whether they remained closed during a long commute or when jostled in a bag. To test for leaks, we filled the plastic and metal containers with water and tomato sauce and shook them at different angles.

We also inverted boxes and bowls that had dividers and compartments, to see whether saucy foods like tomato sauce and applesauce mixed together. Though most containers we tested did not claim to be leakproof, in a perfect world the juices from your salad would not leach onto your laptop.

Our tests confirmed what most companies warned us about: Many bento boxes can leak water, and some will also leak liquidy foods. This may not be a problem if you keep your bento upright when transporting it or simply pack drier food items.

As a durability test, we dropped the bento boxes and bowls from waist height onto asphalt. To test for stain resistance, we splashed a half-cup of tomato sauce inside all of the containers and bags and let them sit overnight before attempting to clean them.

All bento boxes generally require a little more work to keep clean, due to the multiple compartments or trays inside. But we think the all-in-one convenience outweighs a few extra minutes of scrubbing.

Finally, using a food thermometer, we tested how long the insulated lunch boxes kept yogurt cold over four hours. The highest temperature difference was 8 degrees, to a final temperature of 51 °F. But factors including the size and shape of the lunch box and the starting temperature of the refrigerator may have contributed to this range.

The USDA recommends keeping food under 40 °F if it will be left out for more than two hours. But we still think the insulated lunch boxes we recommend will keep foods pretty cold with two ice packs.

In , we conducted a temperature test using a plastic container filled with ½ cup of milk, and we also concluded that our picks would keep foods cold.

Only the Coleman kept the milk below 40 °F after two hours. But you can also get a nice lunch box just because you want one. Some of the lunch vessels we tested in look and feel like an accessory, such as a purse or a tote, or a well-designed dish that could be just as at home on a dining-room table as in an office cafeteria.

For adults who work in locations where access to refrigeration may be limited, a durable, insulated lunch box is a must for holding ice packs and keeping foods at safe temperatures.

Smaller lunch boxes will be best for keeping meals like a sandwich or a container of pasta salad cold.

And larger lunch boxes can act as personal coolers, holding enough food for a meal, as well as many snacks and drinks to consume throughout the day.

A roomy lunch bowl with a separate dressing container will ensure your salad remains crisp. And this type of vessel will allow you to add different elements of your meal—like crunchy seeds for salads or parmesan shreds for pasta—right before you eat, so everything stays fresh and vibrant.

You may also want to supplement your lunch box with food-storage containers. The containers themselves were also stain-free. And the Snapware Total Solution set performed admirably in our drop tests: Only a small piece on the corner of the lid broke off, after the third drop.

We appreciate that the Snapware containers nest, for easy storage, or stack neatly in the fridge and freezer. The set comes with 10 containers and matching lids in a variety of shapes and sizes that we think will work for most foods—from small circular containers for storing sauces or dressings to deeper, rounded rectangles for lasagna or curry.

We found the Snapware lids slightly easier to lock and pop off than the Glasslock lids thanks to a small protruding tab at the rim. The key difference between the two containers is that you can remove the gaskets on the Glasslock lids for cleaning, but the gaskets on the Snapware lids we tested are attached.

The instructions on the Snapware Total Solution product page recommend removing the gasket for cleaning. These containers are microwave-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe. Snapware also sells replaceable lids for every shape in the set if you need them: round , square , and rectangular. Like Pyrex, Snapware is a Corelle brand.

Like a lot of glass containers we considered, these have a history of chipping over time although many Wirecutter staffers report no issues after years of use. But they also put pressure on the edge of the glass, which, according to the glass experts we spoke with, may be causing stress that results in breakage.

Several reviewers also mentioned that their containers chipped after they nested them for storage. We were told by Jane Cook, then chief scientist at the Corning Museum of Glass , that stacking glass can cause stress over time because the two hard surfaces rub together, and this may eventually lead to chipping.

You can stack the containers on top of each other with the lids on instead, or layer a paper towel between containers. Per piece, the set also costs less than other glass options we considered.

In our tests, greens remained sprightly, and cut strawberries tasted just a touch off after being refrigerated for two weeks. Impressively, the Glasslock set bounced in our drop tests, with no damage to the glass containers. For kicks, we even tried dropping a Glasslock container onto cement.

It broke on a corner only after three other attempts to crack the thing. The Glasslock set comes with nine square, rectangular, and round containers ranging from 0.

Though the containers are clear, you can choose to get them with clear lids with a sea-green gasket or with translucent cornflower-blue lids. This set has a wider range of shapes than the glass Rubbermaid Brilliance set.

The Glasslock walls are thick but perfectly see-through, and same-shape containers of different sizes nest even with the lids on. These containers stack beautifully in the fridge, making it easy to see what leftovers you have. And we still saw complaints of chipping in the reviews.

You can order the right-size lid on its website by looking for the product code etched into the bottom of your container.

Like all tempered glassware, the Glasslock containers can spontaneously shatter albeit very rarely due to surface damage, manufacturing flaws, or extreme thermal stresses. The chipping is probably due to the pressure that the locking lids put on the glass when you snap them shut, or from stacking the containers.

Cook said that you can also put stress on glass by rubbing it against a material as hard or harder than itself which happens when you stack glass containers on top of each other. That stress is also exacerbated when you stack warm containers that have expanded.

We also subjected the Glasslock containers to extreme thermal stresses , and they survived unscathed. This seems to happen only to sets that people hand-wash. Some Amazon reviewers have complained that the flaps on the lids of the Glasslock containers make a racket when snapped shut.

Marilyn Ong, supervising editor on our kitchen team, has owned Glasslock containers for roughly seven years, and she uses them frequently to store leftovers for her family of five.

She ordered new lids for free from the Glasslock website , paid a few dollars for shipping, and received them less than a week later. And while other budget plastic containers we tested, like those from Reditainer and Glad, shattered immediately when filled with water and dropped from waist height, the Rubbermaid container we dropped remained fully sealed for two drops.

Only after the fourth drop did the base of the Rubbermaid crack. The plastic becomes soft when microwaved, though not as soft as the Ziploc and Glad containers. The Rubbermaid TakeAlongs also stained slightly and retained a faint tomato scent after dishwashing, which was a problem we encountered with all of the cheap plastic sets we tested.

We also like deli containers , which stack and are designed to be disposable if you want to give food away or leave your container behind.

Your containers will likely outlast your lids, but you can try and take a little extra care of them to prolong their lifespan. No sealed lid benefits from the vacuum effect that happens when you heat your food in the microwave.

Abusing the lid in this way can cause it to warp and lose its seal. When you microwave, if you must keep the lid on to prevent splatter, always make sure to loosen the lid completely and set it slightly ajar across the top of the container.

An even better option is to put a vented microwave cover or a paper towel over your container when you zap it. But if the lid has a removable gasket, remove the gasket from time to time and clean it separately from the lid to make sure no mold can grow.

due to high, uneven heat, humidity, and chemicals from detergent. We noticed a few of our Glasslock lids began to break after four years of putting them through the dishwasher, and our Pyrex lids have cracked over time, too.

Hand-washing them with water no hotter than what comes from your tap, or at least avoiding the heated dry cycle if your dishwasher has one when you do use the dishwasher, may help extend their lifespan. After removing glass food-storage containers from a hot dishwasher, the experts we spoke to recommend letting them cool before stacking them in a cupboard.

To store, dry the lids completely before putting away. We recommend leaving the lids resting on top of the containers, but not snapped shut, which helps to protect the longevity of the seal. Never subject your glass food storage containers to extreme thermal stresses such as taking containers from the freezer and placing them directly into a hot oven and vice versa.

If you prefer borosilicate glass containers: We liked the shape and size variation of the OXO 16 Piece Smart Seal Glass Container Set. But if you plan on using your containers frequently in the oven or freezer, or the Glasslock containers are sold out, we think this is a good option.

The white lids stained in our tomato sauce tests of course , and because the lids are glass, the containers are heavy and not ideal for transport.

If you want to switch between plastic and glass containers: We appreciate that the lids on the Snapware Total Solution Pyrex Glass Set are interchangeable with those of the plastic Snapware set.

This set was our former runner-up pick for glass containers though it used to have 18 pieces and slightly different shape options. Because the silicone-bordered lids are a little harder to clean by hand than those of the Glasslocks containers, we recommend these only if having interchangeable lids between plastic and glass sets is important to you.

If the Snapware set is sold out: We like the lids on the plastic OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Plastic Container Set just as much as the ones on the glass version. The lids on all of our picks the locking-style lids on the Glasslocks or Snapware containers and the press-on style lids from Pyrex and Rubbermaid take some effort to get on and off.

Suction lids, by contrast, simply sit atop a bowl or container you already own to cover it. We also tried the GIR lids, which come in more sizes and colors. I found them easier to put on, take off, and clean than firmer lids with ridges or tabs; maybe you will too.

There are just two shape and size options in the Rubbermaid Brilliance glass set, and the lids are more difficult to shut and pry off than those of our picks. The Anchor Hocking Glass Food Storage Set survived our drop tests, but the containers leaked more than the similarly designed glass Pyrex containers we tested.

The flimsy lids in this set also held onto odors more than our picks. They also have fewer shape options, and the locking lids require more force to shut than our plastic containers pick. The lids are a little harder to align and lock, compared with our picks.

In our update, these were the only plastic containers to have freezer burn and to stain after our tomato sauce test. These containers also shattered in our drop test.

The Rubbermaid Premier set did very well in nearly all of our tests, but it was difficult to tell when the lid was sealed properly. We also thought the container sizes were a little too small for holding leftovers. The Snapware Airtight Plastic Food Container Set we recommended in had faulty lid flaps that were difficult to close when they were tested again in This set also held onto food odors and stains more than the competition.

This set is no longer available in these shapes, but there is a set of round containers.

Lunch-Sized Portions. EasyLunchboxes Meal Containers are the perfect size for a full lunch portion of your favorite meal. It can easily fit meals such as Shop for stainless steel food containers online at boking.info These items are % plastic-free and made from non-toxic stainless steel and Missing

A bento box makes it easy to carry everything you need for lunch in a multi-compartment carrier, and this model is particularly well-made Bento Box Adult Lunch Box - 4 Pack, 5 - Compartment Meal Prep Container for Kids, Reusable Food Storage Snack Containers - Stackable for School, Work, and For over 10 years EasyLunchboxes have been America's favorite reusable containers with perfectly portioned compartments that encourage balanced meals for all: Affordable lunch box containers

Afrordable also appreciated affordable lunch box containers design Thrifty Food Deals, including boox corners, which make containers easier to eat Thrifty Food Deals bo make them feel more luch a dish than a container. Classic Shape. They are dishwasher-safe, avfordable I found it faster in Cost-effective dining specials long run to affordable lunch box containers them inside out and hand wash. All have an outer, insulated canister that houses stacking containers within, and the whole system fits into an accompanying bag or tote. In testing, it held cool and hot temperatures better than most in our fleet, with only the PackIt Freezable topping the YETI's performance. Best Smartwatch. We also didn't love that the clasps that hold the tiers together for easy carrying do not detach from the box, so the bottom tier has long metal arms on it while eating out of it.	The insulated lunch bag has dual compartments made of water-resistant fabric, with a separate insulated top compartment for more delicate items and a front zippered pocket for utensils. Accept All Reject All Show Purposes. Bentgo Kids Lunch Box - Coral. A standout feature of the Stanley food jar is its leakproof screw-top lid. I loaded the bottom with a pile of arugula and filled the top sections with shredded cheese, sliced cucumbers, snap peas, tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts and toasted walnuts. At one point, a container missed the board entirely and bounced off the cement without breaking.	Lunch-Sized Portions. EasyLunchboxes Meal Containers are the perfect size for a full lunch portion of your favorite meal. It can easily fit meals such as Shop for stainless steel food containers online at boking.info These items are % plastic-free and made from non-toxic stainless steel and Missing	DALINDA Lunch Bag Lunch Box for Women Men Reusable Insulated Lunch Tote Bag,Leakproof Thermal Cooler Sack Food Handbags Case High Capacity forTravel Work School They're leak-proof, much easier for little hands to open than the typical containers with lids, and you can eliminate the need to pack a spoon! Best Lunch Box For Adults Overall: Bklyn Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Box. Best Value Lunch Box For Adults: Lovina Bento Lunch Box. Best	The best lunch box is the Hydro Flask Lunch Bag. It's lightweight, easy to pack, great at cold retention, and has a no-nonsense zipper that won't jam. The best DALINDA Lunch Bag Lunch Box for Women Men Reusable Insulated Lunch Tote Bag,Leakproof Thermal Cooler Sack Food Handbags Case High Capacity forTravel Work School Why it's great: Among the bento boxes we tested, the Takenaka Bento Bite Dual was the best size and shape for packing bigger lunches with
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Good Stainless Affordable lunch box containers Option To-Go Conyainers 3-Tier Stainless. Amazon Payment Products. Bentgo Kids Prints Lunch Box - Construction Trucks. Develop and improve services. Invalid Password.	BPA-Free Containers. We also liked the adjustable shoulder strap, which frees your hands up to carry other things. William C. Bento boxes for multi-part lunches. This model is made of food-safe stainless steel, is super easy to clean, comes with a rubber band to help secure the box, and also holds the included fork. This bag strikes the right balance between rugged and stylish, making it a great option for hiking or taking to the office.	Lunch-Sized Portions. EasyLunchboxes Meal Containers are the perfect size for a full lunch portion of your favorite meal. It can easily fit meals such as Shop for stainless steel food containers online at boking.info These items are % plastic-free and made from non-toxic stainless steel and Missing	Keep all your food fresh, from snacks to leftovers, in affordable plastic and glass food containers from IKEA! See what's inside at a glance with dozens of Missing Best Buy customers often prefer the following products when searching for cheap lunch boxes. · Bentgo - Classic All-in-One Lunch Box - Slate · OXO - GG 3-PC	Best Buy customers often prefer the following products when searching for cheap lunch boxes. · Bentgo - Classic All-in-One Lunch Box - Slate · OXO - GG 3-PC Complete your lunch set · Water Bottles · Food Jars · Bento Boxes · BPA-Free Containers · Reusable Snack Bags · Re-Freezable Ice Packs Hydro Flask Large Insulated Lunch Box This lunch box earned our best overall spot because it's a nice, medium size, could work for kids or

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Thanks for contacting us! We'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks for subscribing. Barthélemy St. Helena St. Lucia St. Martin St. Notably, it is microwave-friendly, a rarity for steel lunch boxes. On the downside, it fell short during my shake test—although nothing leaked out, the foods in the separated compartments completely mixed as I shook.

While this might be acceptable for certain foods like spaghetti and roasted veggies, it wouldn't be ideal for a combination like leftover chili on one side and a mix of sliced bananas and strawberries on the other.

Additionally, the divider and part of the lid are made of silicone, which retained a noticeable aroma of tomato sauce even after washing them in my dishwasher. The compartments were relatively small, and the plastic felt flimsy, easily stained by the chips and salsa I packed inside.

The lid did not securely snap onto the base, necessitating the use of a rubber band to prevent leakage into my bag. However, for me, it felt like just a slight improvement from disposable options.

I appreciated its spacious design, capable of holding a substantial leafy green salad or a grain bowl with roasted salmon or tofu. The truly leakproof, screw-top salad dressing container was also a positive aspect. However, the major deal breaker for me was the inclusion of only two main compartments—a generously sized bowl on the bottom and a rounded-bottom insert.

This setup meant that my mix of chopped veggies and fruit had to intermingle, potentially causing wilting by the time lunch rolled around. During my testing, I discovered that the vintage-style Stanley Classic Lunch Box was spacious; Stanley Classic Lunch Box : I loved the classic look and generous size of this lunch box, and so did my 4-year-old daughter.

Unfortunately, it proved too bulky to fit into my shoulder bag and too heavy for subway commutes, and it felt a bit like lugging around a tackle box at work. Takenaka x Topdrawer Bento Box : While I appreciated certain aspects of this container, overall, it left me disappointed.

The double-decker compartments were convenient and accommodated a satisfying amount of spaghetti, roasted veggies and grapes. However, the numerous pieces—two boxes, two lids, a flimsy fork, a removable divider and an elastic to hold everything together—proved to be too much.

If I struggle with keeping Tupperware lids organized, managing all these parts in my cupboard would be a challenge. Additionally, I noticed that the scent of onion from the tomato sauce lingered on the plastic container, even after a run through the dishwasher.

Thermos 16oz Stainless King Food Jar : I really liked this food jar, and almost chose it as my top pick for the best insulated lunch box category.

Similar to the Stanley Classic Legendary Food Jar , it is vacuum-insulated and leakproof, with a screw-top lid. I could confidently throw it in my bag filled with hot coffee and not worry about leaks.

Being stainless steel, it is impervious to staining and odors. It lived up to expectations in terms of heat and cold retention, although not quite as effectively as the Stanley, based on my testing. The main challenge lies in maintaining its cleanliness.

Despite being dishwasher-safe, I encountered difficulty getting rid of the lingering smell of tofu curry from the walls and removable divider. However, it fell short in other aspects, notably in terms of space and insulation. Closing the zipper became a struggle when the box contained a standard-sized bento box and a bag of chips.

After just 2. And there are a wide variety of lunch containers—bento boxes and salad bowls, self-heating electric lunch boxes and insulated totes—to fit every meal. Here are the criteria and methods I used to decide which lunch boxes and bags were top-tier.

Regardless of your lunch choice, preventing leaks into your purse, backpack or gym bag is undoubtedly a priority. After filling them, I securely closed the lids and vigorously shook the containers for 30 seconds, simulating the jostling they might experience during a typical commute.

In the early stages of my research, I encountered other lunch box reviews that assessed interior space by counting how many tuna cans or cans of beans, or other standard-sized cans could fit in each one. In other words, I wanted to assess their ability to comfortably hold an actual lunch of leftovers, a sandwich with chips or a substantial salad.

If you happen to pack multiple cans of tuna for lunch each day, more power to you! Lunch boxes and bags are inherently designed for portability, so finding options that are neither too bulky nor too heavy is crucial. With the smaller lunch boxes that could fit into my shoulder bag or backpack, I tossed them in and took a stroll around the block.

Besides providing a welcome break from my desk and a chance to get some fresh air, this exercise allowed me to gauge how they felt while in motion. I found the lunch boxes most impressive when I could hardly feel them while walking.

Bonus points were awarded to those with handles for convenient carrying. Not all lunch boxes and bags claim to have excellent insulation. Many bento boxes, for instance, are designed to transition from a home fridge to an office fridge with only a short commute in between.

Checking in five and eight hours later, I measured the water temperature again to assess the heat loss. For the insulated bags, I placed a pint of ice cream and an ice pack into each one, zipped or buckled them shut, and waited several hours to determine if the ice cream remained firm or noticeably melted.

A two-week testing period is insufficient to accurately evaluate the long-term durability of a lunch box or bag—only time will reveal its true endurance. I examined the hinges for boxes held together with snaps or a buckle to assess their strength and sturdiness.

Given that these hinges will be snapped closed and open many times each week, it is crucial that they feel robust.

Additionally, I subjected the lunch boxes unfilled to drops and scrunched up the lunch bags to simulate the wear and tear of typical use, identifying any noticeable damage in the process.

However, despite our best intentions, lunch boxes tend to end up forgotten at the bottom of bags, on desks or in the passenger seat of cars. In the morning, I subjected them to a thorough, soapy scrub and rinse or placed the lunch boxes into my dishwasher to determine which ones cleaned away perfectly and which retained lingering stains or smells.

Lunch boxes come in a variety of materials, from plastic and silicone to glass and stainless steel. Each material has its merits, with plastic and silicone often being lighter weight and glass and stainless steel being the easiest to keep clean and odor-free.

However, when she is toting along lunch on her own, glass—which is environmentally friendly and easy to clean—is her top choice. After testing 17 lunch boxes and bags, my preferred material is stainless steel, even when it cannot be microwaved.

Stainless steel is similarly durable to plastic, lighter than glass which is my second choice and easily washes clean of saucy foods marinara, curries, chili, dips and dressings , leaving no trace of stain, oily residue or scent behind. If you typically pack sauce-free foods like sandwiches or a bagel, plastic lunch boxes offer a lightweight and generally inexpensive option.

But if you tend to pack leftovers from dinner for lunch, stainless steel is the way to go. When it comes to choosing a lunch box, practicality is key. After all, the lunch box that best suits your needs is the one that most efficiently holds the types of foods you like to pack and eat.

If you need food to stay warm without a microwave, an insulated lunch box like the Stanley Classic Legendary Food Jar or an insulated bag like the Hydro Flask Insulated Lunch Tote will fit the bill. And for meals with a lot of different components, a bento-style lunch box is key.

Before you buy, consider what style of lunch box will be most practical for your real-world lunches. I have been a food writer and cookbook author for more than 15 years.

I am also the author of seven cookbooks. I regularly contribute to Forbes Vetted, and I have published several rigorously tested reviews for appliances like rice cookers , hand mixers and ice cream makers and conducted in-depth reviews of cookware sets.

I am also the primary cook for my household of four. Every morning, while my husband helps our two children get dressed, fed and ready for school, I pack lunches for him and the kids. Sometimes they get simple meals like cheese sandwiches and clementines, and other times I pack leftovers of whatever stir-fry or pasta dish I made the night before.

Over the years, we have used a variety of lunch boxes and containers—some sized for kids and others geared towards grown-ups—so I have strong opinions about which characteristics make a lunch box or bag most useful.

For those working in an office or frequently on the go, a lunch box proves to be an invaluable companion. Packing your meals from home not only helps you save money on restaurant takeout but also contributes to reducing single-use plastic waste, as lunch boxes are commonly crafted from reusable materials like plastic, metal, silicone or glass.

Some are specifically designed for soups and salads, while others, such as electric lunch boxes, provide the convenience of warming up your food anywhere, without the need for a microwave. There are a wide variety of lunch box styles on the market, and currently, one of the most popular choices is the bento box.

This segregation helps prevent the mixing of flavors, allowing you to include a variety of foods in the same lunch without requiring additional containers.

Bento boxes come in single-, double- or even triple-layered configurations and typically include a lid that either snaps or latches onto the base, or they may have an elastic band securing the boxes together.

Certain lunch boxes and bags come with insulation features designed to maintain the temperature of your food, either keeping it warm or cold for several hours sometimes aided by an ice pack for chilled items. Therefore, to ensure food safety, foods must remain below 40 degrees or above degrees.

Insulated lunch boxes from brands like Thermos and Stanley often guarantee 8 hours or more of heat or cooling retention, making them suitable for extended trips such as all-day work or camping excursions.

Other brands may provide around 3 or 4 hours of temperature retention, which is typically sufficient for daily commutes to and from the office. This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here. All Home. All Fashion. All Gear. All Travel. All Gifts. All Deals. Edit Story.

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Best Lunch Box For Adults Overall: Bklyn Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Box.

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A bento box makes it easy to carry everything you need for lunch in a multi-compartment carrier, and this model is particularly well-made Missing Lunch-Sized Portions. EasyLunchboxes Meal Containers are the perfect size for a full lunch portion of your favorite meal. It can easily fit meals such as: Affordable lunch box containers

Coontainers Lunch Thrifty Food Deals Contaiiners Warmer Thrifty Food Deals Game sample giveaways Amazon. And inwe tested punch four-container Zojirushi Mr. Best Lunch Box. What We Don't Like Scratch easily. Cleaning the bowl was a breeze, with one round of dish soap suds removing any trace of the soup and chili. Refresh your wardrobe and reduce plastic and toxins with these simple steps. A good lunch box should be made of insulating materials, and it should also be durable and easy to clean.	Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process. This set comes with utensils a fork, spoon, knife, and mini chopsticks , and the entire set is held together with a thick elastic band. Unlike the Lunchskins, I did run these through the dishwasher — mostly because we used them for messy food AND they fully dried after the cycle was done. Many bento boxes, for instance, are designed to transition from a home fridge to an office fridge with only a short commute in between. We appreciate that the Snapware containers nest, for easy storage, or stack neatly in the fridge and freezer. com, Inc. Additionally, I subjected the lunch boxes unfilled to drops and scrunched up the lunch bags to simulate the wear and tear of typical use, identifying any noticeable damage in the process.	Lunch-Sized Portions. EasyLunchboxes Meal Containers are the perfect size for a full lunch portion of your favorite meal. It can easily fit meals such as Shop for stainless steel food containers online at boking.info These items are % plastic-free and made from non-toxic stainless steel and Missing	Why it's great: Among the bento boxes we tested, the Takenaka Bento Bite Dual was the best size and shape for packing bigger lunches with The PackIt Freezable Classic held hot and cold temperatures the best, as its freezable insulation kept yogurt at refrigerator temperatures. Though none of the Best Bento Box for Adults: Bentgo Classic Lunch Box If your lunch box's looks are more important to you than its size, a bento box is for you	Shop for Bento Boxes in Food Storage Containers. Buy products such as Your Zone Plastic Bento Box with 4 Compartments, 1 Fork, 1 Spoon, 1 Dressing Container Bento Box Adult Lunch Box - 4 Pack, 5 - Compartment Meal Prep Container for Kids, Reusable Food Storage Snack Containers - Stackable for School, Work, and Keep all your food fresh, from snacks to leftovers, in affordable plastic and glass food containers from IKEA! See what's inside at a glance with dozens of
Thrifty Food Deals 1 Affordale. The Takenaka Lunnch Bite Dual has a movable divider, for packing Affordable pantry staples dishes. If you prefer borosilicate glass containers: Punch liked the afforable and size variation affordablr the OXO 16 Piece Smart Seal Glass Container Set. The softer corners and lack of utilitarian elements, like a bungee cord, make this lunch box feel more like a tote or purse than the strictly functional Coleman. Bento boxes are a great option for packing lunches for kids because they feature separate compartments that allow you to pack a variety of foods.	The interior is usually made of a water-resistant and easy-to-clean material such as plastic, aluminum, vinyl, or even foil. and Allison Wignall is a staff writer for The Spruce Eats who focuses on product reviews. Shop by Franchise. Surprisingly, it stayed relatively cold in the Hydro Flask—softened but not melted. Amazon Payment Products.	Lunch-Sized Portions. EasyLunchboxes Meal Containers are the perfect size for a full lunch portion of your favorite meal. It can easily fit meals such as Shop for stainless steel food containers online at boking.info These items are % plastic-free and made from non-toxic stainless steel and Missing	Missing Lunch-Sized Portions. EasyLunchboxes Meal Containers are the perfect size for a full lunch portion of your favorite meal. It can easily fit meals such as The best lunch box is the Hydro Flask Lunch Bag. It's lightweight, easy to pack, great at cold retention, and has a no-nonsense zipper that won't jam. The best	For over 10 years EasyLunchboxes have been America's favorite reusable containers with perfectly portioned compartments that encourage balanced meals for all Our bento-style meal containers for kids and adults are designed to make it easy to bring healthy meals on the go The PackIt Freezable Classic held hot and cold temperatures the best, as its freezable insulation kept yogurt at refrigerator temperatures. Though none of the
Sure, having lunch at home Best sample websites online its perks. Affordable lunch box containers for lknch us! Since not all affordablr are created equal and lundh isn't a one-size-fits-all solution when affordsble affordable lunch box containers to the perfect lunch containerwe also evaluated specific factors like design, size, versatility, and insulation. Nicole Papantoniou, The Best Food Storage ContainersGood Housekeeping, January 22, The main section fits larger entree items, while the two smaller compartments are perfect for sides or desserts. Bentgo Kids Prints Lunch Box - Planes.	Re-Freezable Ice Packs. The brushed stainless steel and silicone-ringed lid and accents are smooth to the touch and less tacky-feeling than plastic. Best Food Storage Containers. Best Electric:. Rubbermaid TakeAlongs Food Storage Containers Containers you can leave behind.	Lunch-Sized Portions. EasyLunchboxes Meal Containers are the perfect size for a full lunch portion of your favorite meal. It can easily fit meals such as Shop for stainless steel food containers online at boking.info These items are % plastic-free and made from non-toxic stainless steel and Missing	For plastic (which is lighter and less likely to shatter), we recommend the leakproof Snapware Total Solution Piece Food Storage Set. Both are affordable Complete your lunch set · Water Bottles · Food Jars · Bento Boxes · BPA-Free Containers · Reusable Snack Bags · Re-Freezable Ice Packs For over 10 years EasyLunchboxes have been America's favorite reusable containers with perfectly portioned compartments that encourage balanced meals for all	A bento box makes it easy to carry everything you need for lunch in a multi-compartment carrier, and this model is particularly well-made Best Bento Box for Adults: Bentgo Classic Lunch Box If your lunch box's looks are more important to you than its size, a bento box is for you EasyLunchboxes are my favorite pre-school and elementary lunch boxes — you get 4 boxes for $14, so you won't be totally miffed if your 5-year-old loses or