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10 Best Bento Boxes UK 2024 | Sistema, Umami, and More

Q: Top 5 Bento Boxes

No. 1: Sistema | 1. Sistema Bento Lunch Box to Go with Fruit/Yogurt Pot No. 2: Zojirushi | 2. Zojirushi Ms. Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar Set – Grey No. 3: Nifty Kitchen | 3. Nifty Kitchen Magic Space Saver Lunch Box No. 4: Umami | 4. Umami Original Bento – White No. 5: Yumbox | 5. Yumbox Classic – Bijoux Purple >> View Full Ranking

Q: How to Choose a Bento Box in the UK – Buying Guide

・Metal or Plastic – Which Material Is Best for Your Needs? ・Choosing the Style of Your Bento Box ・Choosing the Right Size for Your Needs ・Insulated Containers Keep Your Food Hot or Cold, Whatever the Weather ・Go For Leakproof Containers to Avoid Mess and Keep Food Fresh ・Check for Extra Features Like Built-in Utensils and Sauce Containers >> Click here for details >> View Full Ranking

Why waste your valuable lunch break searching for food when you can bring your own? Investing in a bento box, or Japanese-style lunch box, can help you to save both time and money - no more queuing to buy overpriced sandwiches! Using a bento box is eco-friendly and can also be healthier, as separate compartments or multiple tiers allow you to control portion sizes and create a balance between different food groups.

Bento boxes come in such an exciting range of shapes and sizes for both kids and adults that it can be difficult to know which to choose. To help you decide, we have created a guide which covers the main factors you should consider when buying. Read on to discover our top bento box picks!

Last updated 25/03/2024

Quick List - Top Bento Boxes

Sistema

1. Sistema Bento Lunch Box to Go with Fruit/Yogurt Pot

Versatile and Spacious, With an Affordable Price Tag

Zojirushi

2. Zojirushi Ms. Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar Set – Grey

Keeps Food Hot or Cold for up to Six Hours

Nifty Kitchen

3. Nifty Kitchen Magic Space Saver Lunch Box

Designed to Save Space After Lunch

Umami

4. Umami Original Bento – White

An Elegant Multitasker With Cutlery Included

Yumbox

5. Yumbox Classic – Bijoux Purple

Illustrated Sections to Help You Pack a Healthier Lunch

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Table of Contents

How to Choose a Bento Box in the UK – Buying Guide
1
Metal or Plastic – Which Material Is Best for Your Needs?
2
Choosing the Style of Your Bento Box
3
Choosing the Right Size for Your Needs
4
Insulated Containers Keep Your Food Hot or Cold, Whatever the Weather
5
Go For Leakproof Containers to Avoid Mess and Keep Food Fresh
6
Check for Extra Features Like Built-in Utensils and Sauce Containers
Top 10 Best Bento Boxes in the UK
No. 1
Sistema | 1. Sistema Bento Lunch Box to Go with Fruit/Yogurt Pot
No. 2
Zojirushi | 2. Zojirushi Ms. Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar Set – Grey
No. 3
Nifty Kitchen | 3. Nifty Kitchen Magic Space Saver Lunch Box
No. 4
Umami | 4. Umami Original Bento – White
No. 5
Yumbox | 5. Yumbox Classic – Bijoux Purple
5 more products
Easy Eco-Friendly Swaps for On the Go
Summary

View all

How to Choose a Bento Box in the UK – Buying Guide

In order to find the right bento box for you, it’s essential to consider factors such as durability, capacity, and convenience. In this section, we will explore the pros and cons of the different materials and styles that are available.

Metal or Plastic – Which Material Is Best for Your Needs?

Since you are likely to use your bento box every day, it’s important to choose a material which is suitable for long-term use. As well as being durable and lightweight, you may require a container which is microwave or dishwasher safe.

Stainless Steel Is Sturdy and Easy to Clean, but Not Suitable for Microwaves

Heavy-duty and reliable, a metal bento box will keep your food secure until lunchtime. The smooth surface of metals such as stainless steel means they are easy to clean by hand and do not absorb odours, making lunch prep quick and effortless! Another plus is that metal is free from phthalates and BPA.

However, steel does have some disadvantages. As it is not microwave-safe, this kind of bento box is only suitable for food that you want to eat cold or hot food you'll be eating soon after preparing it. Acidic foods such as tomatoes and rhubarb may also cause the bento box to corrode over time.

Plastic Is Lightweight and Microwave-Safe, Perfect for Heating up Leftovers

Plastic bento boxes tend to be lightweight, even when filled with lots of food, which is useful if you need to carry your lunch around all day. The majority are also are suitable for use in the microwave and dishwasher, so you can easily heat up your leftovers and then leave the clean-up to your machine.

Due to concerns over health issues, most plastic bento boxes available online are certified BPA- and phthalate-free and so are safe to use. They are an affordable choice, and the variety of designs available means that you’ll be sure to find one that not only falls within your budget, but that matches your personal style too!

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Choosing the Style of Your Bento Box

When deciding on a bento box, you’ll want to choose one that is convenient in both size and style. Ideally, it should be compact enough to fit in your bag but big enough to hold your lunch – and maybe a few extra snacks!

Multiple Tiers Can Be Used to Keep Foods Separate

Some styles of bento box have two or three stackable tiers, so you can divide your food up into different sections.

This means you can keep savoury and sweet foods separate, or you could even take all three meals of the day with you to work! A popular way to use the tiers is to put rice or noodles in one, meat and/or vegetables in another, and dessert in the last tier.

If you don’t need to use all of the tiers, you can typically remove one or more and still use the bento box as desired. Being able to adapt the container to suit your needs is convenient if you are trying to watch your portion sizes, or if you simply want to have smaller meals.

Removable Compartments Allow You to Change up Your Lunch Each Day

Another popular style of bento box is one large container with removable compartments inside, which allows you to add or remove sections depending on your mood. During the winter you might only feel like one large meal with some fruit, whereas a tapas-style lunch in several compartments may be more appealing in the summer months.

These interchangeable compartments are also useful for controlling portion sizes and ensuring that you get your five-a-day. You can easily include a range of different fruit and vegetables in the different sections.

Best of all, you can keep salad dressing separate from your greens – no more soggy lettuce at lunchtime!

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Choosing the Right Size for Your Needs

Depending on your appetite and lifestyle, you may need a smaller- or larger-sized bento box. The capacity of most boxes is measured in millilitres, which can help you to choose which size is right for you. The recommended capacity for adults of an average height and build is 600 ml for women and 900 ml for men.

However, if you are looking to lose weight, you may want to buy a bento box which is smaller in size. For example, reducing the capacity by 100 ml should help you to control your portion size.

When buying a bento box for a child, the capacity is much lower – 400 ml is ideal for children aged 3-5, and 500-600 ml is recommended for those aged 6-11.

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Insulated Containers Keep Your Food Hot or Cold, Whatever the Weather

Insulated bento boxes can keep your food hot or cold for several hours, meaning you won’t need access to a refrigerator or microwave at meal time.

Although this kind of bento box can be a little bulky and is typically more expensive than other types, it is extremely convenient and eco-friendly because it doesn’t require gas or electricity.

In order to make sure that the container stays hot or cold as required, you will need to fill it with either ice cold or boiling hot water for approximately ten minutes, and then drain it before putting your food inside. The vacuum technology will keep your food at the desired temperature so it is ready to eat at any time.

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Go For Leakproof Containers to Avoid Mess and Keep Food Fresh

Perhaps the most important factor in deciding whether a bento box is worth buying is how leakproof it is, as there's nothing worse than open your bag at lunchtime to find your belongings drenched in food. To avoid spillages, you should look for a container which closes securely and stays put all day.

As well as being mess-free and allowing you to bring soups and sauce-based meals on the go, the tight seal on leakproof bento boxes will keep your food fresher for longer.

This means there’s no risk of your sandwiches becoming mushy or yoghurt seeping into savoury snacks. Just in case, though, try to keep your bento box upright if you’re commuting or travelling.

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Check for Extra Features Like Built-in Utensils and Sauce Containers

Some bento boxes even come with extra features for your convenience, such as a cutlery set or small containers for sauces or dips. Having cutlery inside your box means that you’re ready to go, no need to pack a knife and fork from home!

The addition of a small leakproof pot means you can easily jazz up your meal with some sauce or a dressing.

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Top 10 Best Bento Boxes in the UK

Having explored all of the important features you should look for when choosing a bento box, it’s time to check out our recommendations below. We’ve included boxes suitable for a range of lifestyles and budgets, so you’ll be sure to find your perfect lunch companion!

Popularity

	Products	Image	Click to purchase	Key features
	Products	Image	Click to purchase	Key features
1	Sistema 1. Sistema Bento Lunch Box to Go with Fruit/Yogurt Pot			Versatile and Spacious, With an Affordable Price Tag
2	Zojirushi 2. Zojirushi Ms. Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar Set – Grey			Keeps Food Hot or Cold for up to Six Hours
3	Nifty Kitchen 3. Nifty Kitchen Magic Space Saver Lunch Box			Designed to Save Space After Lunch
4	Umami 4. Umami Original Bento – White			An Elegant Multitasker With Cutlery Included
5	Yumbox 5. Yumbox Classic – Bijoux Purple			Illustrated Sections to Help You Pack a Healthier Lunch
6	Mepal 6. Fun Life Lunch Box – Green			Stylish and Fully Customisable
7	Monbento 7. Monbento MB Square – Black			A King-Sized Cube for Big Appetites
8	Sistema 9. Sistema Triple Split Lunch Box – Blue			Cheap, Cheerful, and Perfect for Children
9	Hakoya 8. Antom Lunch Box – Pink			An Adorable Traditional Three-Tier Set
10	Black+Blum 10. Black+Blum Stainless Steel Lunch Box – Ocean			Hard-Wearing and Secure With a Minimalist Aesthetic

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No.1

10 Best Bento Boxes UK 2024 | Sistema, Umami, and More

How to Choose a Bento Box in the UK – Buying Guide

Metal or Plastic – Which Material Is Best for Your Needs?

Stainless Steel Is Sturdy and Easy to Clean, but Not Suitable for Microwaves

Plastic Is Lightweight and Microwave-Safe, Perfect for Heating up Leftovers

Choosing the Style of Your Bento Box

Multiple Tiers Can Be Used to Keep Foods Separate

Removable Compartments Allow You to Change up Your Lunch Each Day

Choosing the Right Size for Your Needs

Insulated Containers Keep Your Food Hot or Cold, Whatever the Weather

Go For Leakproof Containers to Avoid Mess and Keep Food Fresh

Check for Extra Features Like Built-in Utensils and Sauce Containers

@media (min-width: 768px){.css-hxsfov{line-height:100%;}}.css-hxsfov span{font-size:10px;}@media (min-width: 768px){.css-hxsfov span{font-size:16px;}}Top 10 Best Bento Boxes in the UK

Versatile and Spacious, With an Affordable Price Tag

Zojirushi2. Zojirushi Ms. Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar Set – Grey

Keeps Food Hot or Cold for up to Six Hours

Nifty Kitchen3. Nifty Kitchen Magic Space Saver Lunch Box

Designed to Save Space After Lunch

Umami 4. Umami Original Bento – White

An Elegant Multitasker With Cutlery Included

Yumbox 5. Yumbox Classic – Bijoux Purple

Illustrated Sections to Help You Pack a Healthier Lunch

Mepal6. Fun Life Lunch Box – Green

Stylish and Fully Customisable

Monbento 7. Monbento MB Square – Black

A King-Sized Cube for Big Appetites

Sistema9. Sistema Triple Split Lunch Box – Blue

Cheap, Cheerful, and Perfect for Children

Hakoya 8. Antom Lunch Box – Pink

An Adorable Traditional Three-Tier Set

Black+Blum 10. Black+Blum Stainless Steel Lunch Box – Ocean

Hard-Wearing and Secure With a Minimalist Aesthetic

Easy Eco-Friendly Swaps for On the Go

Summary

Top 5 Bento Boxes

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Top 10 Best Bento Boxes in the UK

Zojirushi
2. Zojirushi Ms. Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar Set – Grey

Nifty Kitchen
3. Nifty Kitchen Magic Space Saver Lunch Box

Umami
4. Umami Original Bento – White

Yumbox
5. Yumbox Classic – Bijoux Purple

Mepal
6. Fun Life Lunch Box – Green

Monbento
7. Monbento MB Square – Black

Sistema
9. Sistema Triple Split Lunch Box – Blue

Hakoya
8. Antom Lunch Box – Pink

Black+Blum
10. Black+Blum Stainless Steel Lunch Box – Ocean