Preparing a packed lunch means you won't be tempted by a meal deal every time you walk past the supermarket! To make sure you stick to home-cooked food though, you're going to need something that'll protect your lunch and keep it hot (or cold) and fresh until you're ready to eat. Or, you might be after a cute and sturdy box for kids that'll stay secure in your child's backpack on the way to school.
Whatever the reason, it's essential to find a container that meets your requirements in terms of size, material, compartments, and budget. To help you decide on the right one, we've compiled a list of our favourites to buy at Amazon and John Lewis. Whether you'd prefer an insulated stainless steel flask set for adults, a kid-friendly plastic tub with a matching bag, or an eco-friendly glass container for meal prep, we've got options aplenty! Moreover, we have partnered with chef Ryan Yen for reviewing and fact-checking the article to deliver you the best information.
Quick List - Top Lunch Boxes
WayEee
Insulated and Leakproof Flask Designed to Keep Food Hot or Cold for 12 Hours
Sistema
Affordable, Microwave and Dishwasher-Safe Tub, Perfect for Soups, Pastas and Salads
Chilly's
Sturdy and Stylish With a Leak-Proof, Sweat-Proof Design That Keeps Food Fresh for up to 5 Hours
Skip Hop
Animal-Themed Container With Built in Holder and Spork, Perfect for Little Ones
Ryan is a trained chef with experience in several restaurants (with various kitchen supplies across the restaurant experience) and hotels, he also attended le cordon bleu to further his training in cuisine and patisserie and focus on creating simple and delicious dishes. Ryan is now formally working as a chef tutor.
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Table of Contents
Ryan is a trained chef with experience in several restaurants (with various kitchen supplies across the restaurant experience) and hotels.
He also attended le cordon bleu to further his training in cuisine and patisserie and focus on creating simple and delicious dishes. Ryan is now formally working as a chef tutor.
Plastic is a durable material that's usually suitable for use in both microwaves and dishwashers, so it's an excellent choice if you like to take leftovers to work or school but don't fancy scrubbing away at the sink afterwards.
As it's also very lightweight, it won't make your bag too heavy - even if you like to bring several meals' worth of food or snacks with you on your travels! Just make sure that the lunch box you select is made from BPA-free plastic, to ensure that it won't contain potential toxins and is safe to eat from.
Lunch boxes made from a metal like stainless steel are great at keeping your snacks cool until lunchtime; they're a real life-saver in the summer for food like salads and fruit! They're also much sturdier than other materials, so will survive even a long day of travelling.
However, this type of container is not suitable for use in the microwave - you'll need to opt for a different, non-conducive material if you want to reheat leftovers, or go for an insulated metal food flask instead.
For convenience, you can always have layered thermal lunch box to put different components to have a balanced meal throughout your day. For example, a 3 to 4 layer thermal lunch box can easily fit soup, salad, rice or noodles with a main and sometimes fruit for extra space.
Glass is an eco-friendly material that's safe to use in both the microwave and the dishwasher, as well as a traditional oven. Plus, it's non-porous and therefore isn't affected by whatever food you plan to store inside it (whereas plastic can become stained over time or may absorb food odours).
Unfortunately though, glass is heavy and breakable so we don't recommend it as an option for children or anyone who plans to take their lunch on a long hiking trip! It's also not as common as plastic or metal.
No microwave or refrigerator when you're away from home? No problem! An insulated container will keep your lunch hot or cold for several hours, until you're ready to dig in - some can even last for 12 hours! Whilst it might be a little bulky in comparison to a regular lunch box, we're certain that the convenience factor means that you won't mind it taking up extra space in your bag.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | WayEee Stainless Steel King Food Jar With Folding Spoon |Purple | ![]() | Insulated and Leakproof Flask Designed to Keep Food Hot or Cold for 12 Hours | |
2 | Sistema Microwave Medium Soup Mug | ![]() | Affordable, Microwave and Dishwasher-Safe Tub, Perfect for Soups, Pastas and Salads | |
3 | Chilly's Compact Double Walled Insulated Food Pot |Grey | ![]() | Sturdy and Stylish With a Leak-Proof, Sweat-Proof Design That Keeps Food Fresh for up to 5 Hours | |
4 | Skip Hop Zoo Insulated Food Jar |Bee | ![]() | Animal-Themed Container With Built in Holder and Spork, Perfect for Little Ones | |
5 | Lock & Lock Ovenglass Square Container |Clear | ![]() | Leak-Proof Glass Lunch Box Thats Microwave, Oven, Dishwasher and Freezer Safe | |
6 | Mepal Campus Lunch Box |Turquoise | ![]() | Bento-Style Box Featuring Dividers, Perfect for Keeping Your Lunch Cold | |
7 | Pusheen Unicorn Lunchbox Set | ![]() | Cute Unicorn Lunch Set Including a Sandwich Tub, a Matching Bag and a Flask | |
8 | Black+Blum Vacuum Insulated Food Flask |Ocean | ![]() | Robust, Vacuum Insulated and Spill-Proof With an Included Ergonomic Spoon | |
9 | Joseph Joseph GoEat Space Saving Lunch Box |Green | ![]() | A Compact Container Complete With Dividers, Perfect for Sarnies and Snacks | |
10 | Suck UK Kids Dinosaur Lunch Box | ![]() | A Heavy-Duty, Fun Design Thats Microwave Safe and a Must-Have for Dinosaur Fans |
This double insulated food flask by WayEee keeps food either hot or cold for up to 12 hours, perfect for all year round. As it's leakproof, it's suitable for all types of food - soup, stew, porridge, whatever you fancy! If you want something that'll hold a little more food, it also comes in a larger size of 710ml.
We love that this product is available in a range of colours and is made from easy-to-clean, durable stainless steel. Best of all, it has a foldable spoon that slots into the lid, meaning you don't have to worry about packing cutlery ever again.
You can't go wrong with this cheap and cheerful container from Sistema. It's great for soup, and you can also fill it with pasta, salads and cereals! It's safe to use in both the microwave and dishwasher, so you can easily heat up leftovers and not worry about having to scrub it by hand afterwards.
Sistema's patented easy locking clips and steam release vent guarantees splatter free heating while keeping the moisture in your food. Simple yet versatile, this product is incredibly budget-friendly and will hopefully save you some cash in the long run - you'll never have to pop out to Pret again!
This premium quality food flask by Chilly's is sturdy and looks super stylish. It keeps the contents hot for 4 hours and cold for 5 hours - no matter what time of day you feel like eating, your food will be fresh and ready to devour!
Whilst this container is a little on the expensive side, we think it's definitely worth the investment - especially as it's leak-proof, sweat-proof, and lightweight enough to carry round all day. It also comes in a larger size (500ml) if you need a bigger meal!
How cute is this cartoon leopard container by Skip Hop? It holds 325ml of food - just the right size for small tummies! Plus, it keeps meals warm for 7 hours or cold for 5 hours, so there's no need to worry about there being a fridge or microwave at school.
We love that the built-in holder comes with a free spork but can also fit most utensils, in case you need to change things up. The fun design is sure to appeal to your little one, and we're sure you'll agree that this product is fantastic value for money!
With this leakproof glass tub by Lock & Lock, it's never been easier to heat up last night's dinner! As well as being microwave-proof, this tub is suitable for use in the oven, dishwasher, and freezer. It can withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees Celsius and you can eat straight from it once you've reheated your leftovers.
The only downside to this lunch box is that the glass makes it heavy so it's not ideal for carrying around all day. Still, at less than a tenner, it's a low-priced eco-friendly option that's well worth considering.
The simple, bento-style layout of this box by Mepal is ideal for those who like to have a mix of different foods at lunchtime or post-gym. Use the divider to keep snacks separate or remove it to make space for a sandwich - the choice is yours! When it comes to clean-up time, just pop it all in the dishwasher and relax.
We think this is a great product for any occasion that requires cold food - work, school, or even picnics. During the winter months though, you may prefer something with insulation instead to keep your meal nice and warm.
Looking for a cute lunch set that's designed for kids? This charming Pusheen sandwich tub comes with a matching bag and flask, so you can rest assured that your little one will have everything they need at lunchtime. There's even space on the backpack for you to write their name, which means they should remember to bring it home too!
Sadly this set isn't suitable for dishwasher use, but all of the parts (including the bag) are easy to wipe clean. It may not be the cheapest or most robust option on our list, we think this is a good quality product that kids will enjoy using every day.
This robust food flask by Black+Blum will keep your food piping hot for up to 6 hours or cold for 8 hours. It's vacuum insulated and has a spill-proof twist top lid. It also has an ergonomic spoon that's attached to the container with an artificial leather strap.
Although we love the chic, minimalist design of this product, there are other containers in our ranking that are more affordable and can keep food hot/cold for much longer. Still, if you want something that looks unique, this is a good shout!
This lunch box by Joseph Joseph is all about saving space - it has a large base compartment for sandwiches as well as a top compartment with a divider for snacks. Once you've finished munching, simply pop the top compartment into the base to make the box smaller. It's suitable for microwave and dishwasher use too.
While this container has a silicone lid, it's not completely leakproof so we don't advise storing wet food inside. It's also a little pricey compared to some of our other picks which are cheaper and won't leak.
If your little one loves dinosaurs then you can't go wrong with this unique lunch box by Suck UK! The eye-catching T-Rex shaped container not only looks good but it's heavy-duty, microwave-friendly, and makes getting ready for school fun.
Sure, this is a bit of a curveball option and it won't appeal to everyone, especially those who would prefer something a bit less garish. It holds plenty of snacks though, and it's easy to carry thanks to the elasticated handle.
No. 1: WayEee|Stainless Steel King Food Jar With Folding Spoon |Purple
No. 2: Sistema|Microwave Medium Soup Mug
No. 3: Chilly's|Compact Double Walled Insulated Food Pot |Grey
No. 4: Skip Hop |Zoo Insulated Food Jar |Bee
No. 5: Lock & Lock|Ovenglass Square Container |Clear
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