Keeping hot lunch hot

[Seasider]

So we are doing a lot of out and about stuff that requires packing lunch. I'd like to be able to use dinner leftovers for lunches, because otherwise I end up having leftovers go to waste (since it's our usual custom to have the leftovers for lunch). I can plan more cold suppers, but can't do that for every evening meal.

 

What are your methods for keeping food in a lunch box warm and food-safe for, say, 4 hours from departure to lunchtime? If you use a thermos, what brand/model do you think works best? How do you keep the hot stuff hot and the cool stuff cool at the same time?

 

I know well how to do this for larger portions of food with an insulated cooler, it's just the individual sized smaller to carry portions I'm challenged by. Thanks!

[Arcadia]

We have used these Thermos brand fountainer food jars for smaller portions as my DS12 don't like mixing. I use the 16oz for soup/chowder and the 10oz for rice/pasta. They do keep food hot or cold. I bought them during Target back to school sales. I just put an ice cube for the one I want to put cold food in and some boiling water for the one I want to put hot food in to prep them.

 

16oz https://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Funtainer-Spoon-Ounce-Charcoal/dp/B01ATVK5R2

10oz https://www.amazon.com/Thermos-2330TRI6-Vacuum-Insulated-Food/dp/B0008GNJEU/

[Tap]

We have Hydroflask food containers.  They are expensive but work well.

 

One trick is to fill the container/thermous with hot water and let it sit for a while before packing hot food into it.  That way it is already warmed up and keeps the food hot longer. 

[katilac]

 

One trick is to fill the container/thermous with hot water and let it sit for a while before packing hot food into it.  That way it is already warmed up and keeps the food hot longer. 

 

I used to think this didn't help much but it does. I learned, on this board of course, that "a while" means more than just a minute or two, it needs to be more like 5+ minutes with very hot water. I don't just use water from the hot tap, I put it in the microwave. 

 

Steel interiors work the best. 

[cjzimmer1]

My 19 year old uses this.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008JC76XA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Sometimes he doesn't get a chance to eat lunch and he eats if for supper.  It's still hot even after 8 -10 hours.

 

There is smaller ones for smaller apetites.

 

Oh and I tried the hot water trick and DS asked me to stop.  His food was too hot to eat at lunch and he would have to leave it open for most of his lunch break before he could even begin to eat it.

Edited June 23, 2017 by cjzimmer1

[Seasider]

I used to think this didn't help much but it does. I learned, on this board of course, that "a while" means more than just a minute or two, it needs to be more like 5+ minutes with very hot water. I don't just use water from the hot tap, I put it in the microwave.

 

Steel interiors work the best.

This hot water trick is actually what I use for large coolers! It does work very well.

 

I am starting to think I've failed in the past by purchasing thermal containers that weren't of high enough materials/construction. They wouldn't hold the heat.

 

I am also now thinking that there may be some containers in nontraditional cylindrical thermos shape (I haven't looked at all the links, I'm halfway in the boonies today and my phone's not cooperating with photo-heavy links).

[Tap]

I used to think this didn't help much but it does. I learned, on this board of course, that "a while" means more than just a minute or two, it needs to be more like 5+ minutes with very hot water. I don't just use water from the hot tap, I put it in the microwave. 

 

Steel interiors work the best. 

I think anything helps more than nothing at all, but I agree with you.

 

I use my hot water pot and fill the container with boiling water, then loosly set the lid on top (not screwed on) and let it sit while I heat up the food so 5-10 minutes.  The Hydroflask containers are metal inside so this is safe for them, but the lid is plastic so I try to avoid getting it too hot.  For things that can handle it like soup/chili etc, I also pack them a bit hotter than we would normally eat them. That way as they cool, they are still nice and hot for dinner time.  We take food to eat 5+ hours later though so this may not be necessary if you plan to eat soon. 

[Tap]

My 19 year old uses this.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008JC76XA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Sometimes he doesn't get a chance to eat lunch and he eats if for supper.  It's still hot even after 8 -10 hours.

 

There is smaller ones for smaller apetites.

 

Oh and I tried the hot water trick and DS asked me to stop.  His food was too hot to eat at lunch and he would have to leave it open for most of his lunch break before he could even begin to eat it.

LOL yep. you have to balance keeping it hot, with edible! LOL 

[cjzimmer1]

LOL yep. you have to balance keeping it hot, with edible! LOL 

 

I suspect it was a combination of I eat my food just a few degrees short of boiling and so everything I heat is really really hot (and of course my children find it too hot to eat at that point) and the fact that since DS eats a lot (we actually wish there was a bigger container that was squat enough to still eat out of) and so I pack it as tight /full as possible.  I'm frequently banging the thermos on the counter to get the food to settle so I can get a few more bites in.  So I think between the two, it just really holds the heat well.

[Kanin]

I've used Stanley food jars and Hydroflask containers. They are both awesome! The Hydroflasks are much cuter, though :)

[DawnM]

Following.

 

My new job allows me to leave much later in the morning and I am thinking of heating up and packing lunch for me and for the 2 who attend public school.  I can just make us the same lunches and it will be cheaper and healthier. 

 

This past year I had to leave the house at 6am and I was too asleep to even think of packing lunches, so I paid for them to buy hot lunch at school.  The problem is, my 17 year old would buy the equivalent of TWO lunches, for $5-$6 per day.  We told him this can't happen next year.  That is roughly $1000 a year for hamburgers and chicken fingers (which is about all he would eat!)

 

Next year I leave the house at 7:45am so I could easily pack 3 identical hot lunches.  

 

And YES, they are capable of packing their own, but they don't, OR they pack PB&J and chips every day because they wake up late, etc......not the end of the world, but still not great.  AND I haven't even packed my own lunches this past year, I just got off at 2pm and ate late lunch at 2:45 or so when I got home.  New job I will get off at 4pm and not get home until 4:30 or later.  I will need to take some food with me.

[DawnM]

I've used Stanley food jars and Hydroflask containers. They are both awesome! The Hydroflasks are much cuter, though :)

 

 

I think my boys would like the Stanley stainless ones on Amazon.  And they are cheaper.  I would like the cute one!~  I may get it for me.....in purple.

[Seasider]

Oh gosh yes, those hydroflask containers are cute!

 

Ok, yeah, I'm convinced that I need a higher quality container. Thanks for all your replies!