The Best Hot Food Containers, Tested by Allrecipes

Long hours at work, endless errands, an occasional day trip—many of us live our lives on the go. But that doesn't mean we can't eat delicious home-cooked meals when we find a break in the day to take some sustenance.

That's where insulated containers come to the rescue. These useful vessels let you keep fresh, hot food ready to eat whenever lunchtime, or dinnertime, rolls around. Whether you're packing last night's leftovers or your weekly meal prep, these travel-friendly containers are a game changer when you're away from home for long periods. We sent popular models to the Allrecipes Allstars—our dedicated team of trusted experts—to help us determine which ones keep your food warm and appetizing, and which leave you with a cold, gloppy mess.

Our Top Picks

Our Top Pick:

Stanley Adventure Vacuum Food Jar at Amazon $33

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Best Budget:

Thermos Stainless King Food Jar at Amazon $25

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Best for Day Hikes:

Hydro Flask Food Jar at Amazon $40

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Best Large:

S'well Stainless Steel Food Bowl at Amazon $50

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Our Top Pick

Stanley Adventure Vacuum Food Jar

$33 at Amazon View on Stanley1913.com View on Cabelas.com

Why It's Great: Keeps food hot for hours; doesn't leak; built-in storage compartment and spork; vintage look

Grain of Salt: Spork can be difficult to detach; not the best choice for kids

Yes, Stanley is currently well-known for its insulated water tumblers, but its first claim to fame was the Stanley insulated vacuum bottles. This classic version features a wide mouth for easy filling (and eating), an integrated storage compartment and spork, and most importantly, Stanley's double-walled insulation that will keep your food hot for hours.

Of all the containers Allstar Amy Barnes tested, the Stanley had the best 5-hour temperature reading and kept its contents warm for a full seven hours. So, say your work meetings run long, you'll still have a warm lunch waiting for you. The vacuum seal held throughout testing, with no leaks reported. Amy reported that the spork got in the way when opening the double lid, and kids might need adult assistance. That said, the 18-ounce capacity is the perfect size for a filling meal and this could fit into lunch boxes for adults or kids.

The Details: 4.5 x 7.1 inches; 18-ounce capacity; dishwasher-safe but hand-washing recommended

"The Stanley thermos reminds me of my grandpa's favorite coffee thermos. Stanley's style, durability, and functionality shine in this modern updated thermos featuring an attached spork." — Amy Barnes, Allrecipes Allstar

Best Budget

Thermos Stainless King Food Jar

$25 at Amazon $24 at Walmart

Why It's Great: Will keep your lunch warm; good for adults and kids; spoon built into the lid

Grain of Salt: Slightly narrow opening

Slightly squatter and smaller than our top pick, this classic Thermos performed almost as well as the Stanley and is "kid and mom-approved," according to Amy. The 16-ounce capacity is still large enough for a filling meal, and the vacuum insulation held liquids at 100°F after five hours—it should keep your lunch just as warm.

This is a great leak-free container for kids and adults, easily fitting into lunch boxes or a backpack. A foldable spoon hides inside the lid, which doubles as a cup, so you don't have to worry about losing your spoon (or cup) in transport. Though the opening is still considered wide mouth, it was slightly narrow so you'll need to take extra caution when filling. Also, if the stainless-steel spoon is broken or lost, Thermos sells replacements.

The Details: 3.7 x 5.5 inches; 16-ounce capacity; dishwasher-safe

Best for Day Hikes

Hydro Flask Food Jar

PHOTO: Amazon

Orig. $40 $37 at Amazon Orig. $40 $36 at Walmart View on Hydroflask.com

Why It's Great: Decent heat retention; easy to pour into; different colors and sizes available; stylish

Grain of Salt: Not the best option for lunch boxes; no integrated cutlery

Hot food containers aren't for weekday lunch alone. They're also perfect for packing your weekend lunch away from home, whether that's on a hike, at the beach, or in the car between morning soccer practice and an afternoon birthday party. The 20-ounce Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar fits the bill. It won't leak if thrown onto your passenger seat or tossed into a backpack, and everyone can get a good grip on the exterior.

This kept food on the warm side for five hours, but the food wasn't as hot as it would've been in the Stanley or Themos. It does come in a larger capacity, though, and it's way more stylish. You will also have to tote along travel utensils as there's no built-in cutlery.

The Details: 4.3 x 4.6 inches; 20 ounces; dishwasher-safe

Best Large

S'well Stainless Steel Food Bowl

$50 at Amazon $50 at Swell.com

Why It's Great: Good heat retention; comes with inner prep bowl; stylish

Grain of Salt: Inner bowl takes up space

Having a packed lunch means you're great at one thing: meal prep. S'well stainless-steel insulated container makes that one step easier since it comes with a Tritan plastic prep bowl that fits inside. So you can layer your hot lunch in the prep bowl, seal everything up, and tip it into the larger container for mealtime mixing.

With or without the inner bowl, this didn't leak and it did a good job of retaining heat for five hours. The inner bowl is microwave-safe in case lunch needs a little warming up. This is more for teenagers or adults, instead of a kid's lunch, and you'll have to remember to pack any flatware. But, as Amy puts it, "even an ordinary lunch in the cafeteria feels a little fancier in this S'well food storage option."

The Details: 4.8 x 4.6 inches; 21.5-ounce capacity; dishwasher safe

Our Takeaway

The Stanley Adventure Vacuum Food Jar and the slightly smaller Thermos Stainless King Food Jar will keep your food hot for hours (or at least until lunchtime), and you won't need to pack any extras.

How to Pick the Right Hot Food Containers

Heat Retention

Of course, it's nice to eat a hot lunch on a cold day (or in a cold office), but heat retention serves a very important function. It can help keep your food above the food safety "Danger Zone" (40°F to 140°F). The Danger Zone is the range of temperatures where bacteria multiply most rapidly, and keeping your food above it can help prevent food sickness.

Size

There are two important aspects to consider when it comes to size: how much food a container will hold and what it'll be carried in. Ten to 12-ounce containers are great for those with smaller appetites or when it's being transported in a classic lunch box alongside a day's worth of snacks and drinks. Sixteen to 28-ounce containers work for larger appetites or more active days. This will have to be placed in larger lunch bags or backpacks.

Cleaning

Many hot food containers are safe to put into the dishwasher if you place them on the top rack. But, after some time, the heat and abrasive cleaners can affect the container's seal so you'll see hand-washing is the recommended route. Hand-washing also allows you to clean any nooks and crannies, especially if the lid comes apart. Doing so can prevent mold growth and/or staining.

How We Tested

We tasked Allstar Amy Barnes with testing various hot food containers and reporting on her findings. First, she analyzed each design to determine who it would work best for. She then checked for heat retention by leaving hot water in the container for at least five hours, taking the temperature at the beginning and end of the test. She left filled containers upside down to check for leaks and examined if they would be prone to damage. Here are a few important characteristics we paid extra attention to:

Heat Retention: Was a significant amount of heat lost within five hours? Does the container get hot to the touch when you add food, or is it insulated?
Size: Is it large enough to hold a full meal? If it's more for kids or small appetites, would they be able to grasp the lid to open it, or is it too big for small hands?
Features: Can the lid double as a cup? Will you need to remember your travel cutlery or need a separate bowl at mealtime?

The Leftovers: Other Hot Food Containers We Tested

We wanted to like the Bentgo Stainless Insulated Food Container. Its simple design and compact form make it an easy choice to pack for lunch, but we were less than impressed with its performance. The container leaked a lot, and even when left upright for five hours, it barely retained any heat, which could lead your food to go bad before you get hungry.

Common Questions

What can you put in a hot food container?

These are great for liquid or semi-liquid meals, such as stews, soups, and curries. If you want the container to keep the meal warm for hours, you should warm it up before adding the container. Since these have great insulation, they're also perfect for keeping cold food cold. You can bring a cold fruit snack or make a jar salad during the warmer months.

Should you preheat hot food containers?

You can! To warm up the stainless steel, pour boiling-hot water into the container and let it rest for about 10 minutes. Then dump the water and add your food. You can also pre-chill a container by placing ice inside for about 10 minutes before adding cold food.

Why Take Our Word For It?

Siobhan Wallace is the senior commerce editor for Allrecipes. She has been bringing her lunch to the office for decades and frequently brings larger snacks on her day hikes and beach visits.

One of the Allrecipes Allstar testers, Amy Cipolla Barnes has 25 years of freelance writing experience, with a focus on food, family, travel, and lifestyle including food writing and recipe development. She tested hot food containers for us, vetting each based on her personal experience.

Want to know more about the Allrecipes Allstars? Learn about their favorite recipes, kitchen hacks, and product picks here.

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