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After months of testing the redesigned OmieBox (a bento-style lunch box with an integrated food can), we have updated this guide based on our findings.
After months of testing the redesigned OmieBox (a bento-style lunch box with an integrated food can), we have updated this guide based on our findings.
We have also started testing the Bentgo children's stainless steel lunch box and will report in a future update.
If your child brings lunch to school, you will make—your child will eat—approximately 180 lunches this school year. Therefore, it is worth buying a durable lunch box that is easy to clean and easy to pack. After we tested nine lunch boxes (including packed many lunches for our own children), we determined that the LLBean lunch box is the best insulation model that can last the entire school year and beyond (it is also our favorite adult ). If you like bento-style bento boxes with hard compartments, we recommend the Bentgo Fresh Lunch Box.
This spacious soft-sided insulated lunch box is made of sturdy and durable materials, making it ideal for carrying in a backpack. It is also easier to clean than many competitors.
This expandable version has the same functionality and durability, with the option to increase the depth by about 2 inches (this is useful if you often pack beverage cans or large containers).
May be out of stock
The LLBean Lunch Box is our favorite thermal bag because it is durable and reliable. This lunch box is made of the same wear-resistant nylon as LLBean's beloved backpack. The smooth interior is easier to wipe clean than the interior of many other models. The internal seams and crevices of these models can trap food and residue. It has enough space to hold multiple containers and a food thermos, and the internal mesh pocket can hold ice packs to keep things cool. If you need more space, there is also an expandable version that can be unzipped to provide approximately 2 inches of additional depth. Like all its equipment, LLBean provides a one-year satisfaction guarantee for this lunch box. One of the shortcomings of the box: its soft sides don't do much to protect fragile food, removing stubborn stains can be challenging, and its mesh pockets are likely to get stuck and tear.
This insulated lunch box has the widest range of styles we have found, including popular character themes. Compared with the LLBean lunch box, its reinforced sides make the Pottery Barn Kids bag easier to clean and better protect fragile food.
The Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie classic lunch box is similar in structure and quality to the LLBean lunch box. But the Pottery Barn bag has more designs that may appeal to your child, including Disney princesses, action heroes and dinosaurs. Compared with the soft sides of the LLBean bag, its reinforced sides can better protect soft fruits and crunchy snacks, but they are easily retracted. This lunch bag is the only product we have selected without warranty.
This plastic bento-style lunch box is easier for young children to use and has fewer parts to handle, but it is not as durable as our other bento boxes.
The bento-style lunch box has convenient compartments in a sturdy box to separate, protect and order food. The streamlined Bentgo Fresh Lunch Box is our favorite children's bento for several reasons. On the one hand, it has a versatile layout. And it's still compact enough to not squeeze in a backpack, but it can still comfortably provide enough food for elementary school-age children (including whole sandwiches, which other bento can't). Bentgo has fewer parts for children (and adults), which means fewer parts are lost. The detachable dishwasher safe tray is easy to clean. Bentgo is the only leak-proof bento we have tested. It is the lightest and cheapest bento we have chosen. However, this kind of bento does have durability issues: the latches and hinges are particularly prone to breakage. Our tests indicate that it should last at least one academic year, but this is unlikely to be a long-term investment.
This stainless steel lunch box is the most durable and easiest to clean of our bento boxes because it can be placed directly in the dishwasher.
*At the time of publication, the price was $50.
Many parents who bought the PlanetBox Rover stainless steel lunch box immediately admitted that its price exceeded their expected cost for the lunch box. However, at the same time, they praised its durability: Compared with our other bento boxes, Rover can be used for several years and is not easy to wear. Its simple steel structure also makes it the easiest to clean because you can throw the whole thing in the dishwasher. The optional thermal bag can be put in the set together with the lunch box, which increases the versatility. The space in the outer bag can be used to hold a child-sized thermos or water bottle, as well as additional food containers. Although the tray itself is not sealed and therefore not leak-proof, the enclosed container with lid will do. PlanetBox also offers the longest warranty of all our options: five years.
In order to understand what a lunch box is suitable for children, we interviewed more than a dozen parents, children and teachers. We also studied reviews from companies such as Good Housekeeping, Kitchn, and Brit Co. Finally, we screened hundreds of reviews of highly rated bags and boxes from retailers such as Amazon, Macy's, Target, The Container Store, and Walmart.
Sonjia Hyon has worked as a fact checker and researcher in several publications, including T: The New York Times Style Magazine. She is the cookbook editor and writer of The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School and the research editor of the book "Previously Known as Food". She has a PhD in American Studies. Sonjia wrote Wirecutter's guide to full-size strollers and travel strollers. In the process of researching and writing this guide, Sonjia regularly prepares lunch and snacks for her 3-year-old daughter.
Anna Perling is a full-time writer on the Wirecutter kitchen team. She has written an adult lunch box, travel mug, thermos, grater and soda manufacturer's guide, and packs lunch religiously.
Many children need a durable lunch box for school use, usually for camping, field trips, family outings, and daily use. After considering the wide world of lunch boxes, we concluded that most families would want one of two main types: soft insulated bags or bento.
It is not common for kids in grades K to 12 to use a refrigerator to make boxed lunches. A soft, insulated lunch box that can hold ice packs can keep food at a safe temperature, and these bags are usually lighter and cheaper than other types of bags. Small food storage containers are a useful, reusable option that can easily dispense and separate food for placement in an insulated lunch box.
Many families like bento to reduce plastic waste and cleaning items, and compared with insulated bags, many bento can be put in the dishwasher. Bentos can also keep food organized, separated and not stained. They can double as trays for children to eat, and overall, they provide a pleasant display for children. Some bento boxes can be used in combination with insulated bags or ice packs to keep food cool. Many caregivers find that bento-style lunch boxes are easy to label and stack in crowded refrigerators.
There are many ways to pack your child's lunch. But in this guide, we focus on two popular multifunctional containers: insulated lunch boxes (zippered, padded boxes that can be filled with containers or bags of food) and bento boxes (usually hard plastic or metal) Boxes with built-in compartments or with separate containers).
From the research we did for the original lunch box guide and our additional research on this guide, we found that children's lunch boxes need to have several attributes. They should be:
Durable: Kids may have a harder time eating lunch boxes than adults. A good lunch box should be able to withstand daily use for at least one school year, including being stuffed into a backpack or falling on the ground. Even after repeated rough use, zippers, latches and hinges should not break.
Leak-proof: Bento boxes need to be leak-proof. Ideally, they should have a lid sealed to help separate food in designated compartments-spicy food should not leak into other areas or containers. For kids who store lunch in a small room or backpack at will (or upside down), sealing is the key to preventing leakage.
Easy to clean: The lunch box should be stain-proof, and there should be no gaps or loose linings to avoid catching crumbs or other residues. Insulated boxes that need to be wiped or cleaned by hand may not be as easy to clean as bento boxes, most of which can be placed in the dishwasher. Some lunch boxes need to be washed by hand, and models with many small compartments or narrow corners are more difficult to wash by hand than those with larger compartments and rounded corners.
Easy to use: The lunch box needs to be carried with hands or shoulders, or tied or stuffed into a backpack for easy carrying. The handle makes them easier to carry or remove from the bag. Young children should be able to open and close the latches and lids completely by themselves. We prefer bento boxes with a single connecting lid, rather than those with multiple containers and separate lids (which are more likely to be misplaced).
The right size: The lunch box should not be so big that you end up packing too much or leaving too much space for the container to shake inside. It should not be so small that you cannot pack a reasonably sized lunch. For bento boxes with compartments, these parts should be useful sizes.
Attractive design: Some children care more about what their lunch box looks like than others, so we decided that multiple styles are a reward, but not necessarily a deal-breaker. We found that many children liked the display provided by the bento box.
"Most children react positively to the ritual of eating a beautifully packaged and visually pleasing lunch."-Yuki Tsukidate, kindergarten teacher
Using ice packs, insulated lunch boxes, or bento with insulated containers should help keep food at cool (and appetizing) temperatures for several hours. But in our testing of this guide and our main lunch box guide, we found that few insulated lunch boxes can always keep food below 40 degrees Fahrenheit after two hours, which is recommended by the US Department of Agriculture for perishables food. Other lunch bag reviews have reported similar results, so we don't think this is a key criterion. The USDA recommends that hot food stored in insulated containers be kept at 140 °F.
Yuki Chikudate, a preschool teacher in New York City, said that bento boxes are very suitable for young children for two reasons. First, because children are still learning the skills to open lunches, it is easier for caregivers to help them open lunches that only need to open a single door or double door latch. Second, although this may not matter to some children, “most children react positively to the ritual of having a hearty, visually pleasing lunch,” Chikudate said. It’s easier to create attractive presentations using bento boxes than messy small containers and bags.
Based on research conducted by Wirecutter's Lunch Box Guide, we have compiled an additional list of 22 lunch boxes recommended for children. Using the above criteria, online reviews, and feedback from our interviews with parents and children, we reduced the list to the following six highly rated lunchboxes worth testing:
For the 2019 update, we tested three new lunch boxes:
For the test, we used the same method as the general lunchbox guide. We evaluated how different lunch boxes are suitable for boxed lunches with multiple ingredients, including PB&J sandwiches, yogurt, carrots, hummus, apple slices and grapes. To see how comfortable the bag is, we tried any adjustable shoulder straps and handles. We also studied how easy it is to seal the containers and whether they stay closed during long commutes or when they are squeezed in a bag. To test whether the lunch box leaked, we filled plastic and metal containers with water and shook them at different angles. For durability testing, we threw lunch boxes and plastic food storage containers onto concrete from waist height. Finally, in order to test stain resistance, we poured a tablespoon of ketchup into each bag, let it sit overnight, and then tried to clean them.
We put Fit Fresh Cool Coolers ice packs above and below a plastic container filled with ½ cup of milk at a temperature of approximately 33 degrees Fahrenheit. Using a food thermometer, we tested whether there are any insulated lunch boxes that can keep milk below 40 °F (the temperature recommended by the USDA for perishable food) after two hours outside the refrigerator. None of the insulated lunch bags we tested for this guide can do this, even with two ice bags inside. If you are worried about your child’s lunch spoiling, use shelf-safe milk (ultra-high temperature or UHT, pasteurized milk in sterile packaging) and choose non-perishable foods such as nut butter and jelly instead of turkey sandwiches.
This spacious soft-sided insulated lunch box is made of sturdy and durable materials, making it ideal for carrying in a backpack. It is also easier to clean than many competitors.
This expandable version has the same functionality and durability, with the option to increase the depth by about 2 inches (this is useful if you often pack beverage cans or large containers).
May be out of stock
The LLBean lunch box is one of the most durable insulated lunch boxes we have tested and one of the easiest to clean. Its basic and lightweight zipper design makes it easy for children to use, is an ideal size to put in school backpacks, and provides plenty of space for children (or even adults) lunch. An expandable version that can be unzipped to increase the depth of 2 inches and provide greater capacity. If you often pack beverage cans or larger food storage containers, it may be worth considering. LLBean has several pockets for ice packs or extra snacks, and an insulation layer to keep food cool (however, as we mentioned above, our tests found that it may not be able to keep food below 40°F). You can choose a variety of colors and bright patterns.
The wear-resistant nylon shell of the LLBean Lunch Box is the same weatherproof material that the company uses in its backpacks. This is our most popular material for young children and has proven to be durable. The lunch box stayed in good condition in all our drop tests, and its neat structure and the smallest seams in the lining helped it maintain a better shape and longer than other sloppy models. Compared with the Pottery Barn Kids bag, its interior recovers better after being stabbed by a sharp object. The latter is more likely to show dents, so it looks more worn and faster.
The streamlined and lightweight design of the LLBean lunch box makes it an ideal choice for kids who ride a bicycle or take public transportation and need a lunch box that can fit in a bag or backpack. Like most of our picks, it has a handle that can be easily carried by hand or pulled out of the bag. Compared with lunch boxes with reinforced sides (such as Pottery Barn Kids boxes) or hard boxes (such as our bento boxes), their soft sides are also easier to pack into an already crowded backpack. This lunch box is large enough to hold drinks, sandwiches and a variety of snacks. A small food storage container or food thermos can hold the leftovers from last night, or it can be placed in a bag. Please note that the lunch box should be carried upright, but should be unzipped when laid flat, so you can only put soup or other liquids in a leak-proof container (such as a thermos).
The invisible seams on the LLBean Lunch Box are easier to clean than models with external seams and folds. (But it's not as easy to clean as the Pottery Barn Kids bag. It has hard molded edges for easy and quick wiping.) The outer mesh bag of the LL Bean bag is perfect for storing fragile snacks, such as potato chips or granola. Great, if the child holds the box by hand. The internal mesh pocket on the lid helps to hold the ice pack in place. For another $8, you can put a monogram on the lunch box (or you can put a label on it).
Wirecutter associate editor Christine Cyr Clisset has used the same LLBean lunch box for her two daughters for about six years, and she is satisfied with their longevity and performance. We believe that the LLBean lunch box can withstand heavy use. But if there are any problems, this lunch box comes with a one-year satisfaction guarantee.
In our recent test, ketchup left a slight stain on the white interior of the LLBean lunch box. Although the seamless lining is still one of the easiest to wipe clean, Christine points out that this lunch box may be difficult to clean.
The outer pocket on the LLBean bag is made of mesh for easy viewing of the contents. But our experience using mesh bags on children's backpacks tells us that this material is more likely to be torn than the woven material in the rest of the lunch bag.
Due to the soft sides of the LLBean lunch box, fragile fruits such as bananas and peaches may require their own container to avoid being smashed during transportation. If you prefer an insulated box with reinforced sides, try the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie classic lunch box.
This insulated lunch box has the widest range of styles we have found, including popular character themes. Compared with the LLBean lunch box, its reinforced sides make the Pottery Barn Kids bag easier to clean and better protect fragile food.
Just like our Pottery Barn Kids backpack selection, the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie classic lunch box has dozens of styles, including unicorns, real-life creatures, Harry Potter and superhero designs in the Marvel universe. Pottery Barn Kids produces six types of lunch boxes and bags. We prefer the Classic size. Its capacity is about the same as the LLBean Lunch Box, and it is very suitable for backpacks.
Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Classic is slightly shorter and squarer than the LLBean bag. But the main difference between the two is the hard side of the former, which prevents sandwiches, French fries and fruit from being crushed (as the latter might be). The main compartment of the Pottery Barn Kids bag uses a two-way head-to-head zipper, which has a slight advantage in convenience compared to the LLBean box and single zipper. Like the LLBean bag, the Pottery Barn Kids bag has a waterproof lining, but it is not made of vinyl film, but made of a molded foam called PEVA. The smooth interior is easier to wipe clean than a soft LLBean bag because it will not pile up or fold. However, the surface is indeed easily marked and indented by sharp objects.
The two webbing straps on the side of the Pottery Barn Kids lunch bag allow you to pass it through the compression straps of some backpacks made by the same company. Or you can use carabiner to hang it on the attachment points of these backpacks or other backpacks. The side mesh bag is best for a short water bottle, but as the parents we interviewed pointed out, the mesh is likely to tear within a year.
The outer zipper pocket is too flat to store food, but it can be easily stuffed into cutlery, napkins or notes. We like that the pocket is made of the same fabric as the outside of the lunch box, which makes it more durable than the mesh pocket on the LLBean lunch box. Like the LLBean bag, the Pottery Barn Kids bag has an internal mesh bag for storing ice packs, a bag of potato chips, cutlery or napkins.
If the many Pottery Barn Kids lunch box designs cannot satisfy your child, you can find more choices in the larger Pottery Barn Teen lunch box. Like the LLBean bag, all of these lunch boxes can have monograms (for an extra $5), but they also have a name tag inside.
Wirecutter employee writer Jackie Reeve told us, “We have been using PB Mackenzie lunch boxes for a few years and I like them. They are very durable, and if it starts to smell, I can throw it in the washing machine and dryer (I will Do this several times)." (Note: Pottery Barn's official care guide says to clean Mackenzie locally, not machine wash. However, Jackie and several other parents of our employees have successfully run Pottery Barn lunch boxes through washing machines. We have additional care and maintenance recommendations below.)
This plastic bento-style lunch box is easier for young children to use and has fewer parts to handle, but it is not as durable as our other bento boxes.
The Bentgo Fresh Lunch Box has the most common layout and the most convenient organization of all the toilets we have tried-it can hold enough food for elementary school students while remaining compact and light. This is the only bento in our test that does not leak. Even young children can easily open and close Bentgo's simple latch. We found that Bentgo's removable, dishwasher safe tray makes it one of the easiest to clean bento.
Bentgo Fresh weighs 1.3 pounds, which is the lightest of our selection. It is compact enough to fit comfortably in a kid’s backpack or some insulated lunch boxes, including our main choice LLBean lunch box. The layout of Bentgo makes it easy to pack a variety of foods. It has the largest main compartment in our bento box, and it is the only one that can fit a medium-sized sandwich without cutting the sandwich in half or cutting off the sides. Alternatively, you can use a removable partition to divide the main compartment into two sides, for example, to hold rice or pasta and protein. Two smaller compartments are suitable for storing fruits, nuts, pretzels or sliced vegetables. Unlike our other bento boxes, Bentgo's tray is removable (and can be microwaved), so children can eat directly on the table like a plate.
In our tests, Bentgo is the only bento box that has no leaks. Its rubber seals do an excellent job of preventing juice and oil from seeping between the compartments and from the box. Bentgo's internal compartments (with or without removable partitions) can separate food well. Please note that you cannot fill Bentgo with pure liquids, such as soup; for those, you should use an OmieBox or a food thermos. In our tests, younger children are more likely to open and close Bentgo's latches than our other paddles, and this ease of use also helps prevent messy leaks.
Bentgo is made of BPA-free and phthalate-free plastic, so it is more resistant to stains and odors than LLBean and Pottery Barn Kids lunch boxes (lined with permeable vinyl). Compared to our other selected designs, Bentgo's removable tray makes it easier to dump leftovers directly into the trash. The trays are top rack dishwasher safe, but the boxes can only be washed by hand. In general, we did not find it difficult to clean. If you want to prepare and store lunch for multiple days, or if you don't run the dishwasher every day, you can purchase additional trays.
Bentgo has a responsive customer service staff (available by phone or online), and people are full of praise for it. If you happen to lose the partition, the company will provide a replacement partition, and each lunch box comes with a two-year warranty (with proof of purchase) to solve the manufacturer's defects.
Bentgo Fresh has six colors. Wirecutter Editor-in-Chief Courtney Schley prepared hundreds of lunches for her three school-age children in Bentgo; she pointed out that it is easier to pack different kinds of lunches in Bentgo compared to other bento she has tried—such as sandwiches and rice. Or egg pasta or Mexican tortillas. When she was 3 years old, her son could safely open and close the door latch by himself, something that some other bento couldn't do.
Bentgo is not insulated and has no space for ice packs, so it is best used for lunches that do not need to be kept cool. Unlike our other options, Bentgo does not have a handle (you can use a suitcase to get the PlanetBox), so it is best to transport it in a backpack. Its rubber seals are not replaceable, and many online reviewers report that it will mold over time. Since we first published this guide in 2018, we have heard complaints about Bentgo's lack of long-term durability. (A Wirecutter employee commented: "They will fall apart in a year.") In addition to the weak latches, there are reports that the hinges may break, and the box design exacerbates this situation: you have to be careful Lift the lid off the 2-inch spine to place it correctly on top of the food tray; if you try to lock it without the lid in place, it will tighten at the weakest part of the hinge. Although Bentgo's two-year warranty does provide a certain degree of protection and recourse in the event of any problems, many people prefer to avoid the hassle of replacement. Despite these concerns, we believe that Bentgo has sufficient significant advantages over competitors to ensure that we are still our preferred Bento.
This stainless steel lunch box is the most durable and easiest to clean of our bento boxes because it can be placed directly in the dishwasher.
*At the time of publication, the price was $50.
If you buy the PlanetBox Rover stainless steel lunch box (approximately US$50 at the time of writing) and its matching insulated bag (US$24 at the time of writing), then you will spend twice the cost of Bentgo Fresh. But the high price brings For unparalleled durability. One parent we interviewed said that their children have been using their Rover for nearly four years and there is no sign of wear. Many reviewers on Amazon wrote that they have used their products for longer or longer periods of time, and PlanetBox still looks brand new.
This durable stainless steel lunch box is about the size of letter paper and 1.5 inches thick. Unlike Bentgo, it does not have silicone or rubber seals to prevent leakage (or eventually mold growth). In our test, water flows freely from one end to the other, so (as with our other bento picks) we avoid putting any liquid in the compartment. Instead, these items can be placed in two small round containers with silicone lids, and they are leak-proof in our tests. The larger container is 3½ inches in diameter and about 1¼ inches high, and the smaller container is 1¾ inches in diameter and 1¼ inches high (suitable for dipping sauce). Both can be put into the Velcro pocket of the box or cloth bag. Although in theory, the accompanying containers do increase the choice of what types of foods can be packaged, Wirecutter editor Ingela Ratledge Amundson points out that tracking these custom containers and their corresponding lids can be a challenge: in order to when I need them When I found them, I basically just trained myself to only pack dry food in PlanetBox. "
Since it has no rubber or silicone seals, unlike Bentgo, the lid of the PlanetBox will not be sucked, and we found that a 2-year-old child can easily unlock the metal latch to open the tray. According to the manufacturer, neither the lunch box nor the container is designed to hold hot food. PlanetBox is shallower than Bentgo, and the compartments may be more restricted, especially if you usually pack larger sandwiches.
Its simple stainless steel structure makes PlanetBox easier to clean than any of our other bento or insulated lunch boxes. It can be placed in the dishwasher, top or bottom rack. However, it is not microwave safe.
The box survived our drop test with slight scratches. For protection and convenience, we recommend buying a PlanetBox set with an insulated bag. It has a padded handle, a spacious pocket that can hold more food containers and a small water bottle, and an internal mesh bag suitable for slim ice packs and elastic Cutlery belt. A bag with a lunch box inside can be put in a children’s backpack, and there is enough space for homework and other equipment. The bag has more than ten colors and patterns. Each lunch box contains a set of magnets to personalize the appearance of the box; you have more than 30 designs to choose from, from dinosaurs to flowers, from Warholian soup pots to Día de los Muertos skulls. (The company recommends removing the magnet before putting the box in the dishwasher.)
One of the common complaints about PlanetBox is that it weighs about 1.7 pounds, which is too heavy for young children. If you need something lighter, please consider buying Bentgo Fresh. A few commenters also mentioned that their PlanetBox has rust spots, but the company offers a five-year warranty — the longest warranty period of all our options — and the lunch box should be replaced in time.
With the help of a group of supporters, a great lunch box can do better. Below are some reusable bags, containers and utensils from our other guides, as well as personal experience from Wirecutter staff. We found that these make it more convenient for adults to pack lunch, and also make children's lunch experience easier and more interesting.
Stasher reusable silicone bags are less wasteful than disposable zippered plastic bags (and easier to use than cleaned and reused zippered plastic bags)-a reusable plastic alternative selected from our guide Products-Available in a variety of sizes and attractive colors. They are tightly sealed and can hold everything from snacks and side dishes to leftovers. In addition, they are freezer and dishwasher safe. The only downside is their high price (at the time of writing, a pack of $4 and $55).
Pliable Bee's Wrap-another Wirecutter option-fits snugly, making it easy to transport items such as sandwiches, fruits and vegetables. Although they are not hermetically sealed, in our tests, these packages perform as well as plastic packages during short-term use (approximately four days). They require gentle hand washing, and if used properly, they should last for about a year. Note: These may be more suitable for older children, who will remember that they are not disposable.
The Miniware GrowBento set is specially designed to transport all kinds of food. It comes with a double-layer stainless steel bento box (for pasta, sandwiches, chopped fruit and salads) and two leak-proof silicone pods with lids, suitable for dipping Sauces and sauces. They can be used in dishwashers and freezers. Courtney Schley, Wirecutter's managing editor, admitted that although the device is expensive ($38 at the time of publication), "We have been using them every day for a year and they are in good condition. They are really convenient." Of course, there is no need to buy a dedicated one. Lunch container. Plastic Snapware containers-the first choice in our guide to the best food storage containers-are lightweight, leak-proof, dishwasher, freezer, and microwave safe. They are also versatile and easy to stack, and their snap-on lids are easy to handle. (We like the 1.21 cup lunch package; this assorted Snapware set also comes with a 2.5 cup option, which can be used well for larger portions.)
To help subdivide the food in her daughter's Bentgo Fresh and PlanetBox Rover bento boxes, editor-in-chief Winnie Yang recommended AmazonBasics reusable silicone baking cups for dishwashers/freezers/microwaves. Small, flexible containers "separate dry and wet foods-I would put a stack of biscuits or pretzels in a cup and put them in a larger compartment with fruits or vegetables," Winnie said.
What if your child (or you) has, uh, the habit of putting lunch boxes in the wrong place? "For parents who can't bear to lose another $25 container," senior author Nancy Redd recommends the budget-friendly Freshmage Bento Lunch Box Containers, which are available in three-compartment and four-compartment configurations. These plastic bento boxes are suitable for microwaves, refrigerators, and dishwashers, are stackable, reusable, and (at the time of writing) a set of three is $8. "These containers allowed me to get through a messy and unenvironmentally friendly first grade," Nancy said.
Food thermos is the cleanest and most reliable way to hold hot and liquid food. Wirecutter editor-in-charge Winnie Yang and senior staff writer Joanne Chen both use Thermos Funtainer, which is a food thermos bottle we choose for children. When packaging leftovers such as pasta and stir-fries, their Funtainer can keep frequent use and Runs in the dishwasher. In addition, the Thermos Funtainer comes in a variety of colors and patterns, and is usually $10 cheaper than the other thermos we recommend. Winnie also often relies on the dishwasher-safe LunchBots Thermos for her family. She particularly likes the 12-ounce version because it has a wide mouth—nearly an inch wider than the Funtainer—it is easy to eat. Supervising editor Courtney Schley recommends our top thermos, Zojirushi stainless steel food jar. For kids, she prefers the 9-ounce size, and in our tests, it performed better than almost all other thermos in keeping food hot (or cold) for six hours or more. It has a screw cap and can be easily operated by small hands. (Zojirushi recommends hand washing, because the thermal insulation capacity of the thermos will be reduced in the dishwasher.)
When serving chopped fruits or other items that may be sticky in a bento box, editor-in-chief Winnie Yang will provide one of these Torune dog and cat food selections. Because they are thin and short (less than 2 inches long), they can be tucked directly into the compartment. (Warning: These picks cannot be washed in the dishwasher.) When real cutlery must be used, Winnie will choose the OmieBox children's cutlery set-a reusable plastic fork and spoon that can be washed in the dishwasher. When in use, it is nested together with a silicone sleeve with a shoulder strap.
We recently started testing the Bentgo children's stainless steel lunch box. This bento-style lunch box comes from the same company that makes our top bento box. The plastic box lunch box is made of stainless steel and can be used in the dishwasher. It is designed to prevent leakage between the three internal compartments. We will update this guide based on our findings.
Most insulated lunch boxes are neither machine washable nor dishwasher safe. The manufacturer recommends using mild dishwashing detergent and wet paper towels to wipe clean the insulated lunch box. Be sure to dry the insulated lunch box with a paper towel or cloth, and open and unzip the lunch box before use to allow it to air dry completely. The best way is to clean the insulated lunch box once or twice a week to prevent it from emitting unpleasant smells.
For difficult-to-treat stains, such as ketchup stains, it may take multiple attempts to clean the soiled area. If the exterior is dirty, we recommend that you clean it immediately with a small amount of soap and water.
For bento boxes with rubber seals around the lid, please wash them by hand to avoid potential deterioration. And, if possible, remove the seal for individual cleaning and drying before reassembly. For the best cleaning method, please refer to the manufacturer's instructions.
If you want to pack hot and cold food for your child: The plastic OmieBox comes with an integrated insulated food can. This is the only bento we found that can carry hot and cold food. Vacuum-sealed containers — tightly sealed and leak-free in our tests — can keep foods such as pasta and soup warm, or foods such as yogurt or cottage cheese cool.
We like OmieBox so much that it once became the first choice for this guide. Over time, we encountered some reports from online owner reviews and Wirecutter staff regarding fragility and lack of durability. But our main reservation is that it cannot provide enough food for older children. OmieBox recently released a redesign that, among other adjustments, increased the capacity of food cans from 6.5 ounces to 8.5 ounces (or slightly more than a cup), and increased the external dimensions from 7 x 7 x 2.5 to 7.5 x 8.5 x 3. Supervising editor Courtney Schley has been testing the new model for several months, and she noticed that the enlarged size is an improvement. For example, it is now possible to put regular sandwiches (cut in half) in the main compartment, whereas in previous versions, the sandwiches had to be trimmed or cut into strips. However, the overall capacity of this lunch box is still moderate, and it is really only suitable for preschool children. The company stated that the OmieBox can be cleaned on the top rack of the dishwasher. However, it is recommended to take out the OmieBox or wash it by hand before the heating and drying cycle. An employee's OmieBox deforms in the dishwasher.
The Fit & Fresh Bento Box Lunch Kit comes with a clip-in ice pack that can be placed in an insulated lunch box with a zipper. But we feel that the quality of the materials is very poor, small containers and lids are easy to lose, and it is not easy to organize.
The cost of the stainless steel LunchBots Large Cinco Bento Box is usually about the same as the PlanetBox Rover. The LunchBots box comes in a variety of sizes, configurations and layouts, and comes with a variety of bowls with lids that can be placed inside. But it feels more fragile than PlanetBox, and the unconnected lid is easier to lose.
We previously recommended the Bentgo Kids lunch box. Its compartment is smaller than that of Bentgo Fresh. The rubber material with grip around the outer edge of the box absorbs the impact in our drop test. However, this model is best for preschoolers, even for people of that age, some people may find that it does not provide enough food for children in full-day care.
The Bentgo classic all-in-one stackable bento lunch box is cumbersome to use. We cannot install the lid on the container, and plastic tableware is troublesome. The ketchup on the elastic band is so bad that it is difficult to remove.
The BentoHeaven Leakproof Bento Lunch Box has only two large compartments and tableware as fragile as a toy.
For young children, the EcoLunchBox 3-in-1 Classic is a beautiful, compact stainless steel choice. The metal container is easy to clean and can be washed in a dishwasher. In our drop test, this lunch box did not suffer any dents or permanent damage, but we ruled it out because it is not leak-proof and it is too small for older children.
The plastic IKEA Flottig broke in our drop test. Like BentoHeaven, this bento has two large compartments and small, matte plastic tableware.
Like the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie classic lunch box, the Lands' End ClassMate EZ Wipe lunch box (now known as Lands' End Insulated EZ Wipe Printed Lunch Box) has a molded foam interior, giving it a shape that is stronger than our favorite LLBean box already. However, with use, the individual liner started to bubble in the corners, and we found that the box was too big for a kid's lunch.
The LLBean clamshell lunch box is larger than our choice of LLBean lunch box, but it has a similar sturdy shell and easy-to-wipe lining. It is more organized and cannot be neatly placed in a backpack or handbag.
The PackIt Freezable Lunch Bag has received good reviews on Amazon, but we have read customer complaints that the inside is covered with condensed water and the food is wet. One of our editors personally used this lunch bag, and they said it was difficult to clean. It also needs to be completely dried before refreezing, otherwise the zipper will freeze and fail to work.
We dismissed the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Cold Pack Lunch Bag because its thin lining easily gathers together, catches crumbs and is difficult to clean.
Good Housekeeping recommends Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Retro Lunch Box because it passed the magazine’s leak test. However, we found that this box is very inconvenient to use because it requires vertical stacking of items: some foods are easily squashed, you can't see everything when you open the box, you have to open the whole thing to see the items at the bottom.
We did not test the Pottery Barn Kids Spencer bento box because its compartments are small and limited, and the thin plastic of the box does not seem to be as durable as the material on our bento box.
The inner lining of the Wildkin Lunch Box has many seams, which can trap crumbs and make cleaning difficult. In our test, the interior was heavily contaminated by tomato sauce.
Similar in design to Bentgo Kids, Yumbox Panino is too small for many kindergartens and older children. Yumbox’s plastic is thinner and less sturdy than Bentgo Kids’ plastic.
The Zojirushi Mr. Bento stainless steel lunch pot is a unique next-level bento. But it is too big for school use, and too complicated for young children, because it needs to be packaged in a specific way to be safely closed.
Sonjia Hyon is a freelance researcher and writer who has worked in marketing, cultural programs, higher education and food. Recently, she contributed to the writing of The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School. She has a PhD in American Studies and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter Nico.
Anna Perling is a full-time writer covering kitchen appliances at Wirecutter. During this time, she covered various topics, including sports bras, board games, and light bulbs. Previously, she wrote food and lifestyle articles for Saveur and Kinfolk magazines. Anna is a mentor of Girls Write Now and a member of the Online News Association.
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