The best lunchbox gadgets
Do you like to make your own packed lunches? Do it in style by reading our guide to picking the best lunchbox kit below. We have recipe suggestions, too.
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Thermos small copper food flask
Best hot food flask
If you’re tired of salads and sandwiches, you’ll love this sturdy little stainless steel food flask, which will open up a whole new range of lunch options for you. The wide neck and shape allows you to pack in soups, chunky stews and even sausages and beans, and it’s virtually unbreakable, so there are no worries about carrying it around in your bag. There’s even a clever full-size folding spoon tucked neatly into the lid if you want to eat your lunch directly from the flask. The flask has a capacity of 470ml and will keep cold food chilled. As a tip, pour boiling water into the flask to heat up the interior before adding the food and it will keep hot for up to nine hours. The wide neck makes it easy to clean, too.
Lakeland leak-proof lunchbox with compartments
Best box for lunch and snacks
More like this
Great for those who like to pack a range of food to snack on through the day as well as your lunch, we we were very impressed with how much you can fit in to this rigid, high-quality lunchbox. The box comes with two additional removable inner boxes with lids, which fit neatly into inner grooves so they don’t slip about. The small one is ideal for dressings, dips or nuts, while the large one is perfect for salad and will even go in the microwave for heating up leftovers. There is also a plastic spoon and an additional space in the main box for packing other snacks. Take everything out and the large box itself is roomy enough for lunch for two. The clear lid has lock-down grips to make sure there won’t be any spills.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out our lunchbox review.
Sistema Lunch Coolers ice packs
Best buy for keeping lunch cool
If you don’t have a fridge at work and you want to keep your food cold until lunchtime, these little packs are ideal. Small (12 x 9cm), compact and lightweight, just put them in the freezer when you get home and they will be ready to use the next day. They come as a pack of three so are useful to slip between items, or use one their own for sandwiches. Once they thaw they're quite delicate, so treat kindly.
Citruszinger Sport
Best bottle for healthy drinks
If you're not a great one for drinking water at work and want a healthier option to squash or fizzy drinks, this is for you. It’s a clever plastic water bottle with built in straw that has a special compartment in the base with a citrus squeezer so you can add fresh lemons, limes, or small oranges to give the water a fruity twist. Simply unscrew the base add your chosen fruit then screw it back on, top up with water and give it a good shake. The top of the bottle is wide enough to add ice cubes too to keep it extra cold in the summer. Plus, the bottle holds over 800ml so you won’t have to keep leaving your desk to refill it!
Feeling thirsty? Check out our water bottle review.
Judge stainless steel thermal sports bottle
Best small bottle for hot or chilled drinks
Not everyone wants to pack a large drink to take to work, which is why we like this 180ml stainless steel sports bottle that's a convenient mug size. Many thermal bottles come with a fixed narrow plastic tube to drink from, which can be difficult to keep clean, so the wide mouth on this one was a great selling point, as well as the fact that it’s safe to go in a dishwasher. The lockable lid provided an excellent seal – we stored the filled bottle on its side and there wasn’t a hint of a leak. As well as using it for hot or cold drinks, it's also ideal for transporting smooth soups for winter lunches. The double wall insulation is very efficient, so be cautious when taking your first sip of a hot drink.
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This review was last updated in June 2019. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Do you have a trusty lunchbox gadget you can't live without? We'd love to hear your product recommendations...
