The choices are countless on the subject of shopping for the lunchbox itself, so it comes all the way down to your priorities. Would you like selection at lunchtimes and want a field with totally different compartments? Or maybe area inside your bag is proscribed, and also you want one thing slimline.
There isn’t a proper or incorrect sort of lunchbox to purchase, however attempt to just be sure you get one made with out BPA – and one that does not leak is essential. Learn on to find our greatest lunchboxes. For over 400 purchaser’s guides, go to our product assessment part and discover critiques of reusable espresso cups, water bottles (or personalised water bottles) and extra.
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Greatest lunchboxes at a look
- Greatest general lunch field: Black + Blum chrome steel lunch field, £28
- Most user-friendly lunch field: Tefal MasterSeal To Go meals storage 1.2-litre lunchbox, £14
- Greatest no-nonsense lunch field: OXO Good Grips on-the-go lunch container, £23.03
- Greatest blow-the-budget lunch field: Alessi meals à porter, £50
- Most fashionable lunch field: Hip Clutch lunch bag, £22
- Greatest lunch containers for meal prep: Beefeta 6 pack bento lunchbox containers, £18.99
- Greatest collapsible lunch field: Stojo collapsible lunch field, £23.50
- Greatest finances lunch field: Sistema salad & sandwich to go, £8.29
- Greatest bento field: Mon Bento MB authentic inexperienced English backyard bento field, £37.90
Greatest lunchboxes to purchase 2022
Black + Blum chrome steel lunchbox
Greatest general lunchbox
Professionals:
- Trendy with nice options
Cons:
This lunchbox is admittedly cleverly designed. It is chrome steel, with a brightly colored silicone strap (we had an orange one, however it additionally is available in blue or inexperienced). The strap additionally holds a chrome steel fork on the skin of the field. There is a detachable divider that slides up and all the way down to make two compartments of no matter dimension you fancy.
Unusually, you may put the bottom part within the oven. It is also secure to make use of within the freezer, so when not pressed into service as a lunchbox, it may be used for freezer meals. Nevertheless, it isn’t microwaveable, and is barely partially dishwasher-safe (the lid and strap needs to be handwashed).
The field is beautiful to have a look at and regardless of having no clips, is leakproof. It seals with a valve that you just open and shut. We packed a salad and liberally drizzled olive oil over it earlier than turning the lunchbox the wrong way up and swinging it a few bit, however it didn’t leak a drop.
We additionally checked to see if it was large enough for a sandwich. It wanted to be minimize in half, however the field was tall sufficient for the sandwich halves to be stacked on prime of one another. There was room for a small salad too.
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Tefal MasterSeal To Go meals storage 1.2-litre lunchbox
Most user-friendly lunchbox
Professionals:
Cons:
- No particular person lids on compartments
This multi-compartment lunchbox is designed for flexibility. There’s one giant compartment and two smaller ones. All of those sit inside the primary field, so you may take away some or the entire compartments if you need a much bigger area.
The entire lunchbox sits on a plate, which helps cease crumbs getting throughout your keyboard if you’re consuming at your desk. The field is sealed with 4 lengthy clasps, and a really broad strap retains it collectively.
The lunchbox handed our drip take a look at admirably, with not a drop of olive oil seeping via – dwelling as much as the ‘100% leakproof’ declare on the packaging. It additionally comes with a 30-year assure for good measure.
It ticks all of the containers, because it’s BPA-free and is secure to make use of within the freezer, microwave and dishwasher. We fitted a sizeable selfmade roll in the primary compartment, with carrot and dried apricots within the different two. It’s simple to open and shut, and the lime-coloured compartments, plate and seal are eye-catching too.
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OXO Good Grips on-the-go lunch container
Greatest no-nonsense lunchbox
Professionals:
Cons:
Typically you simply need one thing that’s efficient and stable with out worrying an excessive amount of in regards to the model. This field has a deep essential bowl which may simply home a big roll or salad.
There’s additionally a detachable shallow prime layer for a sandwich, biscuits, carrot sticks or the rest you fancy, so you may preserve your meals separate.
The clear lid has 4 clasps to lock it, and the inexperienced seal – which will be eliminated for laundry – gives a splash of color.
You may put the field within the microwave and the dishwasher. We did every part we may to make this leak, however failed. It was completely hermetic.
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Alessi meals à porter
Greatest blow-the-budget lunchbox
Professionals:
- Converts right into a mini bag so you may simply carry it individually
Cons:
This oval-shaped bento field has an enormous essential compartment and two smaller ones. The primary one, although not broad sufficient for an entire sandwich, is loads tall sufficient to suit two sandwich halves stacked on prime of one another.
You safe it with a band, and, very cleverly, a silicone deal with which will be wrapped round it so it may be simply carried.
The seal is admittedly tight – if something, it’s onerous to take away the lids – and nothing escaped from it.
We tried the gray mannequin (it additionally is available in purple and light-weight blue) and general it’s very fashionable, with delicate Alessi branding on the field and strap. We favored the matte essential compartment, which contrasted properly with the shiny central part.
The BPA-free field is user-friendly too, as you may put it within the freezer, microwave and dishwasher.
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Hip Clutch lunch bag and cutlery set
Most fashionable lunch field
Professionals:
- Distinctive
- Separate pot for salad dressing
Cons:
- Greatest suited to salads, not sandwiches
A lunch field that doubles up as a trendy accent? That’s the purpose of this ‘clutch’ model lunch bag with a neat deal with. Accessible in good jade or dusty pink, this spherical bag comes with a cutlery set and useful mini lidded pot for salad dressing.
The deep, spherical bowl makes it most fitted to taking salads and leftovers to work as a substitute of sandwiches. The matching cutlery slots into the within of the lid and is roofed with a leather-look strap. It has a beneficiant capability, though this and it’s uncommon form means it might be fairly cumbersome in a purse or tote bag.
It’s dishwasher secure for straightforward clear up and boasts eco-credentials too, being produced from ocean-bound plastic.
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Beefeta 6 pack bento lunchbox containers
Greatest lunch containers for meal prep
Professionals:
- Helpful multipack
- Spares for going within the dishwasher
- Appropriate for adults and children
- Microwave and dishwasher secure
Cons:
- Lid is just not as safe as different lunch containers
If you’re making lunchboxes for the entire household every day, this useful multipack makes it simple. Coming in a set of six colour-coded containers, you can also make a few lunches directly and still have some within the dishwasher because the week goes on. That is additionally nice if you happen to like meal prep on the weekend and make all of the lunches directly to retailer within the fridge.
The containers are divided into three compartments: one bigger part for sandwiches and two that can be utilized for fruit or snacks. The lid divides by these sections too, to assist preserve parts separate. If adults are utilizing the containers, they’re usefully microwave and freezer secure, so useful if utilizing them for taking leftovers to work. Children might be finest placing these containers inside a lunch bag or field which should be bought individually.
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Stojo collapsible lunch field
Greatest collapsible lunch field
Professionals:
- Collapsible for straightforward transport residence
Cons:
No extra lugging residence cumbersome lunch containers with this smooth, collapsible mannequin. Accessible in pastel blue or pink, this spherical design has ridged edges that fold down flat when empty to save lots of area. Nice if you happen to’ve received plans after work and don’t need to carry an enormous lunch field in your bag.
When absolutely prolonged, the bowl has a beneficiant 1100ml capability. The spherical form means it’s best suited to transporting leftovers and salads somewhat than sandwiches. It’s held in place by 4 clasps to forestall leaks.
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Oliver Bonas (£23.50)
Sistema salad & sandwich to go
Greatest finances lunchbox
Professionals:
- Properly designed to suit two totally different lunch meals
Cons:
With a beneficiant 1.63-litre capability, this field is surprisingly compact. There is a deep essential part that is loads large enough for a good-sized salad, and a detachable prime part for a sandwich. We additionally discovered it labored the opposite approach spherical, with a big roll in the primary part and some carrot and cucumber sticks within the prime.
The field is secured with 4 small however efficient locking clasps, and we favored that the brilliant pink contrasted the clear field.
It is deep, so it will not match into the smallest of baggage, however the form means it would not take up an excessive amount of storage space. It is also extremely sensible, as you may put it within the microwave, dishwasher and freezer.
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Mon Bento MB authentic inexperienced English backyard bento field
Greatest bento field
Professionals:
Cons:
Made in France, this stylish field oozes model, however it has hidden options too. There are two equal-sized containers, one inexperienced and one white, with particular person lids and a fairly inexperienced prime lid. One compartment has a small detachable part which may maintain one thing small like raisins, and it doubles up as a divider. The field is held along with a gray strap.
Along with scoring excessive on the seems entrance, we awarded this prime marks as a result of, unusually for bento containers, you should use it within the microwave and it’s hermetic too. You simply pull the silicone flap in every part to disclose a steam gap, making it appropriate for the microwave.
We tried packing salad with olive oil and turning it the wrong way up for an hour, however nothing got here out. The field may also be used within the dishwasher and freezer. With a one-litre capability, it holds an honest quantity too.
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Which lunchbox ought to I purchase?
Initially, take into consideration what you’ll use it for. If it’s only for a sandwich, you don’t want to fret an excessive amount of about leaks, however if you happen to like a salad with dressing, it’s essential to seek out one that’s hermetic.
Capability is essential – how large is your common lunch? Bigger containers will maintain extra substantial lunches, but in addition take up extra space in your bag.
Fancy a sandwich, salad, and a few fruit too? In case you don’t need all of it combined up collectively, seek for one with compartments. A few of the containers in our pattern had adjustable dividers so you may transfer them round to make the compartments be just right for you. We additionally examined bento containers, which regularly have two or three utterly separate containers.
Some lunchboxes are insulated, so if you happen to are inclined to have lunches that must be stored cool, go for considered one of these.
Do you want taking leftovers to work? If you wish to take final evening’s curry to the workplace, discover a lunchbox that may go within the microwave.
Lunchboxes differ significantly in value. Our pattern ranged from £1.50 to £44.
Lastly, take into consideration model. In case you’re going to make use of it day by day, you may as effectively discover a lunchbox that you just discover enticing. You may favor a no-nonsense, rugged lunchbox, otherwise you may favor a mannequin that’s so refined, you grow to be the envy of the workplace. Would you like one with a fairly sample, or a see-through field so you may gaze hungrily at its contents?
What we seemed for in a lunchbox…
No leaks: We stuffed every field with salad and olive oil earlier than shaking and turning them the wrong way up. We additionally put the containers in baggage and swung them about as we walked earlier than checking them for leaks.
Intelligent options: Does the field have detachable compartments, preserve your lunch chilly, or include a knife and fork?
Simple to make use of: Nobody needs to waste valuable lunchtime minutes wrestling to open their lunchbox. We checked for easy-to-open clasps and easily opening containers.
Measurement: We seemed for lunchboxes that have been large enough to carry a grown-up lunch, and gave bonus factors to ones that managed to do this with out being too cumbersome.
Model: We have been pleasantly shocked by how enticing a number of the lunchboxes have been and awarded marks for this.
Worth for cash: There was an enormous value vary, however crucial query was whether or not the containers merited their price ticket.
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