Ever opened your microwaved lunch and burned your tongue with the first bite only to find out the center was still cold? Or perhaps you don't have one nearby and would settle with mediocre meals or opt to eat out instead? Gone are the days when we have to compromise one of the best moments of our workday. Now, we can enjoy hot meals right on our desks or even in our cars, for those who are always on the road.
To give you a sneak peek, here's Crock-Pot's Lunch Crock Food Warmer, which heats up your meal to an ideal temperature; all you have to do is plug it to a power source! There's plenty more where that came from, and if you're on the market for other varieties of electric lunch boxes, do glance at our buying guide for more options.
We've selected Amazon's bestselling electric lunch boxes and compiled them in a list that jots down their specifications, features, and critical reviews.
$21.92
Voltage | 110-120V |
---|---|
Capacity | 2.5 cups |
Size | 8.1 x 8 x 7.7 in. |
Net weight | 1.6 lbs. |
Materials used | Plastic and stainless steel |
Cooking/warming time | 30-60 minutes |
Compartments | 1 |
Dishwasher safe | Yes |
$39.95
Voltage | 120V |
---|---|
Capacity | 1.5 quarts |
Size | 9.5 x 7.5 x 3.5 in. |
Net weight | 1.25 lbs. |
Materials used | Soft-sided, aluminum insulated tote with a hot plate |
Cooking/warming time | 20 minutes to 3 hours depending on preference and food |
Compartments | 1 |
Dishwasher safe | - |
$28.99
Voltage | 110V/12V (for vehicles) |
---|---|
Capacity | 1.6 quarts |
Size | 9 x 7 x 5 in. |
Net weight | 1.65 lbs. |
Materials used | 304 stainless steel and high-quality plastic |
Cooking/warming time | 20-40 minutes |
Compartments | 2 |
Dishwasher safe | Yes |
$31.99
Voltage | 110V |
---|---|
Capacity | 1.5 quarts |
Size | 9.4 x 7.2 x 3.9 in. |
Net weight | 1.4 lbs. |
Materials used | Soft-sided, aluminum insulated tote with a hot plate |
Cooking/warming time | 30-40 minutes (leftovers)/ 2+ hours (raw food) |
Compartments | 1 (plus one for cutlery) |
Dishwasher safe | - |
$25.99
Voltage | 110V/12V (for vehicles) |
---|---|
Capacity | 5 cups |
Size | 9.96 x 6.73 x 4.44 in. |
Net weight | 1.74 lbs. |
Materials used | 304 stainless steel and food grade PP material |
Cooking/warming time | 30-50 minutes |
Compartments | 2 |
Dishwasher safe | Yes |
$34.97
Voltage | 110V |
---|---|
Capacity | 5.5 cups |
Size | 5.5 x 6.1 x 6.5 in. |
Net weight | 2.35 lbs. |
Materials used | 304 stainless steel and food grade PP material |
Cooking/warming time | 20-35 minutes |
Compartments | 2 |
Dishwasher safe | Yes |
$34.99
Voltage | 110V/12V (for vehicles) |
---|---|
Capacity | 3.8 cups |
Size | 10.6 x 7.9 x 4.5 in. |
Net weight | 2.4 lbs. |
Materials used | 304 stainless steel and food grade PP material |
Cooking/warming time | 30-40 minutes |
Compartments | 3 |
Dishwasher safe | Yes |
$29.91
Voltage | 110V/12V (for vehicles) |
---|---|
Capacity | 6.25 cups |
Size | 9.3 x 4.3 x 6.9 in. |
Net weight | 1.9 lbs. |
Materials used | 304 stainless steel and food grade PP material |
Cooking/warming time | 30-50 minutes |
Compartments | 2 |
Dishwasher safe | Yes |
$29.95
Voltage | 12V |
---|---|
Capacity | Regular sized loaf pan |
Size | 10 x 8 x 6 in. |
Net weight | 2.5 lbs. |
Materials used | Aluminum interior surface, heat-resistant outer plastic case |
Cooking/warming time | 30-45 minutes |
Compartments | 1 |
Dishwasher safe | - |
$39.99
Voltage | 110V/12-24V (for vehicles) |
---|---|
Capacity | 4 cups |
Size | 9.45 x 7.09 x 4.33 in. |
Net weight | 2.14 lbs. |
Materials used | 304 stainless steel and food grade PP material |
Cooking/warming time | 30-60 minutes |
Compartments | 3 |
Dishwasher safe | Yes |
Image | 1 ![]() Crock-Pot | 2 ![]() Hot Logic | 3 ![]() Eocolz | 4 ![]() Rottogoon | 5 ![]() Corotc | 6 ![]() Janolia | 7 ![]() Yohoolyo | 8 ![]() Vovoir | 9 ![]() Gideon | 10 ![]() Toursion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Lunch Crock Food Warmer | Food Warming Tote | Electric Lunch Box | Portable Food Warmer | Car Home Lunch Box | Electric Food Heater | Electric Lunch Box for Car and Home | Electric Heating Lunch Box | Heated Electric Lunch Box | Electric Lunch Box |
Features | The Trusty Food Warmer for On-the-Go Meals | Your Food Warming Tote That Cooks and Heats | A Fast-Heating Lunch Box for Your Car | An Easy-to-Carry Electric Lunch Bag | The Easy-to-Clean, Portable Electric Lunch Box | The Electric Lunch Box That Cooks and Warms Through Steam | A Lunch Container That Both Heats and Insulates | A Great Option for Lots and Lots of Food | Warms up Food With Just an Aluminum Loaf Pan | Lots of Compartments So Food Doesn't Touch |
Price | $21.92 | $39.95 | $28.99 | $31.99 | $25.99 | $34.97 | $34.99 | $29.91 | $29.95 | $39.99 |
Voltage | 110-120V | 120V | 110V/12V (for vehicles) | 110V | 110V/12V (for vehicles) | 110V | 110V/12V (for vehicles) | 110V/12V (for vehicles) | 12V | 110V/12-24V (for vehicles) |
Capacity | 2.5 cups | 1.5 quarts | 1.6 quarts | 1.5 quarts | 5 cups | 5.5 cups | 3.8 cups | 6.25 cups | Regular sized loaf pan | 4 cups |
Size | 8.1 x 8 x 7.7 in. | 9.5 x 7.5 x 3.5 in. | 9 x 7 x 5 in. | 9.4 x 7.2 x 3.9 in. | 9.96 x 6.73 x 4.44 in. | 5.5 x 6.1 x 6.5 in. | 10.6 x 7.9 x 4.5 in. | 9.3 x 4.3 x 6.9 in. | 10 x 8 x 6 in. | 9.45 x 7.09 x 4.33 in. |
Net weight | 1.6 lbs. | 1.25 lbs. | 1.65 lbs. | 1.4 lbs. | 1.74 lbs. | 2.35 lbs. | 2.4 lbs. | 1.9 lbs. | 2.5 lbs. | 2.14 lbs. |
Materials used | Plastic and stainless steel | Soft-sided, aluminum insulated tote with a hot plate | 304 stainless steel and high-quality plastic | Soft-sided, aluminum insulated tote with a hot plate | 304 stainless steel and food grade PP material | 304 stainless steel and food grade PP material | 304 stainless steel and food grade PP material | 304 stainless steel and food grade PP material | Aluminum interior surface, heat-resistant outer plastic case | 304 stainless steel and food grade PP material |
Cooking/warming time | 30-60 minutes | 20 minutes to 3 hours depending on preference and food | 20-40 minutes | 30-40 minutes (leftovers)/ 2+ hours (raw food) | 30-50 minutes | 20-35 minutes | 30-40 minutes | 30-50 minutes | 30-45 minutes | 30-60 minutes |
Compartments | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 (plus one for cutlery) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Dishwasher safe | Yes | - | Yes | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | Yes |
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Choosing an electric lunch box might seem like a straightforward task for some or could be a confusing one for others, given the many specifications and types of lunch boxes out there. Here we have a buying guide to help prospective buyers pick out the best and most fitting lunch box according to their needs, schedule, mobility, and more.
Perhaps the first consideration when it comes to picking out a lunchbox is the storage capacity. It’s recommended to go for a particular lunch box size based on appetite and consumption.
Regular-sized lunch boxes come in a range of 1.5L capacity (approx 6 cups) which can carry a decent balanced meal of carbs and one or two sides. Some lunch boxes go up to 2 to 2.5L (2.5 quarts) for those with healthier appetites or people who love to bring a feast to share.
To save on electricity consumption, you can go for a lunch box that automatically shuts off when done heating or cooking. It's also advised to ensure that the plug is well-designed or waterproof for safety because you will be dealing with liquids and heat.
Keeping to the topic of power specifications, do check how long it takes to heat or prepare your lunch. Most electric lunch boxes take 20-40 minutes to operate and bring a meal to the ideal temperature, but it can take up to double the time if you start with cold food.
Did you know that some electric lunch boxes don't only warm or heat up food to the perfect temperature for consumption but also can cook it from a raw state?
For example, you can get a model that cooks rice and steams food from scratch. You add water to the heating base then pile up the compartments with food. These lunch boxes can steam fish, veggies, and more, which is a healthy way of eating, too!
For a regular heating electric lunch box, the user is advised to pour in a bit of water beforehand if the cooked food came straight from the fridge the night before to soften up the ingredients, thus making them good as fresh and ready to be enjoyed.
We're always on the lookout for the best features in any product, such as capabilities that make them efficient and easy to use. For electric lunch boxes, it's recommended to consider the material for easy cleaning, the number of compartments, and the overall safety of the product.
Ever made tomato pasta and got the orange-red sauce mixed with oil clinging to a plastic container? Plastic is challenging to clean and attracts oily and greasy food.
Meanwhile, stainless steel is generally easier to wash. It's up to your preference which material would be best depending on usage. As an added convenience, check to see if the food compartments are dishwasher safe.
Another option of an electric lunch box is one wherein the heating device accommodates your own lunch box instead of having built-in compartments. These are a great alternative because you can carry a wide variety of meals stored in plastic, foil, metal, glass, and more.
If you're one who likes a lot of side dishes or variety to their meals, then look for a lunch box that can accommodate dividers. Or how about one with stackable compartments to carry rice or other carbs on one layer then the other dishes on top? This way, you'll be able to carry meals in bigger portions.
Most electric heating lunch boxes use lower voltage, meaning more nutrients and moisture can be retained in the food compared to overheating in a microwave. The materials used are also safe, such as 304 stainless steel, which is both a non-toxic and environmentally-friendly option.
If you're looking for plastic, go for lunch boxes with food-grade PP, which are plastics approved for food contact that don't present a health hazard to consumers. This information would be readily available in the product description.
Since we're dealing with heat and electricity, make sure it doesn't get too hot to the touch, especially if you're using it for kids or around kids. You can usually find this information in the reviews as users would highlight if a particular model needs extra caution when handling.
Who doesn't like containers? They're awesome at organizing and keeping things neat and tidy and making our lives so much easier. You might be interested in the best bento boxes for adults, eco-friendly food storage options or reusable storage bags for more flexibility.
Hopefully the top 10 list and buying guide above made you excited for a chance to have a scrumptious meal at the comfort of your desk or vehicle. These innovative devices are definitely changing how we enjoy a lunch break and making our lives more convenient and comfortable. We all deserve a hot lunch, after all!
Author: Hana Otsuka
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