How to Keep Food Hot in Lunch Box for Long Hours - Easy Proven Tips
Packing hot food for long periods of time without access microwave can be a challenge. If you want to know how to keep food hot in lunch box for long hours, you are in the right place. Are you preparing food for work, school or travel. it is very important to keep the food hot and fresh. here we will recommend the best lunch box to keep food hot along with tips and product recommendations that will help you enjoy hot food for a long time.
1. Preheat Your Container
Preheat your container it’s one of the easy ways to keep food hot . To do this fill the container with boil water and leave for few minutes. Then empty the container of water dry it and fill it with hot food. This method helps to increase the internal temperature of the container, which increases the heat retention time. A review by PracticalMama states that preheating the container allows the food to stay hot longer.
2. Use High Quality Thermal Container
It’s very important to maintain temperature for the correct lunch container. One of the best solutions for how to keep food hot in lunch box for long hours, a example Thermos Stainless King Food Jar or Zojirushi Stainless Steel Food Jar both capable for keeping food hot more than 9 hours. Those container made by double layer stainless steel and vacuum insulation which helps to reduce heat loss. Real users from Amazon and Reddit have praised their durability and effectiveness for these products and many has said that they packed food in the morning stays warm even during lunchtime.
3. Pack Food While It’s Hot
As soon as the food is cooked it should be packed in the container. If you late for packing the food heat will lost much faster which reduces the effectiveness of your container. Real life user said on Reddit that waiting 10-15 minutes after cooking can also lower the temperature of the food. So the food should be packed immediately after cooking.
4. Wrap Food in Aluminum Foil
Wrapped in hot food by aluminum foil that add additional insulation. This method is especially effective for sandwiches, wraps or burritos. If you’re packing a pizza the foil will help to keep the heat inside. Wrap the food back with a clean towel for extra insulation. Many home cooks on Instacart and they recommend this method as an effective way to be simple and affordable.
5. Use an Insulated Lunch Bag
An insulated lunch bag helps a lot of retaining heat. Brands like Hydro Flask and YETI have created lunch boxes and bags that products are best for keeping food hot. Users of Hydro Flask say on their official site that these lunch bags effectively keep food hot. So a good thermal container and insulated bag can be combined to keep the temperature of the food better.
6. Avoid Opening the Lid Frequently
As much as you open the lid of your lunch container the heat will go out. In reviews of various products on Amazon and Corkcicle many users said that it lowers the temperature of food. Keep the lid on until you’re ready to eat. This helps to keep the food warm.
7. Don’t Mix Hot and Cold Items
When hot and cold food are put together the heat lost very firstly. so hot foods such as soups or casseroles, should not be combined with cold foods. Users on Reddit have said that putting hot and cold food together reduces the temperature of the food. To understand how to keep food hot in lunch box for long hours. It’s very important to pack hot and cold foods separately. You can keep these items part by part using different containers or a compartmental lunch box.
8. Choose Heat-Retaining Foods
Not all foods retain heat. Soups, stews and casseroles are the best of them, as they contain more liquid which helps to retain heat. Many users on Instacart and Bon Appétit said that foods like chilli or pasta stay hot for a long time. Choose foods that can retain heat.
9. Utilize Heat Packs
Reusable heat pack is a excellent way to add extra heat to the hot food. These small pack can be heated in the microwave and placed in your lunch container or bag. Many users on Amazon said that heat packs extend the number of hours it takes to keep food hot especially for foods that need extra heat.
10. Consider an Electric Lunch Box
For those who have access to a power source, the electric lunch box is the best solution. Device such as LunchEaze heat food using electrical energy, allowing hot food to be obtained without a microwave. Users on Amazon and Corkcicle have praised these products, especially for office workers who don’t have access to a microwave.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even when you try your best to keep food hot but sometime a few small mistakes can ruin your efforts. Here are some common mistakes people make when trying to understand how to keep food hot in lunch box for long hours.
Don’t preheat : Many people don’t preheat the container before using the lunch box that’s why food cools faster.
Mix hot and cold food together : Putting hot rice or curry with salad or cold fruits in a container cools the hot food quickly.
The door is repeatedly opened : Every time the lid is opened, hot steam comes out. It cools the food.
The use of low quality containers : Low quality lunch boxes or insulated jars are unable to keep warm. Do not run behind the cheap, use a good quality thermal container.
Keeping food in a cold environment : If the weather is too cold outside, it can quickly reduce the heat of the food. Keep it in a bag.
Packaging food late after cooking : If the food isn’t packed immediately after cooking. its temperature decreases and also gets cold during packing.
Best Foods to Pack for Heat Retention
Most of the time for using your lunch box insulation choose like this food that are good at retaining heat. Soups, stews, and pasta is one of the best choice as they contain more liquid ingredients and have a higher heat retention capacity. Also, casseroles, chile and fried vegetables are perfect for keeping warm. Liquid or gravy based foods also retain heat.
Final Thoughts
It’s possible to keep food warm for long time, if you use right method. If you take hot food to work, school or picnic, the right container packing technique and selection of suitable foods will help keep the heat up. For those wondering how to keep food hot in lunch box for long hours, using preheated containers high quality insulated products and heat retaining meal make a big difference. So pack your food with confidence and enjoy the pleasures of a hot meal!