They're also an environmentally-friendly option, as they nix the need for plastic and paper bags. Finding the right bento box for you and your family can be tricky, but there are so many options on Amazon that can fit specific needs. Shop a range of models that are made to fit small backpacks and totes, stackable boxes fit for leftovers and midday snacks , cool kids' boxes with eye-catching designs , and even a box designed for salads.
Keep scrolling to find the perfect fit for you. With two stackable containers that fit 3. It's safe to use in the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher, and the containers can be separated if you don't need both for your lunch.
Shoppers love that it's small enough for easy travel yet roomy enough for a healthy lunch. They also love that the separate containers make it easy to reheat foods at different microwave times. Buy It! Over 16, Amazon customers are fans of this best-selling bento box for kids because it features five compartments that separate food into healthy-sized portions.
It has rubber-coated edges for durability and leak-proof latches to prevent spills at school. Plus, the dishwasher- and microwave-safe box comes in 14 kid-friendly designs that feature mermaids, fairies, puppies, sharks, space, sports, and more. Once you close the lid, everything is airtight. I've packed oatmeal, noodle soup, and yogurt without a problem. I have a bunch of these lunch boxes so I can meal prep some of the compartments at the beginning of the week.
This large bento box is designed with three stackable containers and leak-proof latches on all sides to carry just about any meal. The bottom two containers feature stainless steel and plastic trays to maintain your food's temperature after packing. Note: If you need to microwave your meal, be sure to transfer your food from the stainless steel tray to the plastic one. There's nothing more disappointing than packing your perfect salad filled with chicken, veggies, onions, nuts and seeds, bacon, and blue cheese dressing only to find it as soggy mush by your lunch break.
Luckily, this bento box is specifically designed to keep every element of your salad separate until it's ready to eat. The salad base fits about 4 cups of veggies, so you won't feel hungry by the end of the day, and the top container has four compartments for plenty of toppings. It even comes with a fork and removable dressing cup. One reviewer said , "This is one of the best salad containers I've found.
It keeps everything separated until you want to combine everything. Portion control is great and can be used for other things besides salads. This plastic set of four bento boxes is perfect for busy families. They feature three compartments to hold main and side portions and they're dishwasher-, freezer-, and microwave-safe.
And since they're small and stackable, you can easily store them in tight kitchen cabinets. Amazon customers love these top-rated containers because they fit nicely in kids' lunch boxes and they're sturdy enough to wash and reheat repeatedly without wearing down. This is top-rack dishwasher safe when the container comes home and is available in a variety of colors, so everyone in the family can recognize their salad on the way out the door.
Most bento boxes are tall with stacking compartments, but this one has a slim design that looks modern and professional. This has two small 7-ounce compartments and one larger ounce compartment.
These are freezer- and microwave-safe for easy prepping and fast reheating. Monbento is a French company that has been making these incredibly attractive and high-end bento boxes since Each classic bento box is streamlined with a minimal look and feel but exudes softness with delicately rounded edges, a comforting color palette, and a BPA-free plastic that's soft to the touch.
Each bento box is constructed with two equally sized boxes, each with its own airtight lid, and a small food cup that fits into either box.
There is also a lid for the top of the boxes that you can slip some travel utensils, a small napkin, or some flavor packets into, and a coordinating elastic band to hold it all together. Each bento box is dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe to make transporting and reheating your food a snap, as well as cleanup when you're finished. Previous versions of the monbento lunch box included dividers for the bento boxes, but they have been replaced with the small food cup.
Monbento also offers a variety of food containers for both liquid and solid foods, all to match the elegant designs of the classic bento lunch box. I usually fill it with cured meats, cheese, fruit, and crackers as a snack when I'm going to be in the car or flying for an extended period of time. The BentoHeaven Bento Box Bundle is an all-around good choice in terms of design, functionality, and price view at Amazon.
Have kids? By Marshall Bright. As you may expect with something that has been in use for nearly a millennia, Bento boxes and meals vary widely. At its most basic, a bento box is a tray with a lid either attached or detached for ease of transportation. Both traditional and more contemporary bento can come in a variety of shapes and sizes but are generally either square or round.
Bento meals also typically feature a variety of foods that are divided using trays or even separate compartments that are often stacked.
Dividers can be fixed or moveable, allowing you more control over the portions. The first bento were made from bamboo, then later lacquered boxes and wood, such as cedar. Beginning in the 20th century, other materials began to be used, starting with aluminum in the s.
Today, you can still find bento boxes made from traditional materials as well as stainless steel, plastic, and glass. Single-use bento, common in Japan at convenience stores and sometimes found abroad as well, are typically single-use plastic or even styrofoam. Another change in bento boxes in the 20th century was the introduction of insulation in the design. Japanese insulated bento tend to come in separate containers and resemble a Western-style lunchbox , with a thermos cup that fits into an insulated or non-insulated soft carrying case.
The more common insulated option tends to be bento-inspired lunchboxes made by Western companies, often with a removable tray inside an insulated case. You can also find non-insulated bento that come with an insulated carrying case. Bento boxes are designed with a single serving meal in mind, but can still vary in size.
If you balance out your foods, you can typically create a filling meal even in a smaller bento box. Early bento lids were completely separate from the base of the box and often tied up in furoshiki, a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth, to help keep it secure. Today, tops of boxes are often more secure, with lids and seals that resemble other food containers.
Tops can be held in place with clasps, airtight lids, or gaskets. Lids are also often hinged, making it easy to keep all parts of the box together. Not surprisingly, before the advent of the microwave, bento meals were eaten cold.
If you want to heat up meals, make sure your bento is microwave-safe. Additionally, no matter your plans, ensure any plastic is BPA-free. More design-focused bento, as well as indestructible models with kids in mind, tend to be on the more expensive side. Traditional wood bento is, perhaps surprisingly for those not familiar, the most expensive. For most of history, bento boxes were made from wood, woven bamboo, or lacquered wood. Bento made from traditional materials are still available today, though many people now opt for easy-to-care-for plastic or metal bento.
Many so-called lacquer boxes you may find online, for example, are often made from plastic mimicking the high shine of lacquer.
Modern bento come in nearly every conceivable shape, size, and color. They typically feature designs that make them amenable to everyday use, including light and easy-to-care-for materials as well as spill-proof lids.
Plastic bento can also mimic more traditional designs that were once made with lacquer. As with Western-style lunch boxes, bento boxes can be licensed with favorite characters or use bright, colorful designs to appeal to children. For Western parents, the appeal of bento boxes is often that it helps build in variety for school lunches —and avoid single-use plastic bags.
Bento boxes marketed to children in America often feature tight seals and clasps for preventing splashes and come in bright colors. Less common in the West, disposable bento meals are often sold to-go in single-use plastic trays. You may be able to find these at Japanese markets or even in to-go orders at Japanese restaurants. Disposable meal prep containers, with separate compartments, offer similar single-use convenience.
Its products are also often insulated. A California company, ECOlunchbox offers stainless steel and plastic-free bento-style lunchboxes. It also sells stainless steel inserts and accessories. After eating out of your bento, simply wash and dry it until next time.
Some bento, especially insulated models, have removable inside trays that can be washed, and the exterior is only cleaned as needed. Traditional materials, like bamboo or wood, require more care and must be hand-washed. Bento is a single-portion meal designed to be taken to go.
Of Japanese origin, today bento is popular all over Asia and, increasingly, the world. Originally, bento would have been fairly simple, just containing rice for a traveler. Over the centuries, bento developed to reflect trends in Japanese cooking. A bento will typically contain rice or noodles alongside a protein, like fish or pork, as well as vegetables. Other common items include tamagoyaki a Japanese rolled omelet , potato or pasta salad, and fruit salad.
Most bento boxes are not fully insulated, like with a thermos. They can, however, be stored in an insulated carrying case. For most of centuries people have eaten bento meals, the food was eaten at room temperature. With the advent of refrigerators and microwaves, many of us store food for hours before eating it at low temperatures or may just want a piping-hot meal away from home.
Many bento boxes are microwave safe, though not all. Check instructions before microwaving. Donna Currie is a food writer and product tester for The Spruce Eats. A self-professed "kitchen geek," she's written many roundups on a range of essential kitchen items, from the best Thanksgiving gadgets to the top seafood kitchen tools of the year.
Linnea Covington is a food writer and product tester for The Spruce Eats and personally tested one of the items on this roundup. Marshall Bright , a freelance writer covering food and cooking for The Spruce Eats, updated this roundup. A self-taught home chef, Marshall is passionate about making home cooking approachable and fun for more people.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bisphenol A BPA factsheet. Updated April 7, Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data.
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