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Best Heated Lunch Boxes

Updated January 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Crock-Pot CrockpotGo Electric Lunch Box
Crock-Pot
CrockpotGo Electric Lunch Box
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Hot Lunch
Bottom Line

Based on our test, this portable lunch warmer from Crock-Pot is the best way to enjoy hot meals on the go.

Pros

Makes meal prep simple by holding 31 ounces of food. Heats to 195 degrees F. Removable stainless steel inner lining keeps your food safe and is easy to clean. Insulation keeps food warm even without heating. Removable cord.

Cons

Takes 2 hours to reach max temperature. Lacks compartments for different dishes.

Best Bang for the Buck
COROTC Electric Lunch Box
COROTC
Electric Lunch Box
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Dual Plugs
Bottom Line

A great choice for workers who are looking for a convenient way to carry and eat hot meals every day.

Pros

Has 2 types of plugs so that you can warm the food at home or in your vehicle. Comes with an indicator light and a heat-resistant container. Steadily warms up your food to maintain the temperature for a longer time period. Dishwasher-friendly trays.

Cons

Takes longer to heat up properly.

Hot Logic Personal Oven
Hot Logic
Personal Oven
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Feature-Packed
Bottom Line

The best budget heated lunch box meant for single meals at work or while on the go.

Pros

Flat-bottom heating plate fits snugly inside the basic, soft lunch box. Aluminum lining maximizes heat retention. Heating plate is removable so you can use the bag as a regular lunch box if desired. Available in various colors.

Cons

Corded design makes it difficult to keep food hot while commuting to work.

CTSZOOM Portable Food Warmer
CTSZOOM
Portable Food Warmer
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Most Versatile
Bottom Line

Arrange portion-sized servings and nutritious side dishes to create a unique dining experience every time you eat.

Pros

Built-in utensils organizer and a 3-section compartment to organize your meal. Stainless steel surface and heating plate on the bottom can be taken apart to clean. Comes with both AC and DC plugs so you can heat your food no matter the location. Includes spoon and fork.

Cons

Plastic side latches may be difficult to adjust or shut.

Crock-Pot Portable Food Warmer
Crock-Pot
Portable Food Warmer
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For Special Occasions
Bottom Line

One of the best ways to keep stews, soups, and other liquid meals hot while out or on the go.

Pros

This heated container is convenient to carry with the curved top handle. Built-in warmer works slowly to prevent overcooking your food. Food container is dishwasher-safe. Available in multiple colors.

Cons

The small size of the food container makes it difficult to stir or mix contents inside.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Consulted
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Buying guide for Best heated lunch boxes

There's something satisfying about eating a hot meal at work and using up those leftovers, but if you don't have access to a microwave, you'll end up eating tepid soup or cold pasta. A heated lunch box is a great alternative when you won’t be able to reheat or just prefer to keep your food hot. Just turn it on a little while before you want to eat, and it will warm your food to a toasty temperature.

Heated lunch boxes aren't extremely common gadgets, so you might not know much about them. Before you buy, you'll need to consider a wide range of factors, such as the overall capacity, how your lunch box is powered, and whether you’ll want compartments to separate your food. Plus, you want to consider where you’ll use it and if its design and color are going to suit your preferences.

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Heated lunch boxes generally use a fairly low voltage, which heats your food through without drying it out.

Key considerations

Power type

Heated lunch boxes run off one of two power sources: a standard power outlet or a 12-volt car adapter. Which one is right for you depends on where you'll be consuming your lunch. While the majority of models are powered one way or the other, some include separate adaptors, so you can power them either way as needed.

Heating time

Check how long any heated lunchboxes you're considering take to heat up food. The majority range between 15 and 30 minutes, but you can find a few outliers that are slightly quicker or slightly slower. You should also remember these times are estimated and based on the lunch box being completely full, so it's always worth checking on your food every now and then, especially if you've only half-filled it.

Capacity

The majority of heated lunch boxes are designed to hold an average amount of lunch for one. However, this might not be enough if you have a large appetite or you want to share. The internal capacity is often stated in liters, but you may be able to find out the internal dimensions as well.

Materials

The vast majority of heated lunch boxes have a hard plastic exterior, though you can find a small number with insulated fabric exteriors, which are a bit like soft-sided coolers. On the inside, you’ll often find a removable metal food tray (usually stainless steel or aluminum), or the interior could have a metal lining or simply be made from molded plastic. 

Features

Internal separation

Some heated lunch boxes have separate compartments to store your food in. This is great if you like to keep different foods separate. For instance, if you have rice and curry, you might like to keep the two separate and mix them together later. Other heated lunch boxes have just one large internal compartment, which is less versatile.

Leak-proof lid

Ideally, your heated lunch box should have a leak-proof lid. If your heated lunch box isn't sufficiently leak-proof, you'll need to be careful to carry it upright, or you'll be limited to the types of food you can bring.

Color

You can find heated lunch boxes in a variety of colors, though they tend to be fairly plain, without any bold patterns. A large number of heated lunch boxes on the market are available in several colors, so it makes sense to choose one based on its other merits first and then select between the available colors.

Cool-touch exterior

A quality heated lunch box should have a cool-touch exterior so that you won't scald yourself on the outside of the box when it's finished heating your food.

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Did you know?
Heated lunch boxes can help you save money by avoiding eating out on your lunch break. They also prevent waste, as you can bring your dinner leftovers to eat at lunch.
STAFF
BestReviews

Heated lunch box prices

Inexpensive

We wouldn't recommend spending any less than $20 to $30 on a basic heated lunch box as lower-priced models might not be particularly reliable.

Mid-range

These models cost between $30 and $40 and may be slightly larger and more durable than basic choices.

Expensive

At the high-end of the price spectrum, you'll find heated lunch boxes costing roughly $40 to $60. These are generally large and rugged with all the bells and whistles.

Tips

  • Check the overall dimensions of your chosen heated lunch box. It should be compact enough to be easily portable and fit in your bag or a tote to take to work.
  • Decide whether you need a heated lunch box with insulation. Insulation is advisable if you might not manage to get around to eating your food as soon as it's heated through. A sufficiently insulated model should keep your food piping hot for at least an hour or so after heating.
  • Pick a heated lunch box that complies to any relevant safety standards. It should have been tested and inspected for safety by the manufacturer. If not, it may not be safe to use.
  • Find out how you will know when your food is heated through. Check the manual to discover if the unit indicates in any way when it's done heating. Some heated lunch boxes either have an indicator light or let out a beep when they're finished — but not all do.
"Some heated lunch boxes have extras included, such as compact knives and forks or carrying cases. "
STAFF
BestReviews
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You can find some heated lunch boxes with temperature control, which gives you more input over how you warm your food.

FAQ

Q. Are heated lunch boxes safe?

A. Heated lunch boxes tend to run on a low voltage and are generally safe to use. Of course, you'll always find a few unreliable models out there, but as long as you avoid the cheapest offerings and select ones that have decent reviews, there's no reason to be more worried about their safety than any other electrical appliance.

Q. How do I clean my heated lunch box?

A. It probably goes without saying, but, unlike a regular lunch box, you can’t wash your whole heated lunch box because of the electrical components. The easiest heated lunch boxes to clean are those with a removable food tray or container, as you can wash it either in the sink or dishwasher, dry it, then return it to the body of your lunch box. Those without removable trays will need to be wiped down, which doesn't get them as clean and is more inconvenient.

Q. Are heated lunch boxes easy to use?

A. Yes, the majority of heated lunch boxes you simply plug in and leave for 15 to 30 minutes, so they're extremely easy to use.