Having cold rice and ulam can make you lose your appetite, and you might end up skipping your breakfast, lunch, or dinner because of it. In this case, an electric lunch box is a great way to eat freshly heated food. It will surely make you more excited to eat your meals and is a must-have if you have a meal plan as it allows you to store, eat, and enjoy different food every day.
This heating device is reliable and convenient, especially if you have a special diet as you get to pack food with the right amount of calories and ingredients. Also, it heats food at an ideal temperature to maintain its taste, moisture, and nutrients. In this article, we've provided a buying guide and a list of the 10 best electric lunch boxes that you can purchase online.
Quick List - Top Electric Lunch Boxes
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Table of Contents
Buying an electric lunch box is not a hard task to do as you'll only need to check its capacity, material, and extra features. However, you'll also need to consider some things that you don't look into when buying a regular lunch box like its voltage output and function, so keep on reading to be guided on how to choose the best one for you.
Also, electric lunch boxes come with a different number of containers. Having an electric lunch box that comes with only one large container allows you to bring one type of dish like salad, pasta, soup, stew, and more.
However, if you want to bring 2 to 3 types of dishes in one container, opt for one that has compartments or removable dividers to prevent them from mixing. For storing a variety of food, an electric lunch box with 2 to 4 stackable containers is perfect. With this, you can store or bring larger portions of food separately.
To fit your soon-to-purchase electric lunch box with your needs, you should also consider its functions. Usually, some models in the market can only heat food while others can cook food from scratch. Fortunately, some 2-in-1 models can do both.
Most electric lunch boxes heat up to 20 to 27 degrees Celsius, allowing you to enjoy freshly warmed meals in just 20 to 25 minutes. This type of electric lunch box is ideal to use for reheating leftovers or reheating your home-cooked meal at work or on the road.
If you’re looking for one that you can use for camping or out-of-town trips, there are models that allow you to cook rice, noodles, vegetables, and raw meats with high temperatures, usually about 70 to 85 degrees Celsius in 30 to 40 minutes. This is also a great alternative for your gas stove in case it runs out.
Since an electric lunch box needs a power source to operate, another thing to consider is its voltage output so that you can match it depending on where you'll use it the most. If you intend to use it to heat or cook food at work or at home, then you'll need one with a 110V to 120V adapter cable.
However, if you're always on the road or you often travel using your car, you'll need an adapter cable with 12V to 24V to be able to plug it into your car's cigarette lighter socket.
Safety always comes first, and one way of checking if it's safe to use or handle food is by knowing the materials used on them. Food-grade stainless steel is the most common material used for electric lunch boxes as it is durable and easy to clean. Also, it is heat, corrosion, and rust-resistant. However, it makes the electric lunch box heavy.
Meanwhile, PP or polypropylene is a plastic that's FDA-approved for food; plus, it's BPA-free. It is the best type of plastic to use as it is more durable and it has better heat resistance than other plastics, making it perfect to use for electric lunch boxes. The only downside of it is that it's breakable, and it's hard to clean when it gets greasy.
To reheat, cook, and eat food on your electric lunch box without any hassle, you should also look into its extra features as they bring more convenience when using it. A leak-proof feature is a must-have, especially when you want to store wet food inside. Usually, it has a silicone seal to prevent the food from leaking.
Also, this allows you to take your electric lunch box anywhere without a mess, even if it's been shaken or tilted while heading to your destination. If you want to know the current status of your electric lunch box, a LED display panel is a helpful feature as it shows how many minutes are left until your food is completely heated or cooked.
Another reliable feature is a light indicator, which informs you whether the electric lunch box is operating or not. Lastly, a built-in storage for your spoon, fork, or chopsticks makes the electric lunch box more compact.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bear Electric Lunch Box|DFH-B20J1 | ![]() | High-Tech and Has the Features You'll Need and More | |
2 | Bear Electric Lunch Box|DFH-B13E5 | ![]() | Comes in a Compact Size but Has a Big Capacity | |
3 | YANGZI Electric Lunch Box|LZD201943 | ![]() | Has 4 Ceramic Containers to Heat Various Dishes | |
4 | TINTON LIFE Electric Lunch Box|Y-DFH11 | ![]() | Big Capacity Electric Lunch Box Perfect for Two Persons | |
5 | Yonsa Electric Lunch Box | ![]() | The 3-Pin Plug Guarantees Safety While You Use This Electric Lunch Box | |
6 | Xiaomi Tonze Electric Lunch Box|FJ10HN | ![]() | Heat Your Rice and Ulam in One Go | |
7 | KARODO Electric Lunch Box | ![]() | A Portable Electric Lunch Box With Constant Heat Temperature | |
8 | Cherry x Deerma Electric Lunch Box|DS21S | ![]() | Modern-Designed Electric Lunch Box With Smart Technology | |
9 | Water-Free Stainless Steel Heating Lunch Box|TLY-FH316 | ![]() | The Best Electric Lunch Box to Bring On Your Long Road Trips | |
10 | KCB Electric Lunch Box|KC-DF01 | ![]() | Ideal for Those Who Have a Diet Meal Plan |
This electric lunch box will surely call your interest as it is packed with a lot of essential and reliable features that an electric lunch box must-have. Its highlight feature is its microcomputer control panel which displays the minutes left until the food is completely heated.
Its light indicators let you know when it's in cooking, heating, or insulation mode. With its rapid thermal conduction feature, you can heat dishes from 5 to 10 minutes and cook rice in just 20 minutes! Another great thing about it is that you can set its timer to start heating your food at a specific time.
The 3 stainless steel containers come with anti-leak covers and a removable liner that can be used as an egg rack to boil eggs. However, most reviewers say that the manual and button labels are written in Chinese characters, but they were able to utilize them by searching instructions through the internet.
On the hunt for a compact electric lunch box with a big capacity? Look no further as this is the one you're looking for! Compared to other compact models on the list, this comes with 1.3 liters of capacity, allowing you to pack larger portions of food.
It is 2-layered, however, it only comes with 2 containers without compartments: one for your rice and one for your main dish, so you'll have to use another container for your side dish. Both have pressure seal covers to preserve the goodness of your food and a double silicone ring to prevent leakage.
Thanks to the 8 vents around the containers, the heat circulates rapidly and evenly, so it only takes 8 minutes to reheat food and 25 minutes to cook rice. Also, you'll surely use this effortlessly and comfortably since you'll need to press one button to get this lunch box functioning.
Having a variety of dishes helps you boost your appetite. If you're looking for an electric lunch box that lets you carry different food, this one from YANGZI is your best choice as it has 4 ceramic containers with hermetically-sealed covers to keep the food fresh and delicious even when stored for hours.
It has only one big button for turning it on and off, so using it is a breeze. It is powered with a 360-degree steam heating cycle to heat your food well. Plus, it has a heat sink on its base so that it won't overheat. Best of all, it automatically turns off when the water dries out.
Want to share your food with your partner or workmate? TINTON LIFE's electric lunch box is a great choice as it has 2 liters of capacity with 3 layers of containers, making it perfect to use for 2 persons.
Plus, its plastic liner has 25 vent holes to circulate the heat up to the last layer evenly. Each container is made with food-grade stainless steel and a tight seal cover. It has a display panel with light indicators where you can adjust its time settings. Plus, you can choose between white or purple for its body color.
Take note that the button labels are written in Chinese, so make sure to check the product's description for the instructions or message the seller to ask for assistance. Indeed, this large-capacity electric lunch box is perfect for making your favorite meals on the go!
This one from Yonsa is a user-friendly, 3-layered electric lunch box that comes at an affordable price. Not only does it have a big capacity, but it also has safety features that allow you to use it without worries such as an automatic power-off function when the water dries off and a 3-pin plug to ensure safety from the current.
In terms of its performance, it can heat food in just 5 minutes as it produces more heat with its 600-Watt capacity compared to the other models on the list. It comes with 3 separate food-grade stainless steel containers that have pressure seals to retain the moisture of your food.
This electric lunch box from Xiaomi comes in two layers, allowing you to heat your rice and ulam simultaneously. Its compact inner design makes the distribution of heat faster and evenly so that you can enjoy your food in just a few minutes. It has 2 containers - one full-sized and another with 2 compartments to separate the mains from the sides.
It's very easy to use as it comes with only one button for switching it on and off, and it has a safety lock to secure your food as you take it with you. The only downside is that it doesn't have a timer, so you'll have to monitor its heating time and turn it off manually.
Still, your purchase will surely be worth it as it comes with a vacuum sealing pump and a measuring cup to cook rice perfectly. Also, you can choose its body color between pastel green and sleek white according to your preference. For an electric lunch box that is both functional and aesthetic, go for this product!
Lining up to heat your food using the microwave in your office takes a lot of time, and having this electric lunch box from KARADO is a great solution as it will let you enjoy your food at the comfort of your desk.
Its compact size makes it portable, allowing you to put it inside your bag without taking up too much space as it's not bulky compared to the other models. You don't have to worry about it making a mess in your bag as it has a lockable lid, and its containers come with tight covers.
Also, it operates silently and heats up with a constant temperature to prevent over-heating. One reviewer commented that its user manual is written in Chinese but he or she was able to use it because it's user-friendly and setting it up is self-explanatory.
During this pandemic, social distancing is one of the best ways to protect yourself. So, if you're looking for the perfect gift for an on-site office worker or yourself, this electric lunch box from Cherry x Deerma is a great option as it allows the user to enjoy a freshly heated meal without going anywhere.
Aside from its modern design, it's reliable and convenient to use as it has 3 layers and 2 liters of overall capacity, plus, it has 1 big container for rice and 2 containers for the main and side dish. Also, as it is equipped with smart technology, it automatically turns off when the water dries off and when the temperature exceeds its limit.
It comes with a vacuum pump that you can use to remove air from the container to retain the texture, moisture, and nutrients of your packed food. However, if you want to eat your meal right away, you should only use it for heating and not for cooking because it only uses 270 power units, meaning it might take 40 minutes or more to cook food well.
This electric lunch will be your best partner if you're always on the road as it comes with a 24V power cable. It automatically heats up when plugged into your car's cigarette lighter socket, and it automatically turns itself off when the temperature is too high.
Unlike most models, it does not require water to heat up. Its inner part is made of 316 stainless steel while its outer part is made with plastic. Even though it's only 1-layered, it still has enough capacity to store food for yourself, and it comes with removable plastic dividers to prevent your food from mixing.
This operates in low noise, and the hidden vent releases moisture as its 360 degrees heating cycle distributes the heat equally. Moreover, it comes in an aesthetic and simple design and has a non-slip base, making it the best purchase for people who are always on the go.
Using this is very easy as you just have to pour water, click its button, wait for 20 to 40 minutes, and voila! You have a freshly heated meal. The reason behind its rapid heating is its 360 degrees steam cycle, which also ensures that your food is heated evenly.
It protects itself by turning off when the water dries out or if it detects that the temperature is too high. Also, you don't have to worry about disturbing your workmates as it operates with low noise. Another great feature is the hidden utensil storage where you can keep your spoon, fork, or chopsticks.
Lunch is very important, especially when you're working the whole day. Carrying an electric lunch box with a variety of food to your work will surely prevent you from skipping your lunch. So, if you want to bring different types of food inside your electric lunch box, check our other articles below!
Author: Erika Nollora Ceguerra
No. 1: Bear|Electric Lunch Box|DFH-B20J1
No. 2: Bear|Electric Lunch Box|DFH-B13E5
No. 3: YANGZI|Electric Lunch Box|LZD201943
No. 4: TINTON LIFE|Electric Lunch Box|Y-DFH11
No. 5: Yonsa|Electric Lunch Box
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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