would a portable food cooler, also keep food hot?

[Singinginshower]

I want to go out for the day without having to eat out, and am trying to think about ways to have a hot meal.
I have seen someone with a whizzy container that kept food hot for hours, but can't find anything similar online suitable for a family meal.
I do have an insulated 'cool box' and wondered if that may do the trick, although I suspect not.
Can anyone make any suggestions?

Thermos flask? You could do pasta or soup and keep them in that.

Hi, I do have a couple of small flasks, which I could put to use, but I am hoping to find out about something a bit larger as I need to feed 4 hungry people!

A cool box will keep things hot but maybe not hot enough, depending on size & timing. If you put several hot water bottles in the cool box, then your tub of food, then another hot water bottle, it should stay hot for a good long while.

A cool box will keep things hot but maybe not hot enough, depending on size & timing. If you put several hot water bottles in the cool box, then your tub of food, then another hot water bottle, it should stay hot for a good long while.

May I ask where you're going for the day? I'm not being nosy, just I can just think of very different ways to heat up food depending on your location.

Is there a reason for needing hot food rather than cold?

Ooh parietal, that may be worth a try.

3 or 4 hours at the most, I’d say, if it’s a static cool box.
There are some that actively heat or cool running off car lighter sockets or ordinary home plugs.
I saw them in Lidl last time I was there. About £40 though so you’d need to have a regular use for it.
Have you got that MN classic the Instant Pot? That would keep a hot dish like chili warm for a couple of hours. I presume you’re in a car, right....

How substantial do you want the hot food to be? Hotdogs stay very hot in a flask of boiling water.

Lidl electric cool box.

NumbsMet
We haven't decided yet.

verypeckish
Because we like to be out for the day, travelling back late, and I'd like the option of a hot meal if the weather is poor. We usually do take cold food, hence owning a cool box.

Boring question, but what sort of food? Because to keep hot food safe, ideally it stays pretty hot (above 65C) to stop nasties multiplying, and even with hot water bottles that'll be hard to achieve. Vegetarian food is likely to be OK, chicken I'd be cautious and please don't try it with seafood!

Sgtmajormummy

Yes, we'll be in a car. Love your username!

Electric cool boxes that run off your car cigarette lighter socket often have a heat function too.

bathorshower
Thinking of veg chilli. Would eat with bread so don't need to worry about rice. Useful to know about 65c though.

@BillBaileysBum

Electric cool boxes that run off your car cigarette lighter socket often have a heat function too.

Yes, we have one of these! It was about £25 off Amazon.

Thanks, I will research the cig socket electric boxes

How about taking a thermos of boiling water and then using it to make an instant pot meal such as a pot noodle - or posher alternative if you prefer. There's quite a few different versions of the just add hot water noodles, rice, pasta etc meals.