Reusable sandwich packaging that’s not ££ or a huge pain to wash every day?

[StroppyTop]

3 packed lunches every day, soon to be 4 when the office opens - has anyone found reusable that is easy to wash every day and won’t break the bank?

Separate smaller Tupperware is an option for me but won’t fit it the small lunchboxes 2 of the DC prefer.

Are beeswax wraps long-lasting and easy to clean?

That should say reusable sandwich packaging

We use sistema bento boxes. You can separate the food without individual packaging, and they fit inside most soft lunch bags.

Have yet to find beeswax wraps that are easy to clean- can’t go in dishwasher and hard to dry with a tea towel

We have always used wrap n mats from onya. They stopped making them for a while, but seem to have started again, if my FB advertising is to be believed!

Plastic on one side, cloth on the other, so you just wipe them after use. They can go in the washing machine if necessary, but I try to minimise that because I think it wears out the velcro.

I fit sandwich/wrap, piece of fruit and bag of crisps all inside the Tupperware box. Water bottle is loose in the school bag. Seems mad to me now that I used to wrap in cling film to put in a soft lunchbox. Maybe you could get a nicely coloured box if they are younger children.
We also have the Sistema box, I think it is the bento one, but it doesn't fit an apple so barely ever use that.

Use boxes. We used to use Tupperware craft boxes that has some small compartments for raisins etc. I still use a box when I go out for the day rather than wrapping. Keeps the sandwiches in better condition and I can pop in a few grapes and tomatoes.

Is it sandwiches you're talking about?

We have the slim sistema ones too.

I'd have thought they fit in most lunch cooler bags.

We use beeswax wraps - thing to be wary of is that you can’t wash in hot water as it strips the wax so aren’t so good if fillings really messy and likely to spill - so fine for eg ham or tuna or cheese but not for eg chicken tikka. Been using ours fine for a couple of years.

@SushiGo (appropriate name ) We have tried those in the past and the DC’s food never quite fits the slots/boxes.

@Digestive28 They look like contenders and not ridiculous money. Does the Velcro get gummed up with food every day or is it out of reach when folded closed?

@Digestive28 - we just leave them on draining board overnight to dry

We have glass Tupperware that goes in the dishwasher and beeswax wraps that get hand washed but we don’t have DC that need a packed lunch.

We were given homemade beeswax wraps as a gift, we’ve had them for longer than a year now and they’re still going strong, just wash them with the washing up like anything else. They can take a while to dry though. Eg. I’m not sure if they’d be dry by morning.

I’ve seen some kids lunch boxes with different slots so that the food doesn’t mix together and you don’t need any extra packaging. That could be with a go.

Thanks everyone, I knew MNers would have tried a few options.
A separate box is suitable for one DC who takes a soft lunch bag but not my cool teens who like to take a smallish Tupperware box that fits sandwich (currently in cling film or plastic bag), apple and something extra.
I could put unwrapped sandwiches in sometimes, I suppose. Like you say, it depends what’s in them.

We use the sistema lunch cubes for our 3 DC. Two are at secondary and one at primary. They work perfectly and last for years if they don’t leave them to fester at school over half term with a half eaten yoghurt pouch in it

(And I never wrap anything, never have done). Cool DS1 has a sandwich, cereal bar and an apple, that’s all. Nothing gets squashed or bashed about. They’re fab!

We use the inner liners from cereal boxes. Just rinse put and upend to dry.

They are actually really good as freezer and fridge bags too and I use them for 101 other purposes.

You’re also making me remember various lovely sandwich-sized Tupperware I had that I’ve not seen in ages. Missing presumed left at school/at end of garden filled with mud I guess.

Mine have bento boxes from Lidl and matching cups (university aged, and broke!)

@WinterCarlisle They look good. Will they fit a small/med banana?

@CaptaNoctem That is an admirable level of recycling. Unfortunately mine are not big cereal eaters at present (because I’ve bought healthy cereal).

Possibly a daft suggestion but how about a wrap instead of a sandwich for the teens, the fillings are more contained so don't usually need an extra covering.

Yes to Sistema Bento boxes for kids - no need to wrap sandwiches as they have their own compartment.

I also use the Onya wraps myself. Mine is 13 years old and still going strong. I wipe the plastic bit daily and dry in the airing cupboard and give it a proper wash at weekends (use a net laundry bag).

These are what my DC use they really like them.

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/ikea-365-lunch-box-with-inserts-rectangular-beige-40480007/

I use stashers reusable sandwich and snack bags - they’re quite expensive but I’ve been using mine for absolutely ages and still in top nick. Dishwasher safe too.

alittlefind.com/collections/stasher/products/reusable-silicone-sandwich-bag-amethyst

I also have one of the Onya wraps and the velcro isn't anywhere near the sandwich when it's all folded up so I've never had food get stuck in the velcro. I wipe the inner clean every evening and hang to dry or leave it on the draining board. The whole wrap gets a quick hand wash & drip dry once a week or so

[quote StroppyTop]@SushiGo (appropriate name ) We have tried those in the past and the DC’s food never quite fits the slots/boxes.

@Digestive28 They look like contenders and not ridiculous money. Does the Velcro get gummed up with food every day or is it out of reach when folded closed?[/quote]
I think you might mean me - no, the velcro is well out of it. Fold the sides over first, and the sandwiches are almost completely covered, then fold the top to meet the bottom so the two halves of the velcro coincide, to keep it shut.

As pp said, we have had ours for several years, DD is in year 10 and she's on her second one because the velcro stopped sticking on her first one (and there might have been one that I left on top of something that looked like a microwave, but was actually a free-standing oven . It didn't really survive that).