Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Lunchbox that will keep food warm for atleast 3 hours

39 replies

supermom23 · 26/09/2023 16:05

hi,

I am looking for a lunchbox that will keep food warm for a few hours atleast. I find loads of stuff on Amazon but I scroll down and the review aren't great. Could you suggest a few please. My 3 year old son is on the spectrum and is very particular about the food being warm :) . Please help...

OP posts:
Seeline · 26/09/2023 16:07

Depends on what type of food but DD had a good flask by Thermos. It lasted for several hours if food was really hot when it went in . Was great for pasta etc.

Original poster
supermom23 · 26/09/2023 17:41

great..thanks..usually it is just chicken nuggets, potato wedges ,noodles, veg rice ..was actually seeing food flasks on amazon now rather than boxes

OP posts:
FusionChefGeoff · 26/09/2023 17:43

Hmmm food like that is hard to keep warm as it's not saucy - things that are saucy retain heat much better than dry food so even the good flasks might not work that well I'm afraid.

You can pre heat them with boiling water then pour out at the last minute. That would help a bit.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

3 year olds
Facefortheradio · 26/09/2023 17:44

We have Sho flasks and they're great. They even have a little compartment in the top for sauce.
My kids have taken all sorts of hot (and cold) food. I fill them at 7am and it's still hot at lunch. The biggest has her lunch after 1pm too.

BumpedIntoBenAffleck · 26/09/2023 17:45

@supermom23 I recently purchased a food flask from Argos, and so far so good. Ds said food is still nice and warm by time he gets to eat it (so about 5 hours). I do the whole, put boiling water in to heat thermos ans then use.

Wtafis · 26/09/2023 17:45

Agree with above much easier to keep warm if it’s wet

RomaniIteDomum · 26/09/2023 17:46

They are pricy but your best bet might be an Omiebox.

They are a sort of bento box with a thermal section.

PollyParrotsCrackers · 26/09/2023 17:48

We have Sho pots, work brilliantly!

Original poster
supermom23 · 26/09/2023 19:33

@FusionChefGeoff thanks very much for the tip :) somehow dry food wet food didn’t occur to me probably because I am such a lousy cook ;-)

OP posts:
Original poster
supermom23 · 26/09/2023 19:33

@Wtafis Thank you 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
supermom23 · 26/09/2023 19:35

Thanks 😊 @RomaniIteDomum will check it out

OP posts:
Original poster
supermom23 · 26/09/2023 19:36

Thank you 😊 @PollyParrotsCrackers will be sure to check that out ..

OP posts:
dearanon · 26/09/2023 20:47

Asda do a thermos food flask for £8. They keep food roasting for hours.

Original poster
supermom23 · 26/09/2023 21:04

@BumpedIntoBenAffleck thank you 😊 will check if I can find that in Argos ..5 hours sounds really good 😌

OP posts:
Scampuss · 26/09/2023 21:19

You need to be really careful with keeping food warm regarding food safety, rice and chicken being particularly risky.

Original poster
supermom23 · 26/09/2023 21:21

@RomaniIteDomum Oh my gosh 😅 I just checked this out and still reeling from the shock 😱 Omiebox - it should be called “priceyBox”..

OP posts:
DiscoBeat · 26/09/2023 21:21

My two have short wide thermos flasks and have taken pasta, chilli and rice, soup etc to school. Make sure you put boiling in water in first to properly warm them and put the food in piping hot, then they last hours. Very leak proof and the lids are easy for children to get on and off.

LetticeProtheroe · 26/09/2023 21:37

I would also check he is allowed to have a hot food flask at nursery/school. It's never been allowed at my child's nursery or their school due to risk of burning and food safety.

Playaville · 26/09/2023 21:47

Chillys food pot

RomaniIteDomum · 27/09/2023 03:56

supermom23 · 26/09/2023 21:21

@RomaniIteDomum Oh my gosh 😅 I just checked this out and still reeling from the shock 😱 Omiebox - it should be called “priceyBox”..

We have a Yumbox which doesn't have the heated compartment but is of similar quality. Totally worth the money as takes far more punishment than the cheap Sistema we had before.

Original poster
supermom23 · 27/09/2023 08:12

LetticeProtheroe · 26/09/2023 21:37

I would also check he is allowed to have a hot food flask at nursery/school. It's never been allowed at my child's nursery or their school due to risk of burning and food safety.

oh ok.. the thing that is not allowed I am told is reheating .. and the food doesn’t have to be piping hot to be honest.. just not really cold

OP posts:
Original poster
supermom23 · 27/09/2023 08:12

Ok thank you @RomaniIteDomum

OP posts:
Original poster
supermom23 · 27/09/2023 08:14

DiscoBeat · 26/09/2023 21:21

My two have short wide thermos flasks and have taken pasta, chilli and rice, soup etc to school. Make sure you put boiling in water in first to properly warm them and put the food in piping hot, then they last hours. Very leak proof and the lids are easy for children to get on and off.

Thanks very much @DiscoBeat few others have told the same about the boiling water bit :) looks like a sensible thing to try

OP posts:
Original poster
supermom23 · 27/09/2023 08:15

Sure @Scampuss thank you

OP posts:
Lana12345 · 27/09/2023 08:16

I use a short thermos kids flask for my little one. It works really well.

I had also been trying to find a thermos lunch box with sections though but the only one was the really expensive one with only one warm bit anyway!
so I used the thermos flask and put fruit and yogurt in separate pots and put it all in a lunch bag with a freezer pack to keep the yogurt and fruit cool.