We are reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Nerdy Science in the Kitchen

Best Thermos for Hot Food

Published:

Updated:


Keep all kinds of food and leftovers warm until lunch or longer with the right container.
Keep all kinds of food and leftovers warm until lunch or longer with the right container.

It’s hard to stay comfortable in the winter months, especially if you spend a lot of time outside.

Whether you work a job that requires you to be outside for several hours at a time, or you enjoy camping, hiking, fishing or any other outdoor hobby, one thing is sure.

I like this THERMOS Stainless at Amazon.

You will need some hot meals and drinks to help keep you warm in the frigid winter temperatures. That is what food thermoses are made for.

Food jar thermoses are typically smaller than a thermos that is made for carrying liquids, but they work just as well. They are ideal for bringing soups, salads, pasta, and snacks with you wherever you go.

The only thing you need to worry about is making sure that you don’t get stuck with a second-rate thermos jar that does nothing more than house your food.

When you are looking for a food jar, there are a few things that you should look for. First, make sure that it is vacuum sealed. Just because it is stainless steel or “looks” like it will keep your food warm doesn’t mean it actually will. Second, make sure there is some type of gasket between the cap and the jar. Otherwise, heat will quickly escape.

Let’s look at some of the better thermos food jars that you can get to store your hot soups on a cold winter day.

These don't just have to be for outdoor adventures - take your thermos with you to work!
These don’t just have to be for outdoor adventures – take your thermos with you to work!

Thermos Stainless King 16 Ounce food Jar

Thermos Stainless King 16 Ounce Food Jar with Folding Spoon, Stainless Steel

View on Amazon

This stainless steel food jar from Thermos is incredibly durable, and small enough to carry with you anywhere. It has a strong stainless steel interior along with a durable stainless steel exterior. Because it has an interior and exterior wall, the outside of the jar will remain cool to the touch no matter how hot the food inside of it is.

It has a wide mouth on it to make it easy to fill and just as easy to eat from, with a deep lid that can double as a serving bowl when needed – plus it comes with a small stainless steel spoon. With this thermos you won’t need to bring any additional dishes with you, this is truly an all in one piece of equipment.

Should you get this thermos?

If you have ever owned a product from Thermos, then you already know that this company only makes products of the highest quality and the Stainless King is not any different. You can get this food jar in a variety of different colors, so if midnight blue isn’t the color for you, get the red or stainless steel version.

The spoon can be difficult to clean in the areas that it folds up (but it is dishwasher safe), and you need to be careful not to over tighten the lid when it has hot food in it.

Stanley Adventure Vacuum Insulated Food Jar

Stanley Classic Legendary Vacuum Insulated Food Jar 17oz, 24oz – Stainless Steel, Naturally BPA-Free Container – Keeps Food/Liquid Hot or Cold for 15 Hours – Leak Resistant, Easy Clean

View on Amazon

This Stanley thermos for food comes in three different sizes having options for a 14 ounce, 18 ounces, or 24-ounce container. It is vacuum sealed for maximum insulation, and it has double walls to keep your food hot on the inside while the exterior remains cool.

It is completely leak-proof, has a wide mouth opening for easy cleaning and filling, and is made with natural BPA free stainless steel so it will not rust. Also, the lid will double as a serving bowl when needed.

Should you get the Stanley jar?

Stanley has been in business for more than 100 years, and in that time they have made several excellent products. This vacuum insulated thermos is among some of the better thermoses on the market today. I like that it has three different options for sizes, but I personally do not like the look of this thermos.

OneIsAll GYBL116 Stainless Steel Food Flask

ONEISALL Food Flask Lunch Box, Double Wall Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Food Jar Food/Soup Container with Spoon and Carry Bag, 600ML/21oz (Green)

View on Amazon

This is a good food jar for those who want a thermos that has a little more flair than the typical thermos. It comes in several color options including pink, light blue, gold, yellow, and gray.

It has wonderful insulating capabilities, keeping food hot for up to 24 hours. It is 100 percent leak-proof, eco-friendly, is BPA free, and made with a durable premium grade 304 stainless steel.

The flask is large enough to hold 15 ounces of food and has a wide opening to make it easy to fill and clean. The handle on the cap makes it easy to carry with you wherever you go and even easier to open, making it perfect for children. There is also a button located on the lid to release the pressure and make it simpler to open.

This product is not dishwasher or microwave safe.

Should you get this thermos?

This thermos is great for children; the carrying handle makes it easy for them to hold and gives them something to grip when they are opening it, and it comes in several color options. The biggest downside of this food jar is that it is not dishwasher safe.

If you want a great lunchbox for your child to match his/her thermos, read my article.

Wrap Up

Finding a good thermos to keep your food warm can be difficult sometimes. There are so many companies that sell food jars that do not live up to the claims they make, but the three thermoses we went over today all live up to the claims they make.

Additional Resources:

Kitchen Professor author
About the Author: David McLemore

David learned to cook at an early age after his mother told him that he couldn't live on pizza forever, Dave uses his modest kitchen skills to recreate sorely-missed recipes from home and to occasionally make new favorite ones from places he is visiting.

Leave a Comment