How do you use your hot food container? Do you do this before packing lunch? When it comes to sending hot food to school whether you have food allergies, enjoy bringing hot food from home or are looking to save money by packing a lunch, doing this one thing before you pack your lunch can make a world of difference.
The Problem
One of the biggest complaints those who use an insulated hot food container to bring food with them have is the food gets cold before they eat it. What if it isn't the container you are using but the way you are packing your lunch that is causing this? That isn't to say that all insulated containers are the same or fantastic, they aren't. There are absolutely better products that keep food warmer longer.
In talking with parents sending hot food to school for their kids it was clear that many were not warming up the containers first. The key is to pre-charge the heat into the container before you put your hot food into it.
Think of it like glow in the dark stickers. They need to be held up under a light before they glow. A container that keeps your food warm is kind of the same thing. Charge the container with heat and your food will stay hotter.
Here is Our Hot Lunch How-to:
- Open up the clean container.
- Heat enough water to fit in the container to warm, or use warm tap water.
- Pour the warm water in the container about 1 inch below where the lid sits. You do not want the lid to cause the boiling water to overflow.
- Loosely cover the container with its lid. Make sure that the container is far back on the counter where you, your kids or pets won't knock it over. Don't tightly put the lid on as taking it on and off will increase the risk of burns when opening and closing the lid. Simply place the lid on top to help keep the heat in the container.
- Let the warm water do its magic while you heat up the food to be sent for lunch.
- When the food is just about ready to go in the container, carefully dump the hot water out into the sink or another hot water suitable container, let it cool and use it to water your plants.
- Dry the interior of the heated vessel.
- Put the food into the preheated container. Secure the lid so it doesn't leak. Pop it and any utensils you need into the lunch kit.
Heating the Food
We find that heating it on the stove is the best way to keep the food hot longer. The key is to get the food like a soup up to a boiling temperature for around 5 minutes then pouring it in the insulated food jar.
Microwaves can be used but we find they don't consistently heat food hot enough throughout to keep it hot enough. If you do choose to use a microwave for the food make sure it is hot all the way through. NEVER put the food jar in the microwave to heat it up. They are often made from metal and should never be put in the microwave.
Things to remember when sending an insulated container
A Safe Temperature for Opening
The goal here is to make sure the food is warm for lunch, not hot enough to burn anyone opening the insulated container. Make sure if you have heated anything spillable or splashable, such as soup or stew, that it is food safety hot but not scalding so it will burn any kids or adults opening the lid. If the food gets too hot then don't preheat it for so long or use tap hot water instead of boiling hot.
Can the Kids Open the Container?
Make sure your child can open the insulated food container on their own. The schools and lunchroom supervisors do not have enough time to open hundreds of lunches in 20 minutes of eating time or less. If your child has allergies, opening the hot food container will also help avoid allergens getting in their food from a helper's hands who just opened another jar.
How do you send hot food? Do you only send cold foods? Will you give this a try?
Leave a comment below and let us know.
Portable Food Jars Brands for School and Work
Thermos is a tried and trusted brand that works well. They have a number of different sizes on their website from a 10 ounce container, perfect for kids, to a 47 ounce giant carafe that would be perfect for picnics and travel. They have great kid friendly designs on the smaller 10 oz jars.
Stanley has a line of individual Vacuum insulated food jars. They have three sizes of containers, 14 oz, 18 oz and 24 oz, that keep food warm for a minimum of six hours. The smallest comes with a spork, perfect for school or work.
HydroFlask has 12 oz kids sized Insulated Food containers in a number of colours. They have a neat boot on the lower half of the jar to help protect the bottom. The lids are also easy to grip for opening and closing.
The line for B.Box is great for the younger children as they have much smaller sizes. Ranging from 7 ounces to 11 ounces their jars are great for bringing warmed food for babies and toddlers to be fed. Some insulated stainless steel jars have handles and a different style of lid. These should only be opened by older kids or adults, not babies and toddlers.
What do the Container Companies Say?
Thermos recommends heating the insulated food containers up with hot water. The Thermos FAQ page has a short blurb about it on their website. In their product FAQ page, Stanley, has a similar method on their site.
Next time you go to send the kids with a hot lunch for school or take one yourself, try warming the inside of the insulated container. If you don't preheat the container, your lunch is what is heating up the container. Heat moves from hot to cold through a transfer of energy. So if you put hot food in a cold jar you'll end up with a cold lunch.
See if it makes a difference in how warm the food is at lunch. Opening up lunch to having a hot meal means there are so many more options to bring- leftovers, soups, casseroles, and so much more.
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