Life
Take Your Lunch To The Next Level With The Best Food Thermoses
by Kim Quindlen
Whether it’s a sip of hot soup or a bite of ice cream, the best thermoses for food can bring the comforts of your favorite meals wherever you go. However, it should be noted that for foods to stay hot in a thermos, they must contain some liquid, like a soup, stew, or oatmeal. Key features that make a thermos better suited for food include:
- Wide-mouth: A larger opening will make your thermos both easy to fill and easy to eat from.
- Easy-to-clean: With a thermos that’s storing food, there’s a higher risk of bits getting stuck in crevices. It's crucial that a food thermos is simple to wash out after each use (with all parts having ample time to fully dry) in order to prevent bacteria and mold growth.
- Maintains a food-safe temperature: According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food is safe to eat when it's at least 140 degrees or above (for hot items), or 40 degrees or below (for cold items). Food will maintain its temperature for longer if you pre-heat your thermos with hot water and then discard the water (for hot foods) or temporarily chill your thermos in the fridge or freezer (for cold foods).
- Travel-friendly: For added ease, you may want a thermos that comes with its own utensil or has a lid that works as a bowl.
Whether you just want a simple thermos or your needs are more specific, these thermoses will make it easy to take your meals to go (and they even pair perfectly with the best thermoses for coffee).