We're Jess and Frank. We have been using the original two I purchased for three years and they show very little wear and tear. What if your kids (or you) have a habit of, er, misplacing lunch boxes? Its rubber seal is not replaceable, and many online reviewers report that it grows moldy over time. And its reinforced sides make the Pottery Barn Kids bag easier to clean and more protective of fragile foods than the L.L.Bean Lunch Box. The Bentgo is made of BPA-free, phthalate-free plastic, and it is thus more resistant to stains and smells than the L.L.Bean and Pottery Barn Kids lunch boxes (which are lined with permeable vinyl). Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. I liked the easy to lock tabs and the lift out tray. Note that the lunch box is meant to be carried upright but zipped open while lying flat, so you should pack soups or other liquids only in a leakproof container, such as a thermos. Many kids love dipping! Condition is "Used". Online the dimensions seemed to indicate that it would fit, but in reality, the hard-sided interior of the Mackenzie Classic meant that these two did NOT work together. And its compact enough to comfortably stow in a kid-size backpack or inside some insulated lunch boxes, including our main pick, the L.L.Bean Lunch Box. This insulated lunch box comes in the widest variety of styles we found, including popular character themes. Or, using a carabiner, you can hang it from attachment points on those packs or other packs. Although Bentgos two-year warranty does offer a measure of protection and recourse should anything go wrong, many folks would prefer to avoid the hassle of getting a replacement. We enrolled her for both, I bought back to school items (the for public school) and uniforms (for private school) truly my heart was torn.
If you need even more room, theres an expandable version, which unzips to provide about 2 extra inches of depth. But the quality of the materials felt subpar to us, and the small containers and lids were easy to lose and less convenient for organization. We have an older one with a soft interior that fits more boxes than the new one seems to. We placed Fit + Fresh Cool Coolers ice packs above and below a plastic container filled with cup of milk at around 33 degrees Fahrenheit. Item: 133646061599 Since this post was first published, I purchased theYumbox Tapas for myself and have been packing my lunches in it on days when we're at the park or on the go. However, we found this box awkward to use since it requires stacking items vertically: Some foods are liable to get squished, you cant see all the contents when you open the box, and you have to unpack the whole thing to get to an item at the bottom. So helpful and will be sharing with all my parents friends. Subscribe now for unlimited access. Finally, to test for stain resistance, we splashed a tablespoon of tomato sauce inside each bag and let it sit overnight before attempting to clean them. The, come in packs with multiple lunch boxes and can easily be stacked in the fridge. And it shouldnt be so small that you cant pack a reasonably sized lunch. The best options for packing a whole sandwich are the Bentology 6-piece Bento Box, PlanetBox Rover, and Ziploc Lunch Container. I frequently pack dips, and I love that it keeps dips separate without every spilling into other compartments. Pottery Barn Kids Lunch Box Insert Bento Box Pink . I heard from almost 100 people with kids ages 1 to 13. 2 watchers, 0.0 new watchers per day, 87 days for sale on eBay. Best for packing a whole sandwich The only drawback is their high price ($55 for a pack of four at the time of writing).
Your email address will not be published. The BentoHeaven Leakproof Bento Lunch Box has only two large compartments and flimsy, toylike utensils. I, While this picture is several years old it is stil, First week of summer break included daily snow con, HEY Did you say a @somaintimates sale?! The winners in my book were the Ziplocand theYumbox Original. The PlanetBox is shallower than the Bentgo, and the compartments can be more limiting, especially if you typically pack larger sandwiches. make it super easy to customize. They sell these at the grocery store and theyre super affordable, so its no big deal to replace them. PlanetBox offers magnet sets that kids (and parents) can use to customize the lunch box. Packing lunches isnt my favorite task but I like that it saves money, reduces waste, and insures I can offer them the fruits and vegetables I know they'll eat. This bento does have durability issues, however: The latches and hinges are especially susceptible to breaking. The Bentgo Fresh Lunch Box is lightweight and has a microwavable food tray. Thank you so much for responding! This was an amazingly helpful article. Many families like that bentos can cut down on plastic waste and items to wash, and, in contrast with insulated bags, many bentos can go in a dishwasher. Its simple steel construction also makes it the easiest to clean, because you can throw the whole thing into the dishwasher. The L.L.Bean Flip-Top Lunch Box is larger than our pick, the L.L.Bean Lunch Box, but it has a similarly rugged outer shell and an easy-to-wipe inner lining. Best budget lunch box It has the largest main compartment of our bento picks, and its the only one that can fit an average-size sandwich without your needing to cut the sandwich in half or lop off the sides. They had lots of opinions (all of which I incorporated into my recommendations below)! We also studied reviews from Good Housekeeping, Kitchn, and Brit+Co, among others. The tray is top-rack dishwasher-safe, but the case is hand-wash only. One of the common complaints about the PlanetBox is that, at approximately 1.7 pounds, its too heavy for younger kids. When I polled parents, two parents also use these Meal Prep Containers from Amazonwhich are similar in size to the Ziploc containers and come in a pack of 10. Bento-style lunch boxes have convenient compartments within a rigid case, to keep foods separate, protected, and nicely organized. 
And it has a screw-on cap thats easy for little hands to operate. Previously she wrote food and lifestyle pieces for Saveur and Kinfolk magazines.
Its basic, lightweight zippered design makes it simple for little kids to use themselves, its the ideal size for placing in a school backpack, and it provides plenty of space for a kid-sized (and even an adult-size) lunch. However, its not microwave-safe. Did you try the Bentgo with the Mackenzie Classic? I ended up returning the Mackenzie Classic and buying theMackenzie Cold Pack (shown below). Since 2010, we have been serving up easy, original recipes here on Inquiring Chef. Overall we didnt find it difficult to clean. This is so helpful! (But its not quite as easy to wash as the Pottery Barn Kids bag, which has stiff, molded sides and is the most convenient to wipe down quickly.) comes with a small sealed removable container for dips. For a bento box that has a rubber seal around the lid, wash it by hand to avoid potential deterioration. Bentos also keep foods organized, separate, and un-smushed. To get a sense of what makes a great lunch box for kids, we interviewed a dozen parents, children, and teachers.
Our testing has shown it should last at least a school year, but its unlikely to be a long-term investment. Location: Bolingbrook, Illinois, US, Unlike in our other bento picks, the tray of the Bentgo is removable (and microwavable), so kids can eat from it directly on the table, like a plate. The L.L.Bean Lunch Box is our favorite insulated bag because of its proven durability and reliability. PlanetBox lunch boxes are durable, easy to use, and sustainable, making them a good value for your money.
Absolutely loved your article! One parent we spoke with said their kid had been using their Rover for nearly four years, with no signs of wear and tear. The Bentgo has very similar dimensions to the Yumbox, so it will fit, but it's sort of awkward - the walls of the Mackenzie are slightly sloped so the Bentgo won't nestle right down inside of the box. A good lunch box should be able to stand up to at least a school years worth of daily use, including being shoved and squeezed into a backpack or dropped on the ground. Thank you SO much for this, half way through the article I was thinking hmm I wonder if this will fit in the pottery barn lunch bag and then bam you covered that also! But if there are any issues, this lunch box comes with a one-year satisfaction guarantee. The Yumbox is very well made. From the same company that makes our top bento pick, which is plastic, this bento-style lunch box is stainless steel, dishwasher-safe, and designed to prevent leakage between the three internal compartments. We tested 28 bento boxes, lunch bowls, and classic lunch boxes to find the best for packing all kinds of meals, from a simple sandwich to a composed salad. The external zippered pocket is too flat for storing food, but its convenient for tucking in utensils, napkins, or a note.
Its more structured, and it doesnt fit as neatly into backpacks or totes. . Below is what I found! We have additional care and maintenance advice below.). I wanted the most efficient way to get something healthy, filling, and a tiny bit fun packed for my kids every day. My Take on the Best Lunch Box The streamlined Bentgo Fresh Lunch Box is our favorite bento for kids for a few reasons. The Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Classic is slightly squatter and more square than the L.L.Bean bag.
Anna is a mentor at Girls Write Now and a member of the Online News Association. First, because kids are still working on skills to unpack a lunch, its easier for caretakers to help them unpack a lunch that requires opening only a single or double latch. As with all of its gear, L.L.Bean offers a one-year satisfaction guarantee on this lunch box. Insulated boxes, which require wiping or washing by hand, may be less convenient to clean than bento-style boxes, most of which can go in the dishwasher. Like the L.L.Bean bag, all of these lunch boxes can be monogrammed (for an additional $5), but they also have a name label inside.
We found that the Bentgos removable, dishwasher-safe tray made it one of the easiest bentos to clean. The next set we had before we purchased the Pottery Barn Kids Classic lunch bagbut they were in the cabinet so I figured I would try them out because we already had them! It all starts with choosing the right lunch box. A sandwich sliced into quarters can also easily fit in the Fit Strong & Healthy 3-compartment Bento or Pottery Barn Recycled Bento. Like most of our picks, it has a handle, which makes it easy to carry by hand or to pull out of a bag. But the Pottery Barn bag comes in a greater number of designs that may appeal to your kid, including Disney princesses, action heroes, and dinosaurs. My children (by their choice) have always requested a lunch from home. If you are looking to pack multiple lunches at once, the more affordable, minimalist lunch box options are great for this. If you spring for the PlanetBox Rover Stainless Steel Lunch Box (around $50 at the time of writing) and its matching insulated bag ($24 at the time of writing), youll spend more than twice as much as you would for the Bentgo Fresh. Did you test the Pottery Barn Mackenzie classic lunchbox with the hard interior? Best for packing multiple meals at once / meal prep But that high price brings with it unrivaled durability. If the exterior becomes stained, we recommend that you clean it immediately with a little soap and water. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). Wirecutter supervising editor Winnie Yang and senior staff writer Joanne Chen both use the Thermos Funtainer, our food thermos pick for kids, when packing leftovers like pasta and stir-fry dishes, and their Funtainers have held up well to frequent use and runs through the dishwasher. We had trouble fitting the lids onto the containers, and the plastic cutlery was a nuisance. Several kids in my daughters class use this lunch box, and it seems to hold the food at a warm temperature. Did it fit? Technically we could have squeezed it in, but couldn't have easily fit anything else and it was awkward for the kids to put the lunchbox back in. Several parents I polled told me that the latches that connect the lower and upper sections on their Bentgo Kids broke in the first year of use. Like our Pottery Barn Kids backpack pick, the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Classic Lunch Box comes in dozens of styles, including designs with unicorns, real-life creatures, Harry Potter, and superheroes from the Marvel universe. I love having these around! The issue with the Rubbermaid LunchBlox set that we had is that they are designed to have an ice pack in-between the top and bottom containers making this too high to fit into our lunch bag. TheFit Strong & Healthy 3-compartment Bento and the Ziploc Lunch Containers come in packs with multiple lunch boxes and can easily be stacked in the fridge. I will use it for my children to use. These were part of Amazon Prime Day last year so I grabbed a few on sale plus the individual trays for easy meal prep. Before my daughters started school I purchased the Pottery Barn Mackenzie Classic Lunch Box for theYumbox Original. Which Lunch Boxes Fit in Insulated Lunch Bags None of the insulated lunch bags we tested for this guide could do this, even with two ice packs inside. One of our editors has personally used this lunch bag, and they said it was difficult to clean. Thank you so much for all the information your provided! We will update this guide with our findings. But the main difference between the two lies in the formers stiff sides, which prevent sandwiches, chips, and fruit from getting crushed (as they might in the latter). I purchased all of them and used them to pack lunches for my three kids for several months. I have not tried their Flat Lunch Bag kitbut I started reading stories about how kids have limited time for lunch and I didnt want her wasting time trying to get several tops open of containers. This thing holds SO. The tray can also go in the microwave. Great seller with very good positive feedback and over 50 ratings. Comparison of 8 Best Lunch Boxes Best for kids who like variety Among the boxs few flaws: Its soft sides dont do much to protect fragile foods, getting tough stains out can be challenging, and its mesh pockets are likely to catch on things and rip. Other lunch bag reviews have reported similar results, so we didnt consider this to be a key criterion. Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2022 | Tips & Tricks for Public Access, Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2022 | How it all FIT, Wonder of the Seas Cruise | Family Trip 2022, Gotta love an elevated tee These two from, Do you let your dog sleep in bed with you?
Although theyre not airtight, in our tests these wraps performed just as well as plastic wrap for short-term use (about four days). Definitely sharing post to spread the knowledge! (Note: In call cases Bentgo replaced those latches for free.). Theyre really convenient. Of course, its not necessary to buy dedicated lunch containers. For kids in grades K through 12, having access to refrigeration for packed lunches is uncommon. It came down to her forming a special bond with her teacher who would be transitioning to the Kindergarten class with her in the fall. We independently review everything we recommend. Unlike our other picks, the Bentgo doesnt have a handle (you can get the PlanetBox with a carrying case), so its best transported in a backpack. When my twin daughters entered kindergarten, I put $25 into their school lunch accounts. This expandable version has the same features and durability, with the option of about 2 inches of additional depth (which is useful if you regularly pack drink cans or large containers). I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved Ziploclunch containers which are widely available and super affordable. We did not test the Pottery Barn Kids Spencer Bento Box because its compartments were small and limiting, and the boxs thin plastic looked less durable than the material on our bento picks. In our tests, water flowed freely from one end to the other, so (as with our other bento picks) we would avoid putting anything liquid-y in the compartments. We like the OmieBox so much that at one point it was a pick for this guide.
(We like the 1.21-cup size for lunch-packing purposes;this assorted Snapware set also comes with a 2.5-cup option, which could work well for larger portions.). Easy to use: Lunch boxes need to be easily transported either by hand or on a shoulder, or strapped onto or stuffed into a backpack. Pliable Bees Wrap beeswax wrapsanother Wirecutter pickcling to themselves, making it easy to transport items like sandwiches, fruit, and veggies. Winnie also regularly relies on the dishwasher-safe LunchBots Thermos for her family. I am always surprised on how much food can fit in this thing. Plus, the Thermos Funtainer comes in lots of colors and patterns, and it typically costs about $10 less than the other thermoses we recommend. Here are some reusable bags, containers, and utensils from our other guides, as well as from Wirecutter staffers personal experience. View cart for details. Sonjia wrote Wirecutters guides to full-size strollers and travel strollers. which are similar in size to the Ziploc containers and come in a pack of 10. The smooth interior was somewhat easier for us to wipe clean than that of the soft-sided L.L.Bean bag because it didnt bunch up or fold. For kids, she prefers the 9-ounce size, which performed better than almost every other thermos in our tests at keeping foods hot (or cold) for six hours or more. My style of packing lunches is usually bento or snack-style, and Ilike that Yumbox has many compartments, allowing for the most variety. The metal containers are easy to clean and dishwasher-safe. If youre packing hot or cold food for small kids: The plastic OmieBox comes with an integrated insulated food jar, making it the only bento we found that can carry hot and cold foods. To solve the riddle, I polledFacebook,Instagram, and reached out to friends. And while she was researching and writing this guide, Sonjia regularly packed lunches and snacks for her then-3-year-old daughter. Do you recommend any other bento containers that deals in moisture that will fit this lunchbox? They closed well but did not have any sealing system that would keep leaky things separate. Its easier to create an appealing presentation with a bento-style box than with a jumble of small containers and baggies. (The company recommends removing the magnets before putting the box in the dishwasher.). Each lunch box includes a set of magnets to personalize the exterior of the box; you get over 30 designs to choose from, everything from dinosaurs to flowers to Warholian soup cans to Da de los Muertos skulls. Bags come in more than a dozen colors and patterns. The Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Classic Lunch Box accommodates a sandwich and a wide variety of snacks in its capacious, unorganized interior. Using the above criteria, online reviews, and feedback from our interviews with parents and kids, we whittled the list to the following six highly rated lunch boxes worth testing: For our 2019 update, we tested three new lunch boxes: For testing, we relied on the same methodology we followed for our general lunch box guide. During my indecision time I did a ton of research and tried out different back to school items, today I want to tell you how we ended up falling in love with the Bentgo box. I really wanted to save you that headache. If you prefer an insulated box with reinforced sides, try the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Classic Lunch Box. , and reached out to friends. There seems to be a problem serving the request at this time, One stop shop for all things from your favorite brand, Pottery Barn Kids Dr. Seuss Nursery Bedding, Pottery Barn Plastic Bento Box Containers, {"modules":["unloadOptimization","bandwidthDetection"],"unloadOptimization":{"browsers":{"Firefox":true,"Chrome":true}},"bandwidthDetection":{"url":"https://ir.ebaystatic.com/cr/v/c1/thirtysevens.jpg","maxViews":4,"imgSize":37,"expiry":300000,"timeout":250}}. The Fit & Fresh Bento Box Lunch Kit has clip-in ice packs that fit within a zippered, insulated lunch box. Based on parents' feedback, I narrowed the review down to the. In this post, you'll find a comparison ofBentgo Kids, Bentology Classic 6-Piece, Fit Strong & Healthy, LunchBots Cinco, PlanetBox Rover,Pottery Barn Recycled Bento Box, Yumbox Original, and Ziploc. Made to transport an array of foods, the Miniware GrowBento set comes with a double-coated stainless steel bento box (for things like pasta, sandwiches, cut-up fruit, and salads) and two leakproof silicone pods with lids that work well for dips and sauces. Finally I landed on the Bentgo Childrens Lunch Box (different from the Bentgo Fresh which has less compartments). Need Inspiration? A food thermos is the tidiest and most reliable way to tote hot and liquid-y foods. We previously recommended the Bentgo Kids lunch box. The Bentgos interior compartments, with or without the removable divider, keep foods nicely separated. The invisible seams on the L.L.Bean Lunch Box make it easier to wash than models with exterior seams and folds. Copyright 2008-2022 PicClick Inc. All Rights Reserved. The removable compartments of the Bentology 6-piece Bentomake it super easy to customize. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You can use the lunch box with no containers, some containers, or all of the containers and they can each be removed and rearranged. For example, its now possible to fit a regular sandwich (cut in half) in the main compartment, whereas with the previous version, a sandwich had to be trimmed or cut into strips. I heard from almost 100 people with kids ages 1 to 13. The optional insulated bag, which you can get in a set with the lunch box, adds versatility, with room in the outer pockets to pack a kid-size thermos or water bottle, as well as additional food containers. Thank you, very helpful article. The interior mesh pocket on the lid helps keep an ice pack in place. Thank you for your article, which was very interesting and helpful to me. Sonjia Hyon is a freelance researcher and writer who has worked in marketing, cultural programming, higher education, and food. This stainless steel lunch box is the most durable of our bento picks and the easiest to clean because it can go straight into the dishwasher. The Wildkin Lunch Box has an inner lining with a lot of seams that trap crumbs and make cleaning difficult. I did! Plastic Snapware containersa top pick from our guide to the best food storage containersare lightweight, leakproof, and dishwasher-, freezer- and microwave-safe. are also finger-food friendly but they are slightly more difficult to open and both are quite heavy. No five-year-old I've met could open the thermos section without adult help, so keep that in mind, or do a few practice runs before sending your kids off with this option.
They seal securely and can hold everything from snacks and sides to leftovers. If youre concerned about your childs lunch spoiling, pack shelf-safe milk (ultrahigh temperature, or UHT, pasteurized milk in aseptic packaging), and opt for nonperishable foods like nut butter and jelly instead of, say, a turkey sandwich. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. You are the salt of the earthYou are the light of the world Pottery Barn Kids Lunch Box Insert Bento Box Pink, Pottery Barn Kids Lunch Box Insert Bento Box Pink 2, Pottery Barn Kids Lunch Box Insert Bento Box Pink 3. This lunch box is roomy enough to hold a drink, a sandwich, and multiple snacks. Will it Fit? The LunchBots 8oz Thermos is a solid thermos that takes up very little space and is a good option for packing a side of warm or chilled food outside of the lunchbox. Bentgo has a responsive customer service staff (reachable by phone or online) that people rave about. See More.
Anna Perling is a former staff writer covering kitchen gear at Wirecutter. An expandable version, which unzips to create an additional 2 inches of depth, offers even more capacity and might be worth considering if you regularly pack drink cans or larger food-storage containers. Most recently, she contributed to the writing of The Havens Kitchen Cooking School. Sonjia Hyon has worked as a fact checker and researcher for several publications, including T: The New York Times Style Magazine. The Bentgo isnt insulated and doesnt have space for an ice pack, so its best used for lunches that dont need to be kept cool. The PlanetBox Rover comes with two lidded containers (left) that you can place in the tray or in the pockets of the lunch box carrier. Appropriately sized: A lunch box shouldnt be so big that you end up packing too much or leaving too much room for containers to rattle around inside. Best for hot foods They require gentle hand-washing and should last about a year, with proper use. Using a food thermometer, we tested whether any of the insulated lunch boxes could keep the milk below 40 F (the temperature the USDA recommends for perishable foods) after two hours outside the fridge. Its soft sides also make it easier to cram into an already crowded backpack than a lunch box with reinforced sides (such as the Pottery Barn Kids box) or a hard case (such as our bento picks). The vacuum-sealed containerwhich sealed tightly and didnt leak in our testscan keep foods like pasta and soup warm or foods like like yogurt or cottage cheese cool. But for this guide we focused on two popular, versatile types of vessels: insulated lunch boxes (zippered, padded cases that you fill with containers or baggies of food) and bento-style boxes (usually hard plastic or metal cases that have built-in compartments or come with separate containers). Condition is "Used". Comparison of 4 Insulated Lunch Bags When my twin daughters entered kindergarten, I put $25 into their school lunch accounts. Learn more. And it remains compact enough that it doesnt crowd a backpack but still comfortably holds plenty of food for an elementary-age kid (including a whole sandwich, which other bentos cant). Bento boxes are ideal for younger kids for two reasons, according to Yuki Chikudate, a preschool teacher in New York City. Since we first published this guide in 2018, weve heard complaints that the Bentgo lacks long-term durability. Compared with the designs of our other picks, the Bentgos removable tray makes it easier to dump leftovers directly into the garbage. are so easy to open and offer lots of finger food flexibility so they make great options for young kids. 6,599+ items sold. Second, even though it might not matter to some kids, most kids respond positively to the ritual of eating a well-packed, visually pleasing lunch, said Chikudate. With the use of ice packs, insulated lunch boxes or bentos with insulated containers should help keep food at cool (and appetizing) temperatures for a few hours. The Mackenzie Classic with the hard interior was slightly too small for the Yumbox. Some bentos can work in combination with an insulated bag or ice pack to keep foods cool, and many caregivers find that bento-style lunch boxes are easy to label and stack in a crowded refrigerator. Be sure to dry an insulated lunch box with paper towels or a cloth, and leave it open and unzipped to air-dry completely before you use it. The Bentgos food tray is removable, which makes it easy for kids to eat from as well as to dump uneaten food directly into the garbage. I purchased all of them and used them to pack lunches for my three kids for several months.
They sell these at the grocery store and theyre super affordable, so its no big deal to replace them. To test the lunch boxes for leaks, we filled the plastic and metal containers with water and shook them at different angles. We dismissed the Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Cold Pack Lunch Bag because its thin lining bunched up easily, trapping crumbs and making it hard to clean. Keep reading for everything you need to select the best lunch box for your unique kid. The Mackenzie classic is so nice, especially with the monogram! The Bentgo Classic All-in-One Stackable Bento Lunch Box was a pain to use. The Bentgos layout makes packing a variety of foods easy. Welcome! have optional inserts for dips (that can be purchased separately) and come with tight-fitting lids. . Finally, we sifted through hundreds of reviews for highly rated bags and boxes from retailers including Amazon, Macys, Target, The Container Store, and Walmart. We're republishing the post this week since many of us (me included) are on the hunt for lunch boxes for next year.
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