9 Best Electric Lunch Boxes [Updated 2023]
Working on the road or in an office without a microwave used to mean living a life filled with cold lunches.
Luckily, with the invention of the portable electric lunch box you can enjoy freshly heated meals whether you’re in your car, at school, living in a dorm, or at the office.
With so many options on the market, it might be tough to find a lunch box that suits your budget and your needs.
This article will help demystify the process of selecting an electric lunch box and outline exactly what you need to look for to start heating your lunch like a pro.
So, how do you choose the best electric lunch boxes? You want to look for a brand that you can charge in your vehicle or office, is heat-resistant, uses food-grade materials, has leak-proof sealing, includes removable containers for easy cleaning, heats food fast, and has an anti-scalding handle.
Many brands will also include cutlery that can be stored in its own little compartment so you have everything you need for a perfect lunch right at your fingertips.
Read on to learn how to choose the best electric lunch box and nine of my favorite brands to choose from!
How To Choose The Best Electric Lunch Box
When it comes to choosing the best electric lunch boxes, there are a few things you will want to be on the lookout for to make sure you’re getting the best quality.
Check out the following guide to help you pick the perfect electric lunch box for all your lunchtime needs!
Chargeable In Cars, The Office, Or At Home
When you’re looking for an electric lunch box you will want to choose one that has different types of adapters. This will allow you to use it both at the office or when you’re on the move and eating lunch in your vehicle.
Most high-quality electric lunch boxes will include both a 110V home use and 12V/24V car and truck use adapter so you can warm your lunch wherever you are.
Is Heat-Resistant
This one seems like it should be a no-brainer, but it is still important that the lunch box you choose states that it is heat-resistant.
Since you are putting food in it and possibly leaving it unattended while it warms you want to make sure nothing is going to melt or cause any problems.
Most high-quality electric lunch boxes will state right in the description that their materials are heat safe or heat-resistant, so make sure you keep an eye out for that.
Uses Food Grade Materials
Since you are going to be heating your meals and then eating the heated product, you will want to make sure that all the materials used in the lunch box are certified food grade.
There’s nothing worse than spending time making a delicious home-cooked meal only to have it taste like the plastic container it was warmed in.
If your electric lunch box doesn’t say that it is made from food-grade materials then you may want to put it back on the shelf and look for a safer model.
Has Leak-Proof Sealing
Keeping your vehicle, desk, or office free from spills and leaks is definitely high up on the list of priorities when it comes to using your electric lunch box.
You will want to look for brands that offer leak-proof rubber sealing or otherwise state that they can be sealed to prevent unnecessary messes.
Has Removable Containers For Easy Clean Up
As you might imagine, electric lunch boxes cannot be submerged in water. In fact, most brands will recommend that you don’t even wash the outside with water to be on the safe side. That can make clean up a bit tricky.
Luckily, most of the high-quality brands will come with removable and easily washable containers.
Many of them will also include a couple of different pieces that fit within one another so that you can reheat multiple food items at once.
If possible you will want to look for stainless steel inserts since they conduct heat well and are safe to use at higher temperatures. Make sure any plastic containers are food grade and heat safe.
Heats Foods Fast And Evenly
This characteristic is definitely up there in terms of importance. Since we don’t often have huge amounts of time for our lunch breaks, we want something that will heat up our food quickly and evenly.
Many brands will tell you how long it generally takes to heat a meal in their description.
If you know your lunch box takes a little longer to warm your food, then make sure you plug it in a few minutes before your lunch break starts.
Anti-Scalding Handle Design
Three’s nothing worse than going to grab a handle and realizing it is scalding hot. Often you can end up dropping whatever it is you’ve grabbed due to shock.
And if that happens with your lunch box you’re going to end up with a mess, no food, and likely a broken lunch box.
Look for brands that have heat-resistant handles to prevent accidents and burns.
Includes A Fork And Spoon
While the inclusion of a fork and spoon isn’t 100% necessary when you choose your electric lunch box, it can be a great bonus.
Often the cutlery that comes with the lunch boxes fits into a neat little compartment for easy storage, so you’ll always have some on hand when you need them.
If you want that extra level of convenience, then look for electric lunch boxes that include their own cutlery to make your life a bit easier.
Includes An Insulated Carry Bag
An insulated carry bag falls under the realm of nice to have as opposed to an actual necessity when choosing your electric lunch box.
However, this bag can make it extra simple to transport your lunch box with you wherever you need to go.
It will also help your lunch box retain heat if you need to take it with you somewhere after you’ve finished heating it.
So while it’s not an absolute necessity, an insulated carry bag is a nice extra touch that helps you transport your lunch while keeping it piping hot.
The 9 Best Electric Lunch Boxes Of 2021
Now that you know how to choose the best electric lunch box, you can take a look at the brands below to find the one that best fits your needs and budget.
| Rank | Product | Best Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | A-1ux Electric Lunch Box | Best overall electric lunch box |
| 2. | Farochy Car Food Warmer | Removable stainless steel interior container |
| 3. | U-miss Electric Lunch Box | Leakproof guarantee |
| 4. | XINZOKYC Electric Lunch Box | Comes with spoon and fork |
| 5. | Rerted Portable Heating Lunchbox | Dishwasher safe |
| 6. | YISSVIC Electric Lunch Box | Uses food-grade PP material |
| 7. | COCOBELA Portable Electric Lunch Box | BPA-free |
| 8. | COROTC Portable Electric Lunch Box | Great compact option |
| 9. | HotLogic Food Warming Tote | Can fold into a tote bag |
1. A-1ux Electric Lunch Box
This bag has it all! You can easily use it in your vehicle or at the office thanks to the different adapters.
It also has a perfect removable stainless steel container that has separate containers for different foods.
The inside is made from heat-resistant, food-grade materials so you know your food will taste delicious.
It has an even heating design thanks to the stainless steel interior and PTC constant heating to preventing overheating. It is safe, convenient, and energy-saving.
The design of recycle heating when used in a low power setting keeps the food warm and fresh.
This electric lunch box also comes with a stylish insulated carry bag and stainless steel utensils so you can really just grab and go in the morning. There is a small compartment to clip the utensils into for easy storage and portability.
If you aren’t fully satisfied, this company offers a lifetime guarantee, so there are no risks if you want to give it a try.
2. Farochy Car Food Warmer
The Farochy electric lunch box is another top-level choice since it comes with a bonus insulated bag and stainless steel cutlery.
This choice has adapters for both car and home use, which means you can use them on the road, at school, or at the office.
The interior removable stainless steel container has three separate compartments instead of the usual two you find in most other brands so you can bring a few different items for lunch.
Farochy’s electric lunch box is made of premium food PP material, which is high-temperature resistant, non-toxic, durable, eco-friendly, and safe to use.
That means you can heat and eat your lunch with no concerns about toxicity.
There is also a red indicator light that turns on when your food is heating. This is helpful since it will let you know if you forgot to unplug it or turn it off.
All-in-all the Farochy electric lunch box makes a great choice for people who want extra compartments for different components to their lunch and a stylish insulated bag for easy transportation.
3. U-miss Electric Lunch Box
I like this option because it states right away that it is leakproof, which is the only quality we didn’t see confirmed in the previous two lunch boxes.
It also comes with a carry bag so you can easily bring it to work or with you on the road.
The U-miss electric lunch box has adapters for both vehicle and home use in addition to a removable stainless steel container for easy clean-up.
There is also a plastic insert that you can use to separate different parts of your meal.
Stainless steel is food safe, but I couldn’t find anything about the plastic used in this product so my advice would be to not heat that container. Use it to store fruit or unheated foods that you can remove before warming the rest of your meal.
The exterior is made of premium PP material, which is high-temperature resistant and durable. It also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is always a reassurance when trying a new product.
4. XINZOKYC Electric Lunch Box
This lunch box is another great option for keeping your food warm throughout the day.
It has the proper adapters to allow you to use it in your vehicle or at the office and comes with a handy carry bag for easy portability.
The inside has a stainless steel container and a separate plastic container. It also includes cutlery that has a perfect little compartment for storage.
This is one of the few lunch boxes that indicates how long it takes to heat, about 15-30 minutes.
It is made of premium PP material, a silicone strip sealing lid to prevent leaks, and 304 stainless steel. The lunch box is high temperature resistant, durable, leakproof, nontoxic, & easy to clean.
I place most of these lunchboxes on a similar level of quality, so it really comes down to personal preference and requirements.
5. Rerted Portable Heating Lunchbox
This cute little electric lunch box from Rerted has a leak-proof guarantee and comes with that convenient carry bag.
It includes power adapters for vehicles and electrical outlets so you can use them on the go or at the office.
It comes with cutlery and the stainless steel insert is dishwasher safe, so it is super easy to keep it clean. The materials are also food-safe and heat-resistant for your peace of mind.
They state that they are all high-temperature resistant, durable, non-toxic, tasteless, and BPA-free.
This lunch box uses technology for internal heating at a constant temperature, heating food faster than some other electric lunch boxes.
The use process is safe, reliable, and effectively prevents overheating and burning. It should take about 30 minutes to fully heat your lunch.
6. YISSVIC Electric Lunch Box
Even though this lunch box doesn’t come with a convenient carry bag, it is one of my favorites just because I love the way that it looks.
It includes two power adapters for use in the office or on the go in your vehicle.
The YISSVIC lunch box also has an updated lid design that fully seals thanks to a rubber sealing ring and latch, thus preventing annoying spills and messes.
The silicone handle is comfortable to carry and shouldn’t transmit any heat to your hand.
It includes a stainless steel insert that is food safe and super easy to clean since you can pop it right into the dishwasher.
There is also an additional plastic container to store things that don’t need to be heated. It is not heat or dishwasher-safe, so make sure you don’t try to use it in either instance.
The food heater uses food-grade PP material and 304 stainless steel, so you can heat your meal free from any toxins.
It also comes with cutlery that can be stored in its own little compartment. There is a venting steam hole and an indicator light so you will know when it is on.
This cute little electric lunch box is a great choice if you’re looking for something stylish, sleek, and leakproof.
7. COCOBELA Portable Electric Lunch Box
The COCOBELA electric lunch box is a little further down the list because it doesn’t have some of the premium qualities of the other brands.
It is BPA-free, contains no PVC, and uses food-grade PP plastic and 304 stainless steel, however, making it a great pick nonetheless.
Thanks to these materials it has a strong heat resistance and has different plugs so it can be used at school, in the office, or on the road.
This electric lunch box is 55W, which can warm food faster than other lunch boxes.
The heating process takes about 20 minutes depending on the temperature of the food when you start heating. Frozen or chilled items will take a little longer.
It comes with a plastic spoon that fits into its own compartment, but there is no fork.
The insert is stainless steel and there is a plastic container for other food items that do not need to be heated. Make sure to remove the plastic container before you heat your lunch to prevent any melting or other issues.
There is a lid lock for complete sealing and also a little steam vent to help the cooking and cooling process. The handle is anti-scalding so you won’t burn your hand when you pick it up to carry it around.
While it may not be the highest quality electric lunch box, it’s a good price and you get good value for your dollar.
8. COROTC Portable Electric Lunch Box
The COROTC electric lunch box has a sealing ring to help prevent spills and messes.
It is also perfect for use in your vehicle, at home, at school, or at the office thanks to the dual adapters it comes with.
It comes with a plastic spoon and a little storage compartment, but there’s no fork.
The inside includes a stainless steel heating bowl and a separate plastic container that you can use to store items that don’t need to be heated.
Like with some of the other models, you will want to remove this plastic container before use to prevent any damage.
It’s made with food-grade and heat resistance materials for optimal safety.
There is no mention of how long it will take to heat up your food or what kind of heating technology it uses. While it’s not the best choice on the list, it certainly has its merits and might be the perfect one for your needs.
9. HotLogic Food Warming Tote
This final electric lunch box is a little different since it’s not hard plastic, but a collapsible or expandable tote bag.
This bag can unzip and expand so you can store utensils, tableware, and other accessories in a separate compartment from the warming section.
It doesn’t come with any heating containers, but it says it can be safely used with most flat-bottom containers with sealable lids including glass, plastic, Tupperware, metal aluminum foil, and cardboard.
It fits containers in sizes up to 8.75 inches wide by 6.75-inches long.
This bag can evenly cook or heat your food, but unfortunately can’t be used in vehicles since it only has a power cord for 120V in-home, office, or school use.
If you’re not planning on using your lunch box in the car and need some extra storage, then the Hot Logic product is perfect.
Final Thoughts
As you can see there are plenty of great choices on the market if you’re looking for a portable electric lunch box. Some of them even come with handy carry bags and cutlery.
Remember that you want to look for brands that you can charge in your vehicle or office, are heat-resistant, use food-grade materials, and have leak-proof sealing.
It’s also important to find a lunch box that includes removable containers for easy cleaning, heats food fast, and has an anti-scalding handle.
Armed with the knowledge in this article you will be able to choose the best electric lunch box for your needs no matter where you are shopping.
Do you have your own favorite electric lunch box? Let us know in the comments!
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