1. HotLogic Mini Personal Portable Oven
The HotLogic Mini Personal Portable Oven is a little different from other hot lunch boxes. It is an actual oven that can not only heat leftovers, but cook food to the recommended 165 degrees. The HotLogic oven is said to do what nothing else can do. It cooks without constant checking to make sure it is not overcooking your food. It is simple to use. Just plug it in and let it do its job.
The Hotlogic oven is to be used with any flat-bottomed container of appropriate size with a lid. It plugs into a regular 110 outlet. Any kind of food container can be used in this oven, including plastic, metal, glass, or even the box that a frozen meal comes in. However, Styrofoam is not recommended for this oven. It also comes in an array of different colors.
2. Crock-Pot 20-Ounce Lunch Crock Food Warmer
This mini Crock-Pot comes in four different colors. It is the perfect size for a one-serving lunch or a dip. It has a nice tote-like carrying handle which makes for easy transport. It also has a lid which tightly seals to prevent spills. The liner is removable and dishwasher safe, and if additional liners are desired they can be ordered at crock-pot.com.
The mini Crock-Pot is perfect for reheating leftovers. One reviewer has stated that the food tastes better than food reheated in the microwave. A meal can reheat in about an hour and a half.
Suggestions for meals are oatmeal, scrambled eggs, frozen meals, soups or chili. Anything with a sauce will heat well in it. However, something fried or breaded may not turn out so well. An analog plug timer might be a good addition as the crock-pot does not have a timer.
3.YOHOOLYO Electric Lunch Box Food Heater Portable
Made up of food grade polypropylene and stainless steel, the YOHOOLYO Electric Lunch Box is environmentally healthy and nontoxic. The stainless steel liner is divided into 3 compartments so one can heat three different foods without making a casserole out of them. Included is a spoon and a fork in their own compartment on the cover of the lunch box. It also includes a handy carrying handle that lays flat when not in use.
This is a perfect heated lunch box for the office. It has a capacity of 820 mL. It is designed to heat food to eating temperature, not for cooking. It takes 30 minutes to an hour or so to heat the food, depending on how cold it is to begin with. It is recommended by one reviewer to let the unit heat for about 15 minutes before adding the tray of food.
4. Yescom 1.5L Portable Electric Heating Lunch Box
The Yescom portable heating lunch box is in many ways very similar to the YOHOOLYO electric lunch box. The liner is made of stainless steel while the rest of the box is made from food grade polypropylene. Additionally it has a compartment on top with a plastic spoon in it for convenience. The lunchbox also comes with a small plastic container that fits in the stainless steel container, perfect for dessert.
The Yescom lunchbox has a food capacity of 1.5 liters and comes in blue, green and orange. It is meant for reheating only. It heats food in approximately 45 minutes, depending on start temperature, to a good eating temperature. There is a caution to open the exhaust cover before using the lunchbox.
5. WHOSEE 12V Car Use Electric Heating Lunch
The WHOSEE Heating Lunch Box comes in four different colors, blue, green, orange and pink. It has a capacity of 1-2 liters and is the lightest weight of the boxes featured in this article. The base is stainless still, while the food container is made of food grade polypropylene. The liner is divided into two sections, and it comes with a separate container and a plastic spoon in the lid.
The WHOSEE lunch box is perfect for a trucker or someone who travels a lot. The power source connects to the cigarette lighter. It takes about 20-30 minutes to heat the food. It heats very hot, and there is no timer, so one must pay attention to the amount of time it has been heating. It is great for anything from leftovers to soups and sandwiches.
Conclusion
A heated lunch box is a great alternative to a cold lunch or eating out. They are very convenient and about the same size as a regular lunch box. Most plug into a normal 110 plug-in, but some are made for a cigarette lighter. Adapters are also available from a 110 to a cigarette lighter, so the lunchbox can be used either at the office or on the road. So, enjoy a hot lunch without the added expense of eating out.