Thermoses for food are household heat-insulating dishes for long-term preservation of high or low temperatures of finished products compared to the ambient temperature. They are convenient to use outside the home: for example, to take a hot lunch with you to work, organize a picnic in nature with friends, or warm up with a warm drink on ice fishing.

The most important difference between food thermoses is the presence of a wider neck (diameter 6-15 cm, for a conventional thermos — 3-5 cm), which allows you to take food without using a plate. In such devices it is convenient to pour soups and impose main dishes.

The stores offer a wide range of accessories. Such a variety will help you choose the right model for a particular case:

• Classic thermos or heated;
• For one dish or two or more (complete with containers);
• Additional equipment (cases, handles, carrying straps).

Editor’s Choice

Thermos SK-3000

A model that will not only keep food warm or cold for a long time, but will also serve for a long time, as the body and flask are made of stainless steel. Thanks to the proprietary Thermax technology (creating a vacuum between the walls), the product has good insulation: the food in the thermos remains warm up to 9 hours, and the cold lasts up to 14 hours. The wide mouth (7 cm) provides convenient filling.

The volume (0.5 l) is enough to load one serving of the first or second course there. The set comes with a folding spoon, which is very convenient and compactly retracts into the lid. The small weight (365 g) of the thermos will allow even a child to take it with them to school or a hike, and the beautiful design will delight during operation. The absence of a cover and a handle-holder makes it difficult to operate the thermos without a bag or backpack.

Main characteristics

Pros and cons

Rating of the top 3 best inexpensive thermoses for food

1. Vitax Exceptional VX-3416

Universal metal thermos (0.5 l) with cork cap is suitable for both hot and cold food (for first and second courses). Comes with a folding spoon and storage container. The model is made of high quality stainless steel with double flasks. The outer case of the product has an anti-shock coating that provides effective protection against scratches.

The inner surface of the flask is treated according to proprietary technology (Vitax), which creates conditions for hygienic cleanliness and odorlessness. Lightweight (0.39 g), stylish and durable vessel keeps food and drinks hot or cold for a long time: warm — 12 hours, cold — 24 hours.

The folding handle makes it easy to use. Thermal utensils are packed in a bright gift box-tube and will be an original gift for any occasion. A separate carrying bag is not included in the set. The 6.5 cm neck is quite wide, but eating without transferring to a plate can be difficult (according to customer reviews).

Main characteristics

Pros and cons

The best thermoses

Choosing an essential item for travelers

2. Penguin VK-102/VK-102A

Classic thermos (0.6 l) made of stainless steel, which keeps food warm for 10 hours. For ease of movement of the product there is an adjustable handle. A wide mouth (8.2 cm) allows you to use the vessel for storing and transporting first and second courses.

The lid-cup can be used as a dish to put the amount of food you need for a meal. At the same time, the contents of the thermoware will not cool down, because it has an additional second lid with a pressure release button. Convenient to take with you and easy to wash after use. The set does not include cutlery, and there is no bag-case.

Main characteristics

Pros and cons

3. TAKE IT EASY «Practitioner»

Simple and easy to use classic food thermos (1.5 l) keeps food warm for up to 12 hours. The wide mouth (9 cm) will be suitable both for storage of food, and drinks. The model is equipped with an additional cup, as well as a lid that can act as a plate or mug — the vessel is suitable for both personal use and for a large company of 4 people.

The thermos is comfortable to carry due to the convenient carrying handle. It can be easily disassembled and is dishwasher safe. The kit comes with a folding spoon, but there is no cover to protect the plastic parts of the case.

Main characteristics

Pros and cons

Rating of the top 3 best thermoses for food with containers

1. TIGER LWU-F200

Very convenient and roomy thermos for food (1.48 l), which keeps the temperature up to 6 hours. The body is completely made of stainless steel, the cover is made of plastic. The wide mouth (11 cm) makes it easy to take out the containers, wash them in the dishwasher and heat them in the microwave.

The set includes 4 bowls: for salad (300 ml), first course (270 ml) and 2 of them for second courses: side dish (610 ml) and meat (300 ml). The lid of the soup bowl is equipped with a «button» to remove the air pressure. This model is easy to carry and take with you. It comes with a hard case and carrying strap. At the same time, the vessel will be heavy enough for long hikes: the empty weight of the product is 1.48 kg, and when fully loaded, about 3 kg.

Main characteristics

Pros and cons

2. Zojirushi SL-XE20

This compact and convenient thermos will appeal to fans of complex or fractional nutrition. The set includes three thermal containers of different volumes: 266 ml for the first, 769 ml for the second and 414 ml for additional dishes, which are made of high-quality materials: Teflon and food-grade plastic. If necessary, food in them can be heated in the microwave. The case and flask are made of stainless steel, heat remains till 6 o’clock. Convenient operation is ensured by a wide neck — 11.9 cm.

For ease of carrying, the product is equipped with a detachable strap. Only chopsticks are included in the kit — thanks to them, you can organize a meal anywhere. The product is convenient and easy to care for — just rinse with running water and detergents. Please note that there is no case that protects the body from scratches and damage.

Main characteristics

Pros and cons

3. «Biostal»

This thermos (1.8 l) keeps food warm up to 19 hours and is suitable for both the office and long-distance trips — fishing, hunting or a picnic. The model is made entirely of stainless steel, and the inside of the flask is covered with Teflon. In the cavity there are 2 metal containers of 500 grams each with convenient plastic lids, into which you can load both first and second courses.

Wide mouth (13.4 cm) makes it easy to get the contents. The kit does not include a protective case and any cutlery. The model is easy to carry due to the handle attached to the lid.

Main characteristics

Pros and cons

Rating of the top 3 best thermoses for soup

1. «Arctic 301-A»

Lightweight thermos (600 g) for food with a wide mouth (8.4 cm) is ideal for soups and other liquid dishes. This model is convenient for laying the contents inside, eating and washing after use. A cover made of durable wear-resistant Oxford material will add reliability in operation. Keeps heat from 8 to 12 hours, depending on the volume of the thermos itself (three modifications are available: 0.5, 0.75 and 1 liter). The set comes with a spoon that can be easily removed into the pocket of the cover under the lock.

The body is made of stainless steel. Two lids provide leak-proof, heat-resistant, and one can be used as a soup bowl. According to customer reviews, the product itself is not equipped with a handle-holder, so it is not very convenient to carry it, and the short spoon in the kit does not reach the bottom of the dish.

Main characteristics

Pros and cons

2.Biostal NRP-500

This stainless steel thermos (0.8 l) will keep liquid food warm for up to 16 hours. The wide mouth (8 cm) is convenient for eating food without a plate. The cork has a special button-valve that facilitates the opening of the vessel.

The model is completed with a stylish thermal cover with increased thermal insulation properties with a non-adjustable handle. Its purpose, in addition to the convenience of storing and carrying the product, is to protect the case from damage. Lightweight (472g) and durable, it’s easy to use and take with you on hikes and hikes. There are no cutlery included, so be sure to bring a fork or spoon with you.

Main characteristics

Pros and cons

Heated thermoses

Smart thermoses to keep food warm and liquids warm

3. Diolex DXF-600-1

Durable stainless steel case and airtight lid retain heat for up to 12 hours. From a wide mouth (9.5 cm) it is convenient to eat food directly from a thermos without using a plate, and the lid-cup can be used as a mug. The product is comfortable to move and take with you due to its low weight (565 g) and a detachable strap.

Ergonomic heat-insulating bowl for soup is universal in use: it will be useful both at home (in the kitchen as a thermal dish), and for trips to nature, hunting and fishing. Please note that this model does not have a protective case and cutlery.

Main characteristics

Pros and cons

How to choose a thermos for food

Before you buy a model that is right for you, we recommend that you pay attention to the following criteria:

Production material

The best thermos material is stainless steel. The product made of it withstands mechanical and thermal loads, does not deform, does not rust or crack. The case itself can be made of plastic, but such models are usually not of good quality.

Flask

Flasks are glass and steel. The first keep heat well (from 10 hours), because glass has a low thermal conductivity. But it is important to remember that such a thermos is a fragile product, and boiling water (above 100 degrees) cannot be poured into it. It is suitable for home use or walks in the park.

The latter are durable and not afraid of shock, so if you are going to take it with you on a fishing trip, on a camping trip or use it in more severe conditions, then it is better to give preference to models with a steel flask. It is also important to remember that this material has a high thermal conductivity and cools down faster (up to 7 hours). To keep the food hot longer, first heat the vessel with boiling water, and then load the contents into it.

Neck

When buying a thermos for food, pay attention to the neck. The wider it is (from 6.5 cm), the more convenient it will be to use a thermos during laying and eating. Of the models with a narrow neck, you will not be able to eat without spilling or pouring food into other dishes.

Thermos cork

She is responsible for the tightness of the thermos. Plugs are made from:

• Plastic;
• rubber;
• Cork oak.

A screw-in plastic lid would be a reliable option. It holds heat well and provides better tightness. Also look for models that have a pressure relief plug. It is useful in cases where you pour very hot food or boiling water.

Appearance and packaging

Examine the thermos outside and inside. It should not have chips, cracks, scratches. Shake it — if you hear any extraneous sounds, then most likely that some parts are poorly fixed due to poor assembly. Open and smell the product — there should not be any odors.

Purpose of acquisition

Based on your goals, choose a product by volume and weight. If you will carry a thermos in your bag to work for one meal, then give preference to compact and lightweight models (up to 1 kg). If you buy heat-saving dishes for home or picnics, then you can not limit yourself in choosing in terms of weight and dimensions.

If you plan to take several dishes with you or stick to fractional meals, then pay attention to thermoses with containers. But it is important to consider the fact that if you place a hot soup and a cold salad under each other, the soup will cool faster and the salad will become warm.

Guarantee

Well-known brands and companies are confident in their products and are not afraid to take responsibility for quality, so they offer a long-term product warranty. If the thermos does not have a guaranteed service life, then you should be careful when buying — perhaps you have a low-quality item or a fake.