Take a look around your kitchen and try to see how many plastic wares you’ve got there. With the adverse effects of climate change looming right above our heads, is it safe to continue using toxic plastic materials, especially when your kids are involved?
If you’re reading this, then you’ve probably already made up your mind to make the right switch to healthy alternatives, and getting a stainless steel lunch boxes for kids is a great place to start at. Stainless steel lunch boxes are an environment-friendly way to store food. This accessory is also the healthier option for your child and keeps their food fresh and toxin-free.
To sort out your confusion, I did some heavy research and testing to put together a list of the best stainless steel lunch boxes available in the market today.
My favorite is the bento box by Clean Lunch’N because it is feature-rich and is quite spacious. But do check out the rest of the list as well; I’m sure you’ll find the perfect lunch box for your kids. Keep reading to find out more.
Top 7 Best Stainless Steel Lunch Boxes For Kids 2021
1. Clean Lunch’N Bento Box
Clean Lunch’N takes the meaning of wholesome a tad too seriously because it comes with many features. It’s not only meant for kids but is also suitable for adults. We love that you get a lunch bag and an ice pack along with this stainless steel lunch box.
The bento box is conveniently segmented into three compartments so that you can store all your food in one place. Each compartment is quite spacious and perfect for portion control. You can store, say, sandwiches in one section and fruits or dips in the other sections. This way, your kid won’t need to carry separate containers for different food items.
The lunch bag is well insulated and quite spacious as well. There is plenty of space to store your lunch box, a beverage bottle, and even a second lunch box. It is so spacious that you can carry up to eight 12-ounce cans of any beverage you like in it. The sturdy lunch bag sorts out the issue of portability, and you can easily carry all your lunch stuff anywhere you go.
We’ve often heard parents complain about how they can’t send chilled drinks for their kids to school. Clean Lunch’n gives a solution to this in the form of an ice pack, which they provide along with the bag. It keeps your drinks cold and further keeps your food fresh and tasty all day long. It is also super easy to clean as all you need to do is just wipe it down.
The bento box is easy to clamp open and shut, and your kid will have no difficulty handling it. Its composition comprises good quality 18/8 steel which makes it non-corrosive and odor-free. The lid shuts tight quite well, and we haven’t seen any kind of leakage outside of the box.
We did, however, find that there is a good chance food might leak between the compartments. So if you want to include liquids or sauces, it’s best to get a small box that fits inside the bento box. The dimensions of this lunch box are 8x 6x 2.5 inches, which, as we mentioned, is quite spacious. For the features that it offers, it is an excellent lunch box for kids and comes at an affordable price.
Pros
- Comes with a lunch bag
- Ice pack keeps food and drinks cold
- 3- compartment design
- Very spacious
Cons
- Leakage between the compartments
- Does not keep food warm
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2. WeeSprout Bento Box (Large)
This bento box is one of our favorite lunch boxes for kids as it has three compartments to keep food in. We love the three-in-one design as it makes carrying food so much easier. You won’t need multiple containers to store food in as this bento box has got that sorted.
The three-in-one design also comes in handy when it comes to portion control, as it allows you to store the right amount of food for one or two meals. This way, you reduce the amount of food that goes to waste to a considerable extent and maintain a healthy diet.
The bento box is entirely lead-free and composed of 18/8 stainless steel, which is one of the best quality stainless steel in use today. It makes your box resistant to rust and stains. So you can use your box without any worries for a long time. The box is leak-proof, and you don’t have to worry about spilling your food.
The compartments are all separated by dividers that stand tall till the lid. We like this as it reduces any leaks from one compartment to another. However, we did find that liquids from one compartment might leak onto the other. So say, you’re keeping sandwiches on one side and mayo on the other, there is a good chance that your kid might end up having a soggy sandwich.
Though we thought this was disappointing, WeeSprout comes up with a solution to this problem by providing a free dip container. It’s leak-proof and perfectly fits inside your bento box. You can use this container to store salad dressing, pasta sauce, and dips without worrying about any mess. The silicone lid is easy to open and shut, so your kid won’t make any hassle.
The bento box’s dimensions are 8.2x 6.1x 2.1 inches, and the dip container is of the dimensions 2.3x 1.5x 1.5 inches. WeeSprout’s bento box is undoubtedly a stainless steel lunch box that we recommend.
Pros
- Convenient 3-in-1 section design
- Odor, stain, and rust-resistant
- Leak-proof lid
- Hassle-free lid
- Free dip container
Cons
- Might cause internal leaks
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3. Everusely Food Containers
We know you came here looking for stainless steel lunch boxes for kids, but what if we said that you get adult goodies as well? Everusely’s food containers are available in five different sizes that not only kids can use, but grown-ups can carry food in as well.
The lids of the containers are all color-coded using pastel shades so that you can identify them with ease. As we mentioned, these containers come in five different sizes– XX-Large, X-Large, Large, Medium, and Small. It’s kind of like T-shirt sizes but for food containers. We found that the XX-Large and X-Large sizes are perfect for food portions that an adult requires, while you can store smaller portions of food in the Large, Medium, and Small-sized containers. Ideally, we’d suggest that you store sauces, salad dressings, and condiments in the smallest container.
These food containers are made of food-grade 304 stainless steel, which means they are resistant to corrosion. They’re pretty durable and will save you a lot of money to be spent on extra purchases. These containers are completely safe, and you can store fruits and lunches without any worries of leaks or unwanted chemical reactions. It is easy to wash, and you can even keep it in the freezer if there’s leftover food.
We love that these containers are oven-safe which means you can heat food without any worries. You can heat them to a temperature of 355 F. The lids are made of silicone which is oven-safe as well. However, we’d recommend that you do not use the lid and instead cover the food with foil for better heating. Although it is oven-safe, please do not heat it in a microwave.
The containers are round in shape, so you won’t be able to store sandwiches or pizza slices properly. Other than that, these food containers are a great option if you’re looking for lunch boxes for kids. They come in 32oz, 21oz, 13oz, 6oz, and 3oz sizes, which you can stack up on top of each other and save space.
Pros
- Multi-colored lids to make them easier to identify
- Stackable and hence, saves space
- Ideal for adults as well
- Oven-safe
- No leaks
Cons
- Difficult to store larger food items
- You might need to get an extra bag to carry multiple containers
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4. YBOBK Home Bento Lunch Box
If you’re talking portable lunch boxes for kids, then we’d say this is one you should go for. YBOBK’s bento box is made of good quality and is sturdy for long-term use. It’s made of stainless steel lining inside and has an outer layer of food-grade PP material, which keeps your food fresh and safe for your children to eat.
The lid has a thick ring lining made of silicone. It prevents any leakage or spillage of food, especially sauces, so you don’t have to worry about any mess or hassle.
We love that it is quite spacious and is divided into two sections to keep your food in. You can store your sandwiches and pasta or even fruits without worrying about the two getting mixed up. As we said, the compartments are pretty spacious, so your kid won’t need another lunch box. It also helps with portion control as it keeps your food fresh and gets all the nutrients your child needs in one place.
Perhaps what we love the most about this bento box is that it has a removable handle. You can now carry your lunch box even if you don’t have a bag. This simplifies its use in terms of portability and storage, as you can use and remove the handle anytime.
We also like how the bento box comes with a flatware set and a case to put the cutleries in. You get a spoon, fork, and silver chopsticks, which is just fantastic because one thing we often forget while packing lunch for our kids is to include the cutlery. YBOBK’s bento box just makes it easier as there is a portable cutlery case as well.
But we were a bit bummed about how there aren’t separate slots for the flatware in it, which causes a clunking noise when you carry it around in your bag. You can sort this out by storing the flatware in your lunch bag or wrapping them up in napkins. We also found that it can keep your food warm for only up to an hour, so if you’re sending, say, pizza, we don’t think your kid is going to be very happy.
The dimensions of this bento box are 8.3x 5.9x 2.8 inches. Regardless of its cons, we do think this bento box is a pretty good choice for a stainless steel lunch box for kids.
Pros
- Comes with a flatware set
- Removable handle
- Two sections to store food in
Cons
- Flatware case makes noise
- Does not keep food warm
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5. LunchBots Quad Snack Container
What we really like about this lunch box is that it consists of four different compartments. We think this is the only lunch box your kid will ever need because you can store all your food in this, be it finger foods or chips or sandwiches or fruits and berries. Adults can use this lunch box to store their side dishes for lunch, and it can hold an entire meal for toddlers.
This lunch box is made from high-quality 18/8 stainless steel. You need not worry about it getting rusty or catch a terrible odor. It’s pretty sturdy and durable, so you don’t need to worry about breaking and other messes. You can just toss it in the dishwasher to clean or even just use a wipe.
However, we were disappointed that you can’t store any liquid stuff because the compartments aren’t watertight. There’s a good possibility that sauces and dips might leak onto the other compartments, turning your food soggy. That’s a mess we don’t want you or your kid to handle.
We also found that the box’s lid is not super tight, which means it might come off if you don’t keep the box in an upright position. This could lead to bigger messes and hassles, which might be difficult to handle if your kid is at school.
The dimensions of the snack container are 6x 5x 1.75 inches. If you can store dry foods and keep the box upright all day or even use it at home, LunchBots is a good choice for a lunch box for kids.
Pros
- 4-compartment design
- Sturdy build
- Easy to clean
- Easily fits inside other boxes
Cons
- Leaks inside as well as outside
- Lid is not tight
- Small in size
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6. KYY Bento Box
This bento box has three conveniently spaced compartments for you to store your food in. This prevents your kids from carrying multiple containers as you can keep all your food in one place. There’s one big compartment and two smaller ones to keep the sides in. This saves your kid a lot of hassle and time.
You don’t have to worry about cleaning the box as well; you can wash it in a dishwasher. The box comes with tight locking clips that keep the box airtight, preventing any leakage outside the box. There is also a removable silicone ring that ensures that the lid doesn’t loosen up and create a mess. Additionally, you can remove the ring for better cleaning.
This box is made of high-quality 304 stainless steel and is rust-proof and sturdy. You can use it for a long time without any fear of breakage or hassle. As we said, the clips hold the lid quite tight, so you need not worry about food spilling out even if the box falls accidentally.
However, we were disappointed that you cannot store liquids in the box as there are gaps between the compartments which can cause internal leaks. This is a bummer as you’ll have to get separate containers to store sauces and dips in.
That said, KYY’s bento box is a pretty good lunch box if you’re planning to store sandwiches or fruits or solid snacks. Its dimensions are 8.46 x 6.51 x 2.36 inches.
Pros
- 3-compartment design saves space
- Tight clamps
- Sturdy and well-built
- Easy to clean and convenient
- Can store an adequate amount of food
Cons
- Internal leakage due to unsealed partitions
- Cannot store liquids
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7. HOMESPON Bento Box
We found HOMESPON’s bento box interesting because of its multilayered design. You can now send your kids lots of food without them facing any problems carrying it. The box also comes with a detachable handle, which makes it easier to carry around. You can easily separate the three containers and use them individually or together. It’s all up to you.
The box also comes with a cutlery set that includes a spoon, fork, and chopsticks. So even if you forget to pack flatware, this box has got you covered. There is a silicone ring under each sealed container provided to keep your food fresh. This also ensures that the lid of your lunch box remains tightly shut. The box also provides a lunch bag that is quite spacious and comes with separate slots to store the cutlery in.
Despite the multiple sealing covers, we found that the food gets cold after a while. This is a bummer as the bag claims to have a double insulation lining in it. We also noticed that if you do not keep the box upright, there is a chance of food leaking. So it’s not ideal for storing liquid stuff in.
The dimensions of the box are 7.9 x 6x 7.5 inches. It comprises high-quality 304 stainless steel, which ensures sturdiness and is rust-proof. If you wish to store large amounts of food, this is an ideal choice for a stainless steel lunch box.
Pros
- 3-tier design
- Removable handle makes it easy to carry
- Comes with a cutlery set and a bag
Cons
- Food gets cold
- Leakage
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Factors To Consider Before Buying
Now that you have an idea about the best stainless steel lunch box for kids, I think you need to keep some of these factors in mind before deciding what to buy:
1. Your Kid’s Age
It’s better to get lunch boxes with extra protection for younger kids as a tampered lunch box due to mischief is the last thing you need.
2. What To Pack For Lunch
I think it’s ideal if you get lunch boxes that are leak-proof internally and externally if you’re planning to pack liquids and sauces.
3. Design
It is always best if your lunch box has multiple sections or is multi-tiered so that you can store more food within a small space. Also, look for conveniently spacious lunch boxes.
4. Other Accessories
Lunch boxes like that by YBOBK and HOMESPON come with a cutlery set which, I think, is an added plus. Clean Lunch’N also provides a lunch bag for your kids that helps them to carry their lunch boxes. Extra accessories like dip containers and flatware are essential advantages to lunch boxes for kids.
Final thoughts on Stainless Steel Lunch Boxes
You must have figured out by now which would make the best stainless steel lunch box for your kids. As I mentioned, I love the Clean Lunch’N bento box as it is very spacious and also comes with a convenient carry bag. Additionally, I also love the food containers by Everusely if you’re looking to carry snacks.
Getting the perfect lunch box for kids involves considering your kids’ requirements and what lunch you’re planning to pack for them. If you put in a good amount of thought, you can get the perfect lunch box that you can use for a long time. So, happy shopping!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What Is A Bento Box?
Bento boxes are derived from Japanese food culture and contain well-balanced, nutritious meals consisting of fruits, grains, dairy, proteins, and vegetables.
Q2. What Is 18/8 Stainless Steel?
18/8 indicates the composition of the steel, that is, 18% chromium and 8% nickel. This composition provides better resistance to corrosion compared to the 400 series of stainless steel.
Founder and a 36-year old mother of one who has gone through the usual problems of parenting herself and shares her own experiences through this blog. Ruby is a great writer who researches well before putting forth facts in the articles.