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neadodsWe will return to our regularly scheduled Doctor Who on Saturday night...
Pro/Con Analysis of Different Bento Containers (based on a week’s experience)
General note: All bento containers are microwaveable. None of the lids are microwaveable. Most seem to require handwashing. Thermos containers certainly can’t go in the dishwasher!
Widemouth Lunch Tote
Price: ~$30 on Amazon.com
Size: 4 containers
- Large: 1.5 cups
- Medium: 3/4 cup
- Small: 1/2 cup
- Soup: 8 oz.
Total Capacity: 4.5 cups fluid measure
Watertightness: ~3 containers (soup is; small and medium are mostly)
Insulation: Yes, thermos-style
Utensils: clip-on spoon in case
Other: shoulder strap
Pros
Everything you could possibly need for a meal short of drinks and a napkin – and I think there’s room for a napkin at the very top if you fold it right.
All foods kept at appropriate temperature.
Cons
Roughly the size of Rhode Island, and heavy empty or full.
Unable to add at all; if you want a pudding cup, for example, you have to take it out of the container it came in and add it to one in the jar, making for more washing.
Everything has to be edible with a spoon or fingers.
Note
Although all the containers are not waterproof, the external carry tube is. It is also hand-washable. I’ve already had to clean up leaks, but nothing got outside the thermos.
Vive lunch box (mine is a white, rectangular version of the pink vive lower left; mine was on clearance and this would appear to be the new version.)
Price: $10 at local Korean market
Size: 3 containers
- Large: 1.5 cups
- Side: 3/4 cup
- Side: 3/4 cup
Total Capacity: 3 cups fluid measure
Watertightness: none
Insulation: none
Utensils: none
Other: none
Pros
Nice compact size, especially compared to the thermos-style bentos.
Cons
Can take only finger foods as there are no lids on any internal compartment.
Food can be shaken from one compartment to another if the container is rattled around.
Smaller capacity than first bento listed.
Note
Although the box on its own is uninsulated, has no utensils, etc., it does fit neatly into an insulated lunch bag I already own, with just enough room to spare to add utensils, a napkin, and even a baggie of food or an applesauce cup (but nothing larger, such as a yogurt cup). This makes for an overall kit with larger capacity and some thermal properties.
48-oz lunch tote (mine is not the model shown,* but it’s the same concept – 3 containers in a thermos, with bag)
Price: $19.99 at local Korean market
Size: 3 containers
- Large: 1.25 cups
- Medium: 3/4 cup
- Soup: 3/4 cup
Total Capacity: 2/75 cups fluid measure
Watertightness: (soup is; medium is mostly)
Insulation: Yes, thermos-style
Utensils: chopsticks in own case in handbag
Other: matching fabric handbag
Pros
All food insulated.
Room in bag to drop extra items such as Western utensils, drinks, or individual cups/cans, water bottle, etc.
Cons
Only three containers, only one of which is truly watertight.
Lowest capacity of all bentos
Snap-on themos lid is not watertight; if shaken and improperly packed, might leak.
Accompanying handbag 1) does not have long shoulder strap 2) is made of sleezy fabric, and 3) is far too large, making for wasted space.
Note
This one seems to blend the pros and cons of the previous two types. It insulates the food, and while the carrier does not automatically have a spot for utensils, etc., it also has enough room in the bag for adding a la carte items and utensils of a sort are part of the overall package. I’m not a big fan of the bag it came in, but that can be fixed with a couple hours in the sewing room.
Tupperware Divided Plate
Price: $1 per at yardsale
Size: 3 subsections
- Large: 1.5 cups
- Side: 3/4 cup
- Side: 3/4 cup
Total Capacity: 3 cups fluid measure
Watertightness: not between subsections, but entire plate won’t leak
Insulation: none
Utensils: none
Other: none
Pros
Can be put in dishwasher.
Inexpensive, if you can find one.
Cons
Food can be shaken from one compartment to another if the container is rattled around.
Cannot remove food that needs to go in microwave from food that should stay cold.
Size is inconvenient: 1) must be carried flat or compartments will leak, 2) lid sits too low to put internal dividers, such as applesauce cups inside, 3) takes up more refrigerator space than the traditional and thermos bento boxes.
Note
About the only thing this has going for it is price. The volume is the same as the Viva box and equivalent to the nameless Korean market thermos, but this has none of their benefits - no space for utensils and add-ons, no insulation, and doesn't fit neatly into anything.
*On the other hand, by the time you’re reading this, I will hopefully have won that auction and this *will* be one of my bentos…
Pro/Con Analysis of Different Bento Containers (based on a week’s experience)
General note: All bento containers are microwaveable. None of the lids are microwaveable. Most seem to require handwashing. Thermos containers certainly can’t go in the dishwasher!
Widemouth Lunch Tote
Price: ~$30 on Amazon.com
Size: 4 containers
- Large: 1.5 cups
- Medium: 3/4 cup
- Small: 1/2 cup
- Soup: 8 oz.
Total Capacity: 4.5 cups fluid measure
Watertightness: ~3 containers (soup is; small and medium are mostly)
Insulation: Yes, thermos-style
Utensils: clip-on spoon in case
Other: shoulder strap
Pros
Everything you could possibly need for a meal short of drinks and a napkin – and I think there’s room for a napkin at the very top if you fold it right.
All foods kept at appropriate temperature.
Cons
Roughly the size of Rhode Island, and heavy empty or full.
Unable to add at all; if you want a pudding cup, for example, you have to take it out of the container it came in and add it to one in the jar, making for more washing.
Everything has to be edible with a spoon or fingers.
Note
Although all the containers are not waterproof, the external carry tube is. It is also hand-washable. I’ve already had to clean up leaks, but nothing got outside the thermos.
Vive lunch box (mine is a white, rectangular version of the pink vive lower left; mine was on clearance and this would appear to be the new version.)
Price: $10 at local Korean market
Size: 3 containers
- Large: 1.5 cups
- Side: 3/4 cup
- Side: 3/4 cup
Total Capacity: 3 cups fluid measure
Watertightness: none
Insulation: none
Utensils: none
Other: none
Pros
Nice compact size, especially compared to the thermos-style bentos.
Cons
Can take only finger foods as there are no lids on any internal compartment.
Food can be shaken from one compartment to another if the container is rattled around.
Smaller capacity than first bento listed.
Note
Although the box on its own is uninsulated, has no utensils, etc., it does fit neatly into an insulated lunch bag I already own, with just enough room to spare to add utensils, a napkin, and even a baggie of food or an applesauce cup (but nothing larger, such as a yogurt cup). This makes for an overall kit with larger capacity and some thermal properties.
48-oz lunch tote (mine is not the model shown,* but it’s the same concept – 3 containers in a thermos, with bag)
Price: $19.99 at local Korean market
Size: 3 containers
- Large: 1.25 cups
- Medium: 3/4 cup
- Soup: 3/4 cup
Total Capacity: 2/75 cups fluid measure
Watertightness: (soup is; medium is mostly)
Insulation: Yes, thermos-style
Utensils: chopsticks in own case in handbag
Other: matching fabric handbag
Pros
All food insulated.
Room in bag to drop extra items such as Western utensils, drinks, or individual cups/cans, water bottle, etc.
Cons
Only three containers, only one of which is truly watertight.
Lowest capacity of all bentos
Snap-on themos lid is not watertight; if shaken and improperly packed, might leak.
Accompanying handbag 1) does not have long shoulder strap 2) is made of sleezy fabric, and 3) is far too large, making for wasted space.
Note
This one seems to blend the pros and cons of the previous two types. It insulates the food, and while the carrier does not automatically have a spot for utensils, etc., it also has enough room in the bag for adding a la carte items and utensils of a sort are part of the overall package. I’m not a big fan of the bag it came in, but that can be fixed with a couple hours in the sewing room.
Tupperware Divided Plate
Price: $1 per at yardsale
Size: 3 subsections
- Large: 1.5 cups
- Side: 3/4 cup
- Side: 3/4 cup
Total Capacity: 3 cups fluid measure
Watertightness: not between subsections, but entire plate won’t leak
Insulation: none
Utensils: none
Other: none
Pros
Can be put in dishwasher.
Inexpensive, if you can find one.
Cons
Food can be shaken from one compartment to another if the container is rattled around.
Cannot remove food that needs to go in microwave from food that should stay cold.
Size is inconvenient: 1) must be carried flat or compartments will leak, 2) lid sits too low to put internal dividers, such as applesauce cups inside, 3) takes up more refrigerator space than the traditional and thermos bento boxes.
Note
About the only thing this has going for it is price. The volume is the same as the Viva box and equivalent to the nameless Korean market thermos, but this has none of their benefits - no space for utensils and add-ons, no insulation, and doesn't fit neatly into anything.
*On the other hand, by the time you’re reading this, I will hopefully have won that auction and this *will* be one of my bentos…
