The Best Reusable Lunch Containers For All Your Individual Needs

A roundup of the best reusable lunch containers including eco-friendly bento box containers, reusable snack containers and thermos containers, made of stainless steel, silicone and other non-toxic materials, to meet the needs of everyone in the family.


Reusable Lunch Containers

Got a picky child who doesn’t like different foods to touch?

Is plastic-free your thing because it’s safer and better for the planet?

Need a lightweight lunch container because you’re toting it all around town?

Need to microwave your lunch at work?

In the world of lunch-packing, we all have different needs. My favorite lunch container may not work for you – and vice versa. Your older son may want something completely different than your younger daughter. The good news is, there are many different reusable lunch container styles to choose from!

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Reusable Lunch Containers – The Criteria

To cover all the bases, I considered lots of different criteria for this eco-friendly lunch container roundup. Some of these criteria may be more important to you than others. My family has appreciated all of them over my many years of lunch packing for one reason or another!

  • lightweight
  • plastic-free
  • leakproof
  • divided areas
  • microwavable
  • dishwasher safe
  • freezer safe
  • keep food warm
  • flexible (changeable or removable parts)
  • minimal parts
  • indestructible

RELATED: Favorite Reusable Snack Bags 

What to Look for in a Reusable Lunch Container

When you are shopping for an eco-friendly lunch container, look for these safe, non-toxic materials:

Food grade stainless steel

  • Often marked 18/8 or 18/10 stainless 
  • Advantages: lightweight, dishwasher safe, very durable
  • Disadvantages: not microwavable

Food grade silicone

  • A synthetic rubberlike polymer that does not leach chemicals or produce hazardous fumes
  • Advantages: flexible, does not absorb odors, easy to see through if silicone is translucent/clear
  • Disadvantages: can rip or tear if not treated carefully

Glass

  • Advantages: tempered glass can be used in freezer, refrigerator and microwave and is dishwasher safe
  • Disadvantages: heavier than other materials, will break if dropped

Food safe plastic

  • Polypropylene plastic – PP (recycling code #5) and low-density polyethylene – LDPE (recycling code #4) are durable plastics that are considered food safe 
  • Advantages: flexible and easy to care for
  • Disadvantages: not microwavable, plastic production contributes to pollution
Best reusable lunch containers

Best Reusable Lunch Containers – The Roundup

Scroll through this list of reusable lunch containers, and I bet you’ll find the perfect one for YOUR NEEDS! 

Be assured that all of these sustainable lunch containers are all made from safe, non-toxic materials like stainless steel, glass, silicone or food-safe plastic. They are all durable, washable and ready to be used again and again (no single use plastic containers here!)

Any of these food containers will be a very sustainable choice for your eco-friendly lunch box packing needs, whether for school lunch, work lunch or carrying healthy snacks on-the-go. 

I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article including Amazon Affiliates. Full Disclosure

U Konserve reusable lunch container with silicone lid
U Konserve Stainless + Silicone Containers

Stainless Steel with Silicone Lids

  • Food grade stainless steel container
  • See-through silicone lid
  • Leakproof
  • Flexible lids are easy to open

Best feature: Clear lids make it easy to see what’s inside

Stojo reusable silicone container
Stojo collapsible silicone bowl

Collapsible Silicone Food Bowl

  • Premium food grade silicone bowl
  • Polypropylene lid (BPA/BPS free)
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Bowl is microwavable (lid is not)

Best feature: Bowl collapses when empty for easy carrying and storage

PlanetBox Rover
PlanetBox Rover

PlanetBox

  • Durable stainless steel box
  • Has 5 compartments in a variety of sizes
  • Includes 2 leak-proof containers with silicone lids
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Decorative magnets included

Best feature: Handle allows you to carry it like a lunchbox

UKonserve divided containers via mindfulmomma.com
U Konserve Divided Containers

Stainless Steel Divided Containers

  • Durable stainless steel container
  • Removable divider
  • Safe #4 plastic lid
  • Leakproof

Best feature: Removable divider for Bento-box flexibility

Frego and other reusable lunch containers
Frego

Frego Glass & Silicone Lunch Container

  • Plastic-free: lid and sleeve made of non-leaching silicone
  • Durable, shatter-resistant glass container
  • Oven and microwave safe
  • Leakproof
  • Freezer safe

Best feature: Perfect for microwaving leftovers at work!


Zero waste checklist

Splash Box reusable lunch container
Splash Box by ECOlunchbox

Splash Box

  • Plastic-free: lid made of silicone
  • Non-toxic stainless steel container
  • Mini container (sold separately) great for dips or small items
  • Lightweight
  • Water tight and leak-proof
  • Dishwasher safe

Best feature: Super lightweight and easy-off lid makes it a good choice for kids

Kid Basix Safe Snackers
SafeSnacker by Kid Basix

SafeSnacker

  • Container bottom made from lightweight stainless steel
  • Lid made from BPA free plastic
  • Silicone gasket keeps food fresh
  • Dishwasher safe

Best feature: Attached lid means lids won’t get lost at school

Lunchbots bento trio and other reusable lunch containers
Lunchbots Bento Trio

Lunchbots Bento Trio

  • Both container and lid are food grade stainless steel
  • Bento style container with one large and two smaller compartments
  • Lightweight and compact

Best feature: Virtually indestructible!

OmieBox and other reusable lunch containers
OmieBox

OmieBox

  • Insulated bento-box designed for both hot and cold foods
  • Includes insulated stainless container for hot foods
  • Customize with movable divider
  • Made with BPA-free plastic, food grade silicone and stainless steel
  • Kid-friendly design makes it a great eco-friendly lunch box for school 

Best feature: Attached handle makes it easy to carry.

RELATED: Zero Waste Alternatives to Plastic Wrap

Stainless Steel Tiffin reusable lunch container
Three-Tier Stainless Steel Tiffin

3-Tier Stainless Steel Tiffin 

  • A classic eco-friendly bento box with three separate food compartments that stack together
  • Made entirely from food safe stainless steel 
  • Carry the top tier on its own, or both tiers together
  • Lid doubles as a plate

Best feature: Holds a lot of food!

Eco Lunchbox Three-in-One and other reusable lunch containers
Three-in-One Stainless Bento Box

Three-in-One Stainless Bento Box

  • 100% food grade stainless steel
  • Upper and lower food containers clip together
  • Includes nesting snack container with lid

Best feature: Different sections keep foods from touching.

Wean Green Lunch Cube reusable lunch containers
Lunch Cubes

Wean Green Lunch Cubes

  • Odor resistant tempered glass
  • BPA-free plastic lid with silicone seal
  • Microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe

Best feature: Leftovers go from freezer to microwave to dishwasher – all in the same container.

UKonserve Round Containers and other reusable lunch containers
Round Snack Containers

Nesting Trio of Round Snack Containers

  • Reusable snack containers made from food safe stainless steel
  • Leak resistant, BPA-free plastic lids
  • Set of 3 snack container sizes that nest together

Best feature: Mix and match a variety of fruits, veggies, nuts and other snacks.  

Klean Kanteen Insulated Food Canister
Insulated Food Canister

Insulated Food Canister

  • Double wall vacuum insulation
  • Keeps food hot for up to 8 hours
  • Made from food grade stainless steel, with a silicone sealing gasket

Best feature: Makes taking leftovers for lunch easy

Stainless steel reusable lunch container
Stainless steel reusable lunch container

Stainless Container with Clamp Lid

  • 100% food grade stainless steel
  • Lid clamps tightly on to base
  • Dishwasher safe

Best feature: Large container great for leftovers or sandwiches. 

Related: Safe Plastics to Use for Food Storage

Even More Eco-Friendly Lunch Containers 

 
 
 
 

What is your #1 requirement for a lunch container?

green & healthy wishes Micaela signature

RELATED: Eco-Friendly & Non-Toxic School Supplies

14 Comments

  1. We love Lunchbots! I love that they are dishwasher safe and unbreakable. I haven’t tried the others but I love that there are numerous plastic-free options now.

  2. Pamela Johnson says:

    Michaela, these suggestions are awesome. I am passing them on to all I know and on my social media sites. Thank you!

  3. Hey Michaela,
    I’d love for you to try out our all-silicone lunch boxes from The Parent Diary. We have various sizes for everything from baby food to large pasta or salad, and you can chose single-compartment containers or a lunch box with dividers. Check us out at http://www.theparentdiary.com. Can I send you one to review?
    Michele

  4. This is a wonderful collection. Thank you sooo much for putting this together!

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