Whether you regularly prepare Asian dishes for your kids or not, who doesn’t love a hot lunch ready for them on a crisp autumn day? Bento boxes are a great way to keep the food you lovingly prepare your family fresh, warm and tasty.
But there are a wealth of stainless steel lunch boxes available to choose from. How do you know which one is the best? By and large, metal lunch containers are your best bet because they help keep food warm/cool, and they are the most durable.
And if you have small, active kids then you already know the value of a sturdy lunch box. In the following article we will be highlighting best metal bento box to help you choose the perfect product.
Top 7 Stainless Steel Bento Boxes
1. Lille Stainless Steel 3-Tier Insulated Bento Box
Editors’ Choice: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Starting our list is a fun and safe stainless steel lunch box for kids. This bento lunch box is stackable and made of SS304 grade stainless steel. This steel lunch box looks like a tall thermos but it breaks down into three separate compartments.
The largest of which is 20 ounces, and the two middle compartments are 10 ounces each. Perfect for main entrees and side dishes. The compartments can keep food warm/cool for up to 4 hours. Lastly, this stainless steel lunch box is leak proof with all the compartments screwing tightly to one another.
2. ArderLive Stainless Steel Thermal Insulated Bento Lunch Container with Bag
Editors’ Choice: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next on our list of the best stainless steel lunch containers is another stackable offering from AderLive. When assembled, it stands 11 inches tall and 4.4 inches in diameter so it doesn’t take up too much space. It has three containers (two 10 ounce and one 20 ounce) with a bonus 3 ounce container that houses little serving dishes or can be used to hold small snacks.
This is also a stainless steel bento box and is leak proof. When kept in the insulated lunch bag, it can keep food warm/cool up to 3 hours or up to 2 hours outside the bag. Last but not least, this AderLive stainless steel insulated lunch box is microwave and dishwasher safe.
3. LunchBots Large Cinco Metal Bento Box for Kids or Adults
Editors’ Choice: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you are looking for a simpler stainless steel lunch box with compartments, this may be the product for you. The LunchBots Stainless Steel Lunch Container is a simple 5 compartment tray with a lid. It’s 8 inches long and 6 inches wide so it’s great for small to medium sized meals or snacks.
It’s made of 18/8 food grade stainless steel so it won’t rust or impart any flavor to the food you pack in it. As far as durable stainless steel lunch containers go, you can’t do much better than this one because it was built to last. It can take a beating and still keep your favorite foods neatly separated inside.
4. WeeSprout 18/8 Stainless Steel Bento Box
Editors’ Choice: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If your meals tend to be a bit simpler, this straightforward metal bento box from WeeSprout will do the trick. It features three large compartments and comes with a fully detachable lid that can also serve as a small serving dish.
It’s also made of 18/8 stainless steel and is safe for the freezer and the dishwasher to make life a little easier for you. It’s about 8.2 inches long, 6.2 inches wide and 2.1 inches deep so it offers ample food storage space for all the eager eaters in your family.
5. Stainless Steel Bento Box Lunch Box 3 Tier
Editors’ Choice: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Number 5 on our list of the best stainless steel lunch containers is a 3-tier stackable box that breaks down into three separate containers. The largest can hold 2 and 7/8 cups of food, the second largest holds 2 and ½ cups and the smallest holds 7/8 cups.
All the containers fit on to of each other and are topped with a single lid. The whole set is made of 100% stainless steel and when they’re all stacked together, doesn’t take up very much room at all. Perfect for tightly packed lunch bags or backpacks.
6. Ecozoi LEAK PROOF Stainless Steel 3-in-1 Eco Lunch Box
Editors’ Choice: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This Ecozoi bento lunch box also sports a 3-tier construction but with the added bonus of silicone seals. So all three containers that stack on top of each other are tightly sealed and won’t spill even when your little ones are running amok.
The whole thing is made of grade 201 stainless steel and comes in 100% recyclable packaging making it an eco-friendly green stainless steel lunch bento box. You also get a bonus pod that fits right into the compartments and is great for dips and sauces.
7. Brandenburg Classic Stainless Steel Bento Box
Editors’ Choice: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Last on our list of the best metal bento boxes is a product from Brandenburg. This is also a 3-tier stackable stainless steel bento box. And the coolest thing about it is that it has 2 clasps on either side that help form a tight and secure seal.
You won’t have to worry about the three compartments detaching from each other no matter how clumsily they are handled. The bottom compartments can hold 2 and ¼ cups of food each while the top compartment holds ¾ of a cup.
Buying Guide for Stainless Steel Bento Boxes
While your kids may think the most important thing about a lunchbox is that it’s fun, as an adult, you are more discerning. To that end, here are some features to look out for when shopping for bento boxes:
Material
Stainless steel is by far the best material for bento boxes. It’s easy to clean, doesn’t impart a metal flavor to your food and it’s durable.
Compartments
If you typically make a multi-course lunch for your family, you should consider buying a bento box that has compartments so you can keep different foods separate. It will make for much happier eaters.
Leak Proof Design
Kids (and adults for that matter) can be mindless when it comes to handling their food – especially when they’re on the go. This is why a leak-proof design can be very helpful for you (won’t have to clean messes) and your family (no spilled meals).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is so great about bento boxes?
A. Bento boxes make it easier to prepare a well-rounded, healthy meal without having to take up as much room as a traditional lunchbox.
Q: What is the best Bento lunch box?
A. The Lille Home bento box on our list is often rated as the best overall bento lunchbox. Customers cite the fact that it’s fun for their kids, it’s easy to clean and extremely versatile as far as which foods you can keep in it.
Q: What is the best bento box for adults?
A. The 3-tier bento boxes on our list are very popular among adults who prefer to meal prep but have hectic work schedules.
Final Advice
Keeping your needs and the needs of your family firmly in mind while you shop for a stainless steel bento box is the best advice we can give. Only you know the habits and preferences of yourself and your family.
But no matter how your family operates, you are sure to find a bento box that fits their needs with the items on our list. Overall, the products we reviewed above provide versatility, easy maintenance and a fun way to enjoy a meal on the go whether you are an adult or a kid. Be sure to check them out!