Thermos Funtainer Review: Will it last?

Hands down, the best accessory for packing healthy school lunches daily is a thermos container. Today’s blog post will focus solely on the Thermos Funtainer and whether or not you should buy it.

The short answer: YES, you should buy the Thermos Funtainer.

image: photo collage, woman on top shrugging, two thermoses at bottom of image. Image text reads "the best lunch thermos containers"

I’ve been packing lunches for my kids and sharing then on the internet since 2011, and have tried many (and I mean many) thermos containers. And over the years, my go-to thermos for elementary schoolers continues to be the Thermos Funtainer Food Jar.

Thermos Funtainer Food Jar

A thermos is a food jar made of stainless steel with vacuum insulation technology, double-walled with an insulation middle, designed for maximum temperature retention, for both hot or cold foods.

The Thermos Funtainer Food Jar is durable since it’s made of stainless steel and will often out-last your school packing years. I have a jar that is more than 10 years old!

What I love is that the thermos brand makes both solid-colored food jars and character-licensed jars. My personal advice: buy a neutral colored jar since your child will outgrow the character printed on it.

Here are a few reasons we love the funtainer thermos.

The wide mouth is easy to fill, serve from and clean
Keeps cold for 7 hours and hot for 5 hours;
The exterior of the jar will remain cool, regardless of the hot food inside.
Its 10-ounce capacity holds enough food for a lunch
Easy to clean

Are Thermos Funtainers Leak-Proof?

Thermos Funtainer is a leakproof container. Rest assured that I’ve packed many soups, yogurts, smoothies, and other liquids inside the insulated jar over the years.

You’ll need to make sure that the rubber gasket (a ring) that is around the lid is there at all times. That gasket ring makes a seal against the metal once you screw the top on the jar.

image: four photo collage of two lunch thermos, side view and and two, viewed overhead, filled with soup.

How to Clean a Thermos FUNtainer

Hands down, the best way to clean your Thermos Funtainer is by hand with warm water and a sponge.

If you have food that’s dried-out and is stuck in the inner walls, soak the thermos with warm water and soap for a while and then wash it.

Your lid will more than likely be dirty too, so make sure to wash that thoroughly with warm soapy water. Sometimes, that gasket (the white ring) will be greasy, especially if you put warm, tomato sauce-based meals inside. Let the gasket dry out fully before placing it back around the lid.

While a lot of people put their Funtainers in the top rack of the dishwasher, I don’t recommend it. Mostly because you’re nearly guaranteed to either lose the gasket or it will become stretched from the heating cycle, making your Thermos container no longer leak-proof.

What is the difference Between Thermos Foogo and FUNtainer?

The Thermos Foogo is my other go-to Thermos container. While both are extremely durable, hold 10 ounces of food, retain the cold for 7 hours, and keep food hot for 5, there is only one main difference:

The Foogo has a rubberized lid and base that makes it very easy to open for younger kids.

If you have a child entering kindergarten or younger than 8, I recommend the Thermos Foogo.

The only drawback is that the color options are limited but the bonus is the Foogo is character-free and it’s affordable!

How long do Thermos containers Last?

I have one Thermos Funtainer that I’ve been filling with delicious hot and cold foods since 2010. With proper care, your Thermos food jar will last a very long time.

How many Thermos containers do I need to buy?

It depends how often you plan on packing food inside a Thermos container. As a general rule of thumb, I like to have two Thermos containers per child.

There have been many days that I’ve packed more than one Thermos container inside the same lunch bag. And as you can see in this video, you can pack hot and cold lunches in the same bag.