The best thermos containers for kids keep food hot until lunchtime and are easy for kids to open on their own. I’ve tested plenty over the years, and these are my top picks for packing everything from soup and pasta to leftovers for school. Whether you’re shopping for a kindergartener or a hungry teenager, I’ll help you find the right one.
A Thermos Is a Must-Have for Hot Lunches
I’ve been sharing how I use a thermos to pack my kids’ hot school lunches since 2012, and I’ve tested many different containers over the years. Some have come and gone, while others have stood the test of time and are still the ones I recommend. Whether your child’s school has a microwave or not, a thermos means they can skip the line and have a warm lunch ready to eat. Below, I’ll share what I look for when buying one and which containers work best for different ages and appetites.
What To Look For
- Double-wall insulated stainless steel: Helps keep food hot until lunch.
- Wide opening: Easier to fill, eat from, and clean.
- The right size: 12oz for younger kids, 16-18oz for growing appetites, and 20-25oz for hungry teens.
- Dishwasher-safe parts: Less cleanup after school.
- Easy-to-open lid: Kids should be able to open it without asking for help.
What To Avoid
- Plastic-only interiors: Don’t retain heat as well as vacuum-insulated stainless steel.
- Hand-wash-only containers: More cleanup for everyday lunches.
- Tall, narrow openings: Harder for kids to reach the food with a spoon.
Kids’ Lunch Thermoses I Recommend
Not every thermos works for every kid. I’ve learned that younger kids need a lid they can open without help, while older kids usually need more room for a full meal. These are the ones I’ve tested and recommend, with options for smaller appetites, growing kids, and teens who need a bigger lunch.
Thermos Lunch Box: All-in-One
Want to pack a hot lunch and cold sides without sending several containers? An all-in-one thermos lunch box lets you pack everything together. I especially like this option for younger kids because they can open one box and have their entire lunch ready to eat.
Keeping Food Hot Until Lunch
Even the best thermos won’t keep food hot until lunch if you don’t use it correctly. The two things that make the biggest difference are heating the food thoroughly and preheating the container. In this video, I’ll show you how to use a thermos so your child’s lunch stays warm for hours.
If you’re new to packing lunches in a thermos, read this post for how long food stays good in a thermos.
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doris hall says
thank you for the imformation about the thermos but you had a picture of a thermos made or shape like a cup where do you buy that one. Please e-mail me
MOMables - Laura says
Hi Doris, unfortunately, this particular thermos has been discontinued. A close 2nd would be the Thermos Funtainer: http://bit.ly/ThermosFuntainer.
Amanda Buchko says
What is your favorite lunch bag that will accommodates these thermoses, a drink and a snack? The lunch boxes my kids have are the regular rectangle ones and they are not deep enough.
MOMables - Laura says
Hi Amanda, we like to use these from Easy Lunchboxes. Hope this helps!
Kavitha Sivakumar says
Hi Laura,
I’m looking at the Lunchbots insulated container. Does this one have to be pre-heated with boiling water to keep food hot? Or, does it keep food hot for 5 hours without pre-heating?
MOMables - Laura says
Some people preheat it while others don’t. Preheating warms up the wall space (insulated air space) in a thermos but we didn’t find that it significantly held the temperature longer.
Mina says
Do you have recommendations for thermos lunch containers that are more rectangular/square shape? I often pack hot sandwiches, quesadillas, and other “larger” items that have to be shoved into the round containers and then to pry them back out, they get all smooshed and my kid wont eat it.
MOMables - Laura says
Mina, unfortunately, I have not come across a square thermos. I wish!
Suet Horhota says
Hi Laura,
I’ve been searching forever for a kids thermos that can hold warm liquids with a straw for the winter months but can’t seem to find anything. Do you have any reviews on that? TIA!
MOMables - Laura says
The only thermoses with a straw are drinking thermoses but thicker items like soups won’t go through the straw. If you just need something for both check one like this out.
Christel says
Hi how do I keep my kids chicken nuggets from getting soggy inside one of these thermos
Thanks
MOMables - Laura says
Hi Christel, anything you put in a thermos that isn’t a soup or pasta or rice, for example, is going to change its texture due to the condensation that forms inside.
Aurora says
put a dry folded up piece of paper towel at the bottom of the container before you put in the nuggets. They don’t necessarily stay crispy, but it does help w/ the sogginess.
MOMables - Laura says
Great tip, Aurora!
Andrea G says
A piece of toast/bread at the bottom will absorb the steam and reduce the sogginess.
Adrian says
I have wrapped the chicken nuggets in a paper towel and then in foil before putting them in the thermos. They do stay warm, just not the crunch that he likes at home.
Isabelle says
Hi, I am looking for a way to bring warm grilled cheese sandwiches to school for my kid’s lunches. I tried stuffing them in a thermos but it’s just not the same. Any ideas?
MOMables - Laura says
Hi Isabelle, I made a video a while back that answers this same question. You’ll never be able to pack a hot sandwich and expect it to keep the crisp texture in a thermos or container, but here is how I do it.
Kate says
Hi , I am looking for the thermos cup you have on the pictures above! The red and green ones with handles, I can’t read the brand but it says something like alladin. I’ve been looking for a square thermos ideally but of course there isn’t any that will hold food hot , just metal lunch box containers. This cup is something I would really like to get but I can’t find it anywhere. Please help!
MOMables - Laura says
Hi, unfortunately, square thermoses do not exist. I will be updating this post with another thermos since the Aladin is no longer available.
Adrian says
Hi. I just watched your video on the sandwich. You said if you close the lid while it’s warm it’ll be soggy. So if you don’t close the lid to prevent it from being soggy, will it still be warm?
MOMables-Laura says
Hi Adrian, it will be at room temperature but this ensures a non-soggy sandwich.
katrina says
My child does not like her food touching. trying to find a thermos (keep warm) container that would have two to three compartments (kind of like a bento box, but insulated). So far had no luck… Any ideas? Thank you
MOMables - Laura says
Unfortunately, this type of thermos does not exist. :( You could check out the Omie Box, but only one compartment is insulated.
anon says
it wouldn’t be compartments like a bento box, but perhaps the zojirishi mr. bento (or something similar) would would work? it’s an insulated food jar with individual bowls that stack inside.
MOMables - Laura says
I’m familiar with Zo’s storage units and they work great. However, I don’t recommend them because they don’t tend to fit standard lunch bags here in the United States.
Fiona says
Great round up!
I noticed on the first three you didn’t put”leak proof”. Was that an oversight on those or did they lack I’m your tests?
My little fellas get into write a I lot of messes. I have to do what I can where I can making those last two leaders for me here.
Thanks for these reviews and your reply :)
MOMables - Laura says
yes, completely an oversight. ALL of the thermos containers I recommend are “leak proof”. happy lunch making!
Adrian says
I have a question regarding a container to keep my sons food warm longer than 5 hours. I was thinking about getting a Swell snack container or a Yeti and then I saw a review for the Stanley kids container. Do you have any suggestions? My son says that his thermos doesn’t keep it very warm, so he doesn’t eat much at all.
MOMables-Laura says
Hi Adrian, I have not tried these two containers but I do know the Stanley and other options in this post are durable and keep food warm for 5+ hours. These are the options I’ve tried and used for years.
Amy says
Perfect timing! I needed to research the perfect thermos to send hot food in oour kids’ lunchboxes. Now it’s done for me. Yea!
MOMables says
I’m so glad this helped Amy!