Best Portable Food Heater/Warmer
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Sometimes you just aren’t in the mood for a cold sandwich at work, but you don’t want to bring soup to the office microwave no one ever cleans. Fortunately, there’s another option: portable food warmers that look like lunchboxes.
These devices allow you to bring pre-cooked or even uncooked food to your work since they can heat it up for you like miniature ovens. Let’s break down the best portable food heaters and warmers on the market today.
Choosing an Ideal Food Warmer
It can be a bit tough to choose the perfect food warmer for your needs if you don’t know where to start. We recommend considering these major factors as you pick:
- The size and capacity of the food warmer. Larger warmers are better if you bring more food to work
- The material of the containers. The best container materials are stainless steel or glass, which ensure food safety and durability
- The power plug options. Some portable food warmers can only be plugged into standard outlets, while others can be used with car or truck chargers for even more convenience
- Price – of course, cheaper food warmers are better if you are on a tight budget
- Leak-proof functionality, since it’s much more convenient to have a food warmer that won’t leak your food over your car seat or work desk
Eocolz 2-in-2 Food Heater
Perhaps the best choice for an on-the-go food heater is Eocolz’s Portable Food Warmer, which has two separate plugs for car or truck use and home use, respectively. Even better, the overall container is made of leakproof materials, and the interior container is made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel.
You can remove the stainless steel tray to place it in your dishwasher for fast washing, too. We also really like that the interior stainless steel tray has two compartments; you can heat up two different types of food simultaneously without them mixing together. The food warmer includes a spoon for even more value for money.
It’s tough to beat Eocolz’s portable heater in terms of price and convenience. Just imagine eating leftover Caribbean Pork Tenderloin with Rice and Beans with this heater – yum!
HTDZ Portable Oven
HTDZ’s Portable Oven is a fantastic personal food warmer you can use at work or in your car without having to rely on your workplace microwave. Designed with a fabric exterior that disguises it to look like any other lunchbox, this food warmer comes with two separate hot plates; one that works with a 12 V car charger and one that works with 110 to 220 V outlets.
As a result, you’ll be able to warm up your food practically anywhere you go. It’s powerful enough to also cook food from a raw state (though this may take a couple of hours in total). It’s basically a slow cooker in a box!
Unfortunately, this portable warmer doesn’t come with any dials or temperature controls, so you’ll have to regularly check your food to see if it’s ready. Still, there’s no better way to enjoy tasty lunches, like Homemade Moroccan Fried Chicken.
YOHOOLYO Electric Lunch Box
YOHOOLYO’s Electric Lunch Box is a 110 V device that comes with a stainless steel container neatly divided into three distinct compartments. That way, you can store your food and keep it separated rather than having everything mixed together messily.
It’s a little heavier than average, at 2.2 pounds, but it’s great for use in your car, truck, or at your workplace. It can heat up your homemade meals to 150°F in about 30 to 40 minutes, all while keeping the included handle quite cool. Even better, the interior stainless steel container is very easy to clean. Plus, you get a fork and spoon inside your package with every purchase; talk about value for money.
One thing to note is that you must keep the portable food warmer stable. Don’t ever let it flip over since it’s not a leak-proof container. So if you have anything with fluid or water inside the lunch box, it may leak out if it tips over in your car or on your desk.
UUTO Electric Heating Lunch Box
UUTO’s Electric Heating Lunch Box is exactly what it says on the tin. This dual-use electric lunchbox comes with two different plugs: a 12 V plug for car use and a 110 V plug for home or at-work eating. As a result, you can take this portable food warmer practically anywhere you need to.
It all works thanks to a three-part design that includes a basic anti-leak food-grade cover, a stainless steel container, and a high-quality heating plate. All of these components work simultaneously to keep your food warm or to even cook your food from scratch. On the downside, you should only use metal containers with this portable food warmer due to its metal interior; other types of containers may melt or be damaged as it warms your food.
But on the flip side, the stainless steel interior is corrosion-resistant, so this food warmer should last for a very long time to come!
Hot Logic 120 Food Warming Tote
Lastly, consider Hot Logic’s 120 Food Warming Tote. It’s shaped just like a regular lunchbox and even has a fabric exterior; odds are your coworkers will be none the wiser that you can keep your lunch warm while their meals go cold.
It only weighs 1 pound, so it’s relatively lightweight, and it can work with any heat-resistant container, including metal, glass, foil, or plastic. This effective food warmer can cook your food evenly rather than just keeping it hot, as well.
If you plug it in (the cord is included), you can keep your food warm for 12 hours in total. In short, it’s an excellent portable food warmer through and through, and it works with a standard 120 V outlet. You can also purchase a 75 W power inverter if you want to plug it into your car’s charging port. The only downside is that this inverter is not included with the core purchase.
Ultimately, any of the above portable food warmers could be a great choice for your lunchtime needs. Consider your budget and choose the one that best suits your meal preferences; you’ll never have to worry about eating a cold lunch again.
