Thermos for food

To simplify the life of a person, more than one industry works - scientists, technologists, engineers and manufacturers of various devices supply new products to the market every year. And it helps to do what was more difficult until recently, took more time / space / effort. A simple example is a thermos for food. Someone still looks at such devices with caution, while someone is happy to write reviews about a miracle invention that provides hot meals without a microwave and going to a cafeteria or cafe.

It's time to choose a thermos for food, because this name refers to designs that are very different in type and purpose.

The food thermos will reliably maintain the optimal temperature of food, and the convenience of its use will ensure a wide throat. It is convenient to pour soups into a thermos, put a second one, it is already convenient to eat from it - that is, another bonus is that there is no need for additional dishes.

Vacuum food thermoses with a wide mouth made of steel, plastic, glass can be equipped with a convenient handle for carrying, recently manufacturers have been striving to make the handle as ergonomic as possible. The standard volume of such thermoses is 0.75-1 liters. The diameter of the neck is about 8-10 cm, and the body is 10-12 cm. The height of the thermos is from 15 to 22 cm on average.

A product with a container is considered very convenient. On the forums, it is called the "luxury thermos". The containers are installed directly into the flask. It is very convenient to take such a device not only to offices, but also on trips.The most popular models are with two or three containers. Such devices are roomy and functional, usually a spoon and a fork are included in the kit. And the average cost of models with containers is acceptable - 1300-1500 rubles.

A variant of such a model is what you need if you plan to serve a person on a hike that takes several days. In this container, there is really a lot of food. The model is very convenient for transportation / carrying, because it looks like a bag. But the price of a more functional item is growing along with its capabilities: the average cost of a thermos bag is 3000 rubles. But the volume reaches 30 liters (and this is not the limit), it will weigh about 0.5-0.7 kg. The material of manufacture can be hard plastic.

Another name for the fixture is a heated lunch box. It can already be called a full-fledged gadget. If you have an outlet or car cigarette lighter close at hand, food will heat up very quickly. In addition, the cord for most of these lunch boxes is removable, which means that the design is also convenient to carry and transport. Some devices are powered by an electrical network, from a rechargeable battery (batteries), there are also those that are connected via a USB port.

Such models are good for car trips that take all day. You can stop for a bite to eat anywhere, without being tied to a cafe. It is also convenient to take them to work if there is no canteen (or for some reason you want to eat homemade food). There is almost always a socket.

Food thermoses differ in material of manufacture. It makes sense to evaluate this parameter even before buying, it is important.

Lightweight, hygienic thermos, based on the design of which a glass bulb is a classic for the buyer. They have only one significant drawback, namely fragility. But many people use such devices for years, never breaking the inside of a thermos, without creating the prerequisites for that. Moreover, some users are sure that food is not preserved better than in a glass flask, only glass allows you to preserve the original taste and aromas.

This is taken on trips when ordinary dishes cannot withstand harsh conditions. On a professional trip, they often take a stainless steel thermos with several vacuum walls, a wide double stopper. Such a container will withstand both heat and cold. Even at -20 ° C it will be possible to get a thermos and enjoy a hot soup.

As popular thermo mugs made of high-quality plastic, thermos for food do not lag behind them. The low weight of such an object will be especially attractive. Plastic flasks are made especially durable so that the impact does not deform the internal structure of the food container. Provided in the design and valves to protect it from spilling. The vacuum lids are strictly sealed. And again, plastic models also have a comfortable wide neck.

Manufacturers take into account the difference in customer needs, and therefore offer a range of not only structurally different thermoses, not only variations in the materials of their manufacture, but also different volumes.

Conventionally thermoses for food are:

• large - this is the name for those structures whose volume exceeds 2 liters;
• medium - the volume is equal to 1-2 liters;
• small - from 250 ml (mini thermos) to 1 liter.

The smallest models can be considered a substitute for lunch boxes.Large ones are usually understood as container-type structures that allow you to carry significant amounts of food (possibly, not designed for one person).

How much thermos to take depends on the priority need. If hikes are rare, and you are not expected to treat the whole company, but you have to wear a modest lunch every day, then a small thermos may be enough.

It is also worth considering what the manufacturer has included in the thermos kit. Usually this is a spoon and a fork, which are attached directly to the body. A cup, a bowl are also present in the kit, and this function is often taken over by the top lid. The carrying handle is also considered an accessory. If you plan to buy a thermos for hiking, you should pay attention to models that have a carabiner fastened to a backpack.

This parameter is based on how long the thermos is able to maintain the temperature. If this is a relatively weak model, it will only reheat food for a couple of hours. But on average, food stays hot in a thermos for 4-6 hours. There are professional models that can keep food warm for up to a day or more.

This list includes those food thermoses that "wander" from rating to rating, have a high citation index, and good support on the forums.

Top 7 thermoses for food.

• DIOLEX DXF-600-1. The capacity of this model is 0.6 liters. This is a stainless steel vacuum structure, made in China. The inner flask is double, shockproof, the lid is insulated, there is a steam release function. The top cover can be used as a plate. The model has a nice cylindrical shape, a height of 16 cm, a diameter of 10.5 cm and a fairly wide neck.

• RONDELL PICNIC. The volume of this model is only half a liter, but it is very popular and convenient. First of all, I would like to note the modern attractive design from the Chinese manufacturer. It is also based on the principles of ergonomics. The body and the bulb are made of stainless steel. There is a heat-resistant layer on the body, decorative and easy to clean. The thermos is designed for use within 12 hours, after which time the food will become 2 times less warm (for comparison: after 3 hours it retains the initial temperature by 82%). Model height 15 cm, diameter - 10 cm.

• Arctic 403-1500. This model can be called more serious, because it already holds 1.5 liters. This is a thermos with three containers, different in volume. In the first, you can pour soup, in the second, send garnish and meat, in the third - compote. Reliable and functional design, created using proprietary vacuum technology. The shape of the thermos is cylindrical, the height is a little more than 25 cm, the diameter is 12 cm. The spoon and fork are fixed on the body.

• Stanley Master Vacuum Food Jar. The capacity of the model is 0.7 liters. This is one of the highest quality products in this category. It could lead this rating, which is hindered only by the high cost (at least 3,000 rubles). It is ready to keep warm and cold for 20 hours, the case is impeccably durable, it, together with the bulb, has an increased thickness. The bottom, neck and side walls are thermally insulated using a special technology. The outside of the thermos is covered with enamel that is difficult to scratch.The steel handle is covered with a silicone layer.

• Thermos SK-3020. Volume 0.71 l. Will keep warm for 10 hours. The walls of the case are shock-resistant. Perfect for hikes, long trips and those conditions where comfort is rather doubtful. The design of the model also attracts the buyer - in addition to its ergonomics, it is also quite stylish.

• Gipfel. A 0.75 liter thermos can be called a vacuum lunch box. It comes with two containers for food, which are built into the flask of the item. Both the body and the bulb are made of very durable stainless steel. All materials are tested for environmental safety. It is believed that this model will suit both one person and a couple - there is enough volume.

• BIOSTAL NRP-1000. And this is a liter thermos of a domestic manufacturer with reinforced thermal insulation (this is the main feature of this model). 20 cm in height, 10.5 cm in width, comfortable wide neck, stainless steel as the main material, thermal cover with a handle as part of the package, heat retention time 16 hours - these are the main characteristics of the thermos. Even if the device is toppled, its contents will not spill, which is important for many customers.

There are several points to go over before buying. This is a price and volume that everyone understands. They are considered first of all.

What else is important when choosing.

• Purpose of use. Not all food thermoses are designed for daily use. Maybe the buyer is looking for a picnic device, and for this it is better to look at models with an average (1-2 liters) volume. If he chooses an option for every day, there is also a “fork”: a thermos with a volume of 300-500 ml will be enough for a woman and a child, while a man, as a rule, 700 ml.
• Compactness. The most compact are metal models.
• Keeping warm. It is believed that the wider the neck of the thermos, the faster the heat will leave it. But it is also more convenient to apply food from such a device, so you will probably have to look for some kind of compromise. But the larger the volume of the flask (and the contents too), the longer the heat will keep.

You also need to ask the seller for certification, to make sure that the product is of high quality. This is especially important if some unique technological feature is declared in the model. As a rule, the manufacturer includes such know-how in the price.

The main requirement is to heat the inner flask of the thermos before the food is sent to it. How to do it: pour hot water into a flask, let it stand for a while. Then the liquid is drained, the product is ready for use. It has been proven that those who are not lazy to do such simple manipulations use thermoses longer and are more satisfied with the quality of their work.

Never pour oil and fat into a thermos that are brought to high temperatures. You shouldn't send carbonated drinks there, as well as dry ice. A food thermos is also not suitable for dairy products.

Some housewives and owners are faced with the problem of souring food in a thermos. As a rule, this is due to the ingress of microbes, the use of low-quality products, pouring already sour soup into a thermos, etc. An even more common reason is that the flask was not washed cleanly enough after previous use.This is just an ideal soil for the vital activity of pathogens, which lead to souring food.

You can wash in the dishwasher only those thermoses, in the instructions for which this item is clearly indicated. Most models are not ready for such a wash. This is dangerous because high water pressure and temperature will affect the integrity of the welds, which will make the thermos unsealed. Typically, a thermos is washed under running water using a standard dishwashing detergent. For better cleaning, a bottle brush is not unreasonably used. The washed thermos must be rinsed with cold / cool water and sent to dry.