With rising lunchtime costs in the UK prompting more people to bring packed lunches to work, demand for durable and practical lunch containers is increasing. Recent data from the online supermarket Ocado.com shows that 46 percent of UK professionals now prepare meals at home more frequently than a year ago, largely due to food prices in cafes and shops becoming less affordable. Nearly 70 percent say that buying lunch near their workplace is too expensive, which has driven a 79 percent spike in searches for "lunch bowls" on Ocado’s website alongside increased interest in meal prep essentials like microwaveable rice.
As casual lunch spending declines, many are re-evaluating their lunch box choices. Experts advise investing in reliable containers with leakproof features rather than opting for inexpensive alternatives likely to require frequent replacement. Options are available in various materials including plastic, metal, silicone, and glass, each with its own advantages depending on intended use.
Stainless steel containers have garnered strong recommendations for their robustness and longevity. For instance, the Black+Blum range comes with lifetime warranties and features vacuum seals that prevent leaks. These lunch boxes, which include microwave-safe rectangular models starting around £14 and leakproof versions with silicone straps and included forks from £27.95, have demonstrated durability with some users reporting years of daily use without issues.
Plastic options remain popular, particularly those made from food-grade, BPA-free materials. Sistema’s clip-and-seal containers are noted for their stackable, leakproof design and compatibility with microwaves, offering affordable choices at prices ranging from approximately £5.50 to £7.50. However, experts caution against reheating food in reused takeaway containers due to concerns about chemical leaching.
Other notable products include Elephant Box’s plastic-free stainless-steel Clip & Seal lunch boxes, which are oven and microwave safe (without the lid), dishwasher and freezer compatible, and come with a 15-year guarantee. These boxes start at £26 and can be difficult to find due to high demand. Lakeland’s recent introduction of a microwaveable stainless-steel lunch box with a leakproof silicone lid, priced at £12.99, provides another option backed by a three-year warranty.
For those seeking compartmentalized solutions, Brabantia’s Make & Take bento box range offers removable sections and sealed lids to minimise spills, though it is not certified leakproof and is less suited for liquid-based meals. Available in BPA-free microwave-safe plastic from £9.95 or steel versions not suitable for microwaving, these lunches come with five-year warranties.
Insulated food pots are another alternative for hot meals. Thermos offers a 710ml Icon insulated flask that keeps food hot for up to 14 hours, is leakproof, dishwasher safe, and includes a spoon in the lid, priced from £26 with a five-year warranty. Chilly’s, better known for steel water bottles, produces a food pot that maintains temperatures for at least four hours but is not dishwasher, microwave, or freezer safe, costing from £23 and covered by a two-year warranty.
As lunchtime habits shift amid rising costs, consumers are balancing durability, convenience, and price when selecting the best lunch containers to suit their needs.