The Finest Bento Bins of 2023

The concept of packing meals to-go shouldn’t be new, neither is it distinctive to the Western world. There are metallic tiffins in India, biàndāng in China, and bento packing containers from Japan, which we’re specializing in on this assessment. 

In the present day, the time period bento describes a packed lunch gathered up in a field with little compartments for every meals merchandise; historically, rice was the primary meals positioned inside, together with some greens and maybe meat or fish. The bento expertise encompasses the field, the meals, the act of packing the meals within the field, and the delight of consuming from one. 

Whereas its actual origins are murky, Sonoko Sakai, creator of Japanese House Cooking, postulates the bento field started as a solution to deliver meals out and about. “I’ve learn various things, like when the royal households went to go see the cherry blossoms, the servants would make a gorgeous bento field,” she says. “So they’d sit beneath the tree and lay out the blanket and watch the flowers bloom whereas they ate.” There was additionally the sensible worth of a transportable field (and in older instances, meals wrapped in plant leaves) that contained the day’s lunch. “When folks went into the sector, they’d a bento, or in the event you’re touring you at all times carried a bento, and I believe that it’s only a very historic dish,” Sakai says. 

In the present day, bento has expanded to incorporate every kind of meals and packing containers; a bento can include onigiri as readily as an egg salad sandwich, and a standard lacquered-looking field isn’t any extra frequent than one which’s vibrant pink and embellished with anime characters. 

Selecting a bento field is private, with some folks valuing sure points over others: some may need a single field with few compartments, others may need one which has a large number of compartments for retaining meals separate; some may need a two-tiered field with a band to carry them collectively, others may desire a single field with a silicone-lined rim for final leak-prevention. In the present day, there are various choices in the marketplace, and whereas we examined 11 choices and got here away with some favorites, ultimately, it’s as much as you what you need in a bento field.

The Winners, at a Look

The Finest, Most Spacious Bento Field: Bentgo Stainless

Say your concept of an ideal lunch is an enormous sandwich, loaded salad, or heaping donburi (actually, any method of hearty lunch fare). Properly, the Bentgo Stainless has you lined with a big inside, optionally available divider, and a powerful leakproof seal.

The Finest Leakproof Bento Field: Monbento Massive Bento Field

When you prefer to pack something even barely liquidy (fruit salad, for instance), this field is the bento to purchase. It’s leakproof (even when shaken vigorously) and compact, but nonetheless fairly spacious.

The Finest Smaller Bento Field: Bento Chunk Twin from TAKENAKA

This cute little bento field options two surprisingly spacious compartments with an optionally available divider, and a fork (as a result of who doesn’t overlook to pack a utensil?). It’s compact and simply matches right into a tote-style purse or backpack.

The Finest Bento Field for Children: Pottery Barn All-in-One Bento Field

This no-frills bento field is available in quite a lot of colours and is simple to open and shut (which is a pleasant function for little youngsters). It’s additionally fabricated from plastic, so it gained’t dent or ding up, and the inside compartments preserve meals separate, whereas additionally nonetheless being rooomy sufficient to suit every kind of snacks.

The Finest Conventional-Model Bento Field: Suzuran Shokado Bento Field

When you’d prefer to serve your pals or household a standard (or untraditional, as much as you) bento, this bento field is a beautiful possibility. Whereas it’s fabricated from plastic, it has the feel and appear of a standard lacquered wood field, and is simple to scrub.

The Exams

• Packed Lunch Check: We packed every bento field with a easy lunch consisting of a small mandarin orange, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, 1/4 cup of walnuts, three Sidgal Norwegian crispbreads, and two small peeled carrots, lower in half. We examined how (and if) all the things match, and if the field was straightforward to fill, put collectively, and shut. 
• Leak Check: We crammed every lunchbox with 1-cup of water and shook it to see if it leaked. 
• Stain and Odor Check: We smeared the inside of every bento field with tomato sauce, closed the lid, and let it sit for 4 hours. Then, we cleaned every field by hand and famous if the field stained or had any lingering odors. 
• Sturdiness Exams: We opened and closed every bento field 10 instances. All through testing, we additionally famous if the packing containers had been straightforward to assemble and take aside, and due to our personal clumsiness, we dropped them a number of instances. 
• Microwave Check: We heated microwave-safe packing containers within the microwave for 1-minute on the 700-watt setting. 
• Cleansing Exams: We hand washed every bento field after use, noting if it was straightforward to scrub and if any meals stains or odors remained. 
• Usability Exams: All through our testing, we examined and famous how straightforward it was to pack, assemble, unpack, and clear every bento field. 

What We Discovered 

General Measurement and Compartment-Model Have been Vital

Since what folks pack for lunch varies significantly, we most popular bento packing containers that allowed for quite a lot of choices. The Monbento Massive Bento Field, the TAKENAKA Bento Chunk Twin, and the Bentgo Stainless all had moveable partitions to build-your-own compartments, which allowed us to pack meals of all styles and sizes. We discovered packing containers with fastened compartments, just like the LunchBots Massive Stainless Metal Lunch Field and Bentgo Children, extra limiting; some objects didn’t match, or we needed to lower them as much as squeeze them in (for instance, we had hassle becoming a small sandwich into the Bentgo Children field, since all the compartments had been fairly tiny). We additionally discovered we most popular bento packing containers that had been mid-sized; greater packing containers, just like the Bentgo Trendy (which, at 9 x 7 x 2.4 inches, was one of many largest we examined), felt much less transportable. Nevertheless, if a field was too small and shallow (just like the Bentgo Basic, which had two packing containers, certainly one of which was just one.7 inches deep), we had hassle becoming meals inside, particularly spherical fruits like mandarin oranges.  

A Leak-Proof Field Was a Good Bonus

Whereas not a dealbreaker, it was good when a bento field was totally leak-proof—nobody needs to open their backpack or purse to seek out spilled liquid. And never all packing containers that claimed to be leak-proof had been: the Bentgo Children, TAKENAKA Bento Chunk Twin, and UMAMI All-in-1 Bento Field all claimed to seal in liquids, however leaked just a little when stuffed with water and turned and shaken. Probably the most leak-proof packing containers had been the Monbento Massive Bento Field and the Bentgo Stainless; nary a drop of water escaped even once they had been vigorously shaken.

Materials Wasn’t Tremendous Vital

We didn’t discover the field materials tremendous essential, until you’re dead-set on microwaving your meals within the field (by which case, we’d verify producer directions, and most probably keep away from metallic). By way of staining and odor retention, we didn’t discover an excessive amount of of a distinction between metallic and plastic packing containers; some metallic packing containers, just like the LunchBots Massive Cinco Stainless Metal Lunch Container, did retain a slight tomato sauce odor, as did a number of plastic ones, just like the Bentgo Children and Bentgo Basic packing containers.  

Within the Finish, the Good Bento Field is a Extremely Private Alternative 

Whereas we most popular packing containers with bigger, adjustable compartments, and ones that had been medium-sized and deep, ultimately, all of it relies on your lunching habits and what you wish to prioritize. 

The Standards: What to Search for in a Good Bento Field

Our favourite bento-style packing containers had giant, adjustable compartments and had been medium-sized and deep sufficient to suit non-square meals, like mandarins or clementines. We additionally preferred packing containers that had been leak-proof, transportable, and straightforward to scrub.

The Finest, Most Spacious Bento Field: Bentgo Stainless 

What we preferred: It is a compact but roomy bento field that encompasses a moveable partition, must you prefer to preserve your peas separate out of your carrots, so to talk. It comfortably matches quite a lot of meals of all styles and sizes with out being cumbersome. It was additionally very straightforward to scrub, and didn’t retain any stains or odors. Plus, it’s leak-proof as a result of silicone-lined lid and silicone airlock tab.

What we didn’t like: It’s unclear if this field is microwave-safe (one other providing from Bentgo that can also be fabricated from stainless-steel is, surprisingly, microwave-safe, however we couldn’t discover a solution for this mannequin). The lid may also be just a little exhausting to take away, because the silicone tab on high, when pushed in, creates a seal. 

Value at time of publish: $30.

Key Specs 

• Supplies: Stainless-steel, silicone 
• Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 2 inches
• Capability: 5 cups
• Equipment: Detachable partition
• Compartments: As much as 2
• Microwave-safe: N/A (we couldn’t discover a solution to this, so we’d suggest avoiding microwaving it)
• Care: Dishwasher-safe (high rack solely), although the model recommends hand washing the lid to extend longevity of the silicone seal

The Finest Leakproof Bento Field: Monbento Massive Bento Field

What we preferred: This two-tiered field was roomy (we had been capable of comfortably match all the meals objects—with room to spare—in our packed lunch check), however nonetheless general compact sufficient to toss right into a tote bag or backpack. It was additionally extremely leak-proof. 

What we didn’t like: It’s a bit pricier than another packing containers, and the leak-proof seal is so tight, we had hassle eradicating the lids. 

Value at time of publish: $40.

Key Specs: 

• Supplies: Polypropylene plastic, silicone
• Dimensions: 5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches
• Capability: 7 cups
• Equipment: Further band, small detachable compartment 
• Compartments: As much as 3
• Microwave-safe: Sure
• Care: Dishwasher-safe

The Finest Smaller Bento Field: Bento Chunk Twin from TAKENAKA

What we preferred: This was an enthralling two-tiered bento field that included moveable dividers and a fork. We preferred its compact, small measurement (although it was nonetheless fairly deep, which was good) and the way straightforward it was to fill, assemble, and take aside. 

What we didn’t like: Whereas it claims to be leak-proof, we did have some water dribble out throughout our leak check. It’s additionally a bit dear. 

Value at time of publish: $41.

Key Specs 

• Supplies: Polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene 
• Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 4.2 inches
• Capability: 4.89 cups
• Equipment: Band, plastic fork
• Compartments: As much as 3
• Microwave-safe: Sure
• Care: Dishwasher-safe

The Finest Bento Field for Children: Pottery Barn All-in-One Bento Field

What we preferred: This was a easy field that, although it options fastened compartments, was spacious. It was additionally straightforward to open and shut and featured an hooked up lid, which might be good for little youngsters (or adults) who’re liable to dropping issues. Plus, it is available in quite a lot of enjoyable colours and is budget-friendly. 

What we didn’t like: The fastened compartments may make packing totally different meals tough, however general we didn’t have an issue with it. The clasp, which is fabricated from plastic, looks as if it may break after prolonged use, and this bento field shouldn’t be microwave-safe. 

Value at time of publish: $15.

Key Specs

• Supplies: Plastic
• Dimensions: 8 x 7 x 2.5 inches
• Capability: 5.5 cups
• Equipment: None
• Compartments: 5
• Microwave-safe: No
• Care: Dishwasher-safe (high rack solely)

The Finest Conventional-Model Bento Field: Suzuran Shokado Bento Field

What we preferred: This lovely, embellished field is akin to a extra conventional bento-style field. It encompasses a fairly illustration on the lid, and multiple-sized compartments for presenting a meal in model. And in contrast to extra conventional bento packing containers, it’s fabricated from plastic; you don’t have to fret about caring for a wood object. 

What we didn’t like: The lid doesn’t clasp onto the field, and it’s not leak-proof, that means that is extra of a bento field you’d serve at house quite than take on-the-go. It’s additionally not dishwasher- or microwave-safe.

Value at time of publish: $20.

Key Specs

• Supplies: Plastic
• Dimensions: 3 × 6.9 × 1.8 inches
• Capability: N/A
• Equipment: N/A
• Compartments: 5
• Microwave-safe: No
• Care: Hand-wash solely

The Competitors

• LunchBots Massive Cinco Stainless Metal Lunch Container: Despite the fact that it’s fabricated from stainless-steel, this bento field retained some odor from the tomato sauce. We additionally discovered the fastened compartments a bit restrictive, and seen that the partitions, whereas hooked up, had gaps within the corners, so in case you have one thing runny in a single compartment, it may leak into the others. 
• UMAMI All-in-1 Bento Field: This bento field contains wood utensils that, although fairly, didn’t appear totally useful (particularly the knife). And whereas it’s claimed to be leakproof, it did leak throughout our assessments. The packing containers had been additionally a bit shallow, and we struggled to snap the lid on once we positioned a small mandarin orange inside. 
• Bentgo Trendy: In order for you a reasonably bento field, that is it. Whereas we preferred the look of it, (and the truth that you possibly can take away the inside field to microwave your meals) it was fairly cumbersome, weighing in at 1 pound 10 ounces, making it the heaviest bento field in our lineup. It’s additionally leak-resistant, however not totally leakproof. 
• Bentgo Basic: We preferred the look and compact measurement of this bento field, however discovered the 1.7-inch deep part a bit shallow for our wants. 
• Bentgo Children: It is a sturdy youngsters’ lunch field with a rubbery edge, making it resilient to drops. We discovered the small compartments a bit restrictive when it comes to what you possibly can pack, however we do suppose little youngsters would really like the presentation. And whereas it claimed to be leak-proof, we did see a number of drops of water escape close to the hinges. 
• Shikiri Trendy Plus Bento Field: This field had a really utilitarian vibe; it wasn’t essentially the most eye-catching of the lineup. It makes use of aspect clasps to lock the lid on, and it claimed to be semi-leak-proof besides when tipped and turned, which appeared limiting. It was fairly compact (although you may take away the interior compartments), and we had some points closing it with a mandarin orange inside. The field (minus the lid) can also be solely microwave-safe for as much as two minutes at 700 watts. 

FAQs

What historically goes right into a bento field?

Historically, bento packing containers had been stuffed with rice and a few little sides. “It was all in regards to the rice and the little compartments,” Sakai explains. “The rice might be in an onigiri wrapped in a bamboo leaf, after which you could have the aspect dishes, what we name okazu. Okazu are little nibbles that may improve the rice, but it surely’s at all times been centered round rice. So whenever you speak about Japanese bento, the very first thing that involves thoughts is rice, and that is the standard important.” 

Can you place a bento field within the freezer?

Among the bento packing containers we examined are freezer-safe, so in case you have a frozen mochi with ice cream in it, you possibly can place the entire field within the freezer. 

Does a bento field preserve meals heat?

No, however you should buy insulated luggage made particularly for bento packing containers; these will assist preserve your meals heat. Alternatively, some bento packing containers we reviewed are microwave-safe, so you possibly can reheat your meals.