Our Favourite Editor-Approved Lunch Boxes for Soups, Salads and Sandwiches

We tried these out in our office microwaves, ate from them hunched over at our laptops, and carried soups, salads and stews. So what become our go-to lunch box?

Bentgo All-in-One Salad Container, $23

I loved all the compartments in this lunch container! There’s a spot for everything, from toppings to dressing, and even space for a reusable fork. The salad compartment is big—like Seinfeld’s Elaine Benes’ salad big—but can still fit in a standard lunch or tote bag. —Erica Lenti

Thermos 16-oz Funtainer, $30

This dishwasher-safe Thermos kept hot foods hot and cold drinks cold for long stretches of time. It was also completely leak-proof in my bag on my commute and incredibly straightforward to clean. But even though it was designed for kids, this 46-year-old could not get the foldable (but surprisingly sturdy) metal spoon to fit back into its designated compartment. —Maureen Halushak

Bentgo MicroSteel Bento-Style Container, $78

Okay, this very light, relatively leak-proof stainless steel Bentgo lunch box has become my favourite, most-used lunch container. But first, a big caveat—I inherited this from another editor after she could. not. get. it. open. I also almost gave up on it, but once you figure out the trick (popping the valve on the top before pulling) it's quite easy. Editing this piece made me extra freaked out about storing food in plastic, so I'm glad it's only got plastic in the form of a small, removable/movable divider. You can also, miraculously, use this stainless steel container in the microwave, which feels wrong, but works fine.—Gillian Grace

Takenaka Dual Bite Bento Box, $58

The stackable tiers of this bento are dishwasher- and microwave-safe (except for the inner lid). The chic design and zesty lemon colour make it very stylish, and its three sections store big portions. The containers are secured by an orange elastic band, and there’s even a handy fork. But heads up: The top inner lid has an airtight seal, but the bottom one does not. —Sun Ngo

W&P Porter 24-oz Seal Tight Glass Container, $33

This glass bowl is a perfect size, and I like the width. It’s also got a great seal: My lunch bag tipped over on my way to work, and my soup stayed put! The silicone sleeve—available in a variety of pastel colours—is a nice touch, but it buckled a bit when I took the bowl out of the microwave. Two notes on cleanup: While it’s dishwasher-safe, there’s a ridge at the top of the bowl that’s a pain to access, and the inside of the lid is hard to clean. —Stephanie Han Kim

Our Place Wander Bowl, $50

This ceramic bowl with a silicone sleeve is microwave safe and will make even two-day-old leftovers look pretty. The silicone strap ensures the lid closes tightly—but it’s a little too potentially lose-able for our tastes. The bowl is dishwasher safe too, but its silicon sleeve, strap and lid are hand-wash only, so weigh the balance of gorgeousness vs. hand-washing before you buy. —Gillian Grace

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Food Jar, $55

Aesthetically, this stainless steel food jar has a beautiful sleek design and understated colour palette in muted pinks, greens and creams. It’s completely leak-proof, and when pre-heated with hot water poured into the stainless steel interior it will keep hot food hot for hours. But, if you dislike the sensation of metal utensils touching on metal surfaces, opt for plastic or bamboo cutlery. —Aimee Nishitoba

Simple Modern 20-oz Food Jar, $25

This dishwasher-safe, wide-mouthed thermos is excellent at keeping food hot well into the afternoon, and a great budget alternative to some of the pricier food jar options. Plus, it’s just cute: it comes in a few bright pastel, ombré, and neutral-tone options. Its rubber seal, however, isn’t removable and requires a bit of finesse to clean.  —Chantal Braganza