A bento box is defined as a boxed meal with compartments in which separate toppings or courses can be kept. With the bento box, eating meals anytime and anywhere becomes comfortable and convenient.
Yes, bento boxes are microwave safe but all are not. It depends on the material used for making bento box which defines whether it is microwave safe or not. For using a bento box in a microwave, you have to check the instructions properly.
Bento boxes can be made up of various materials but each one has its advantages and disadvantages. If a bento box is microwave safe, it becomes very easy for the user to have the meal hot at any time of the day.
Given below are various materials used in bento boxes along with their qualities to know whether they are microwave safe or not:
Aluminium Bento boxes
These are plastic-free and lightweight but not microwave safe. The aluminum bento box is dishwasher safe and lasts for a longer time as it does not get damaged easily.
Most of these do not have a plastic or silicone seal and thus, are not leak proof as well.
Bamboo bento box
The bento box made from bamboo is not microwave safe and dishwasher safe but it is durable and lightweight. These can get stained due to the food packed in them and also need care while handling them.
Bamboo bento boxes can be expensive as well.
Glass and ceramic bento box
These bento boxes are microwave safe and dishwasher safe and are heavy. No plastic is used in them except on the lid. These can break easily if they fall from a height and thus need to be handled with care.
Melamine bento box
These are expensive bento boxes made up of resin, they are also used as kitchenware. They are not microwave safe but come in attractive colors and designs.
Plastic bento box
The bento box made from plastic is lightweight, economical, and is available in various designs and sizes. Since there are many varieties of plastic bento boxes, all are not microwave safe.
They can get stained easily and need to be cleaned properly.
Stainless steel bento box
Bento boxes made from stainless steel can be with or without seals and the seals are mostly made up of plastic. The stainless-steel bento boxes are not microwave safe but are durable and heavier.
These have to be cleaned by using a soft cloth as fingerprints can retain on the surface otherwise.
Thermal bento box
The thermal bento box has a stainless-steel cylinder in which a plastic container is present. The plastic container is microwave safe due to which food can remain hot for many hours.
The thermal bento box is heavier in weight and most expensive.
Wood bento box
The wood bento box is beautiful but is not microwave safe and dishwasher safe. It can absorb excess moisture from the food items and needs extra care while handling. It can get stained easily and may be expensive.
How to keep bento box cold?
It is important to keep bento boxes cold as bacteria can grow in a warm environment and the food can be spoiled. For keeping bento box cold, you need to follow the tips mentioned below:
Use an insulated lunch bag for the bento box
The bento box should be packed in a well-constructed insulated lunch bag which will keep the food safe for a longer time. The temperature in this insulated bag is maintained so that no bacteria growth occurs.
Use a frozen ice pack
The temperature of the bento box will be lowered down when a frozen ice pack is used.
Use a stainless-steel bento box
A Stainless-steel bento box keeps the food cool for a long time. These are freezer-safe as well.
Store the packed lunch in the fridge
Once the lunch is packed in the bento box, keep it in the fridge so that it does not get warm lying on the kitchen counter. Take it out from the fridge just before stepping out of the home.
Are bento boxes healthy?
Yes, bento boxes are healthy when they are packed with healthy food. Bento box has become very popular among kids and adults mainly due to its health benefits like –
Food remains fresh
There are compartments in a bento box in which food can be kept separately. Various kinds of food items like fruits, healthy snacks, etc can be kept which can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
The food even remains fresh in the bento box as the food in each compartment does not touch each other.
No foil or plastic wrapper is used
There is no use of any foil or plastic wrapper in the bento box as each compartment is sealed and separated from the other. It saves a lot of time while packing and since no wrapper is required, no landfill is accumulated.
Encourage picky eaters to eat healthy
The favorite healthy brightly colored food can be packed in different compartments of the bento box which will encourage even the pickiest child to eat healthy food. The variety added to the food often attracts the kid to eat.
Bento box helps to lose weight
Since the compartments in the bento box are small, only a single serving of each food can be packed and thus, helps you to limit the portion of food. This in turn helps in losing weight if you want to do so.
The material used in a bento box is free from toxins
The bento box is made up of materials like plastic, melamine, glass, or stainless steel and these are not toxic to the food. This will prevent any reaction to the food and thus, eating food from these bento boxes is always healthy.
Are Hakoya bento boxes microwave safe?
Yes, Hakoya bento boxes are microwave safe. The plastic used in Hakoya is mostly BPA-free and is safe and odorless. It is microwave safe and dishwasher safe as well.
The raw materials used in the bento boxes are put into a mold and shaped accordingly.
While making a new product, the company tries to create something that brings joy to the customer, is useful, and is practical to the people.
Most of the bento boxes by Hakoya are hand-printed by artisans who make delicate textures using a re-coating method. The textures made vary from wooden to metallic patterns.
The print on the coated product is made by using a silk-screening technique. With all these techniques, the final product made is of high quality which brings satisfaction to the customers.
Are Takenaka bento boxes microwave safe?
Yes, Takenaka bento boxes are microwave safe and dishwasher safe. These are made up of recycled PET bottles which are eco-friendly as well.
The high-quality products by Takenaka are easy and helpful for us to pack food and no food items get mixed up.
The home-cooked meals when packed in Takenaka bento boxes remain healthy for a long time and you can microwave them as and when required.
Some of the Takenaka bento boxes are two tiers in which bulky food can be kept at a bottom level and light food like veggies can be kept at the top level. It makes you eat a variety of food at the same time.
They come in various colors which makes them more attractive to people.
Conclusion
Most of the bento boxes can be used in the microwave safely due to which these are used by a lot of people to add variety to the packed meal.
Earlier, bento meals were mostly eaten at room temperature but now with easy access to refrigerators and microwaves, one can store food before eating it or eat a hot meal even when not at home.
With a bento box, you can enjoy a delicious meal either hot, warm, or cold as per your comfort.