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Everyday Tips For Using An Insulated Food Jar Or Thermos

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Everyday Tips for Using an Insulated Jar or Thermos

There is nothing like a hot lunch during winter, and a thermos or insulated food jar makes it easy for you to take your own zero waste hot lunch, saving you money and waste on expensive takeaway. Here are some great tips to get you started.

What can I put in my insulated food jar or thermos? 

A good thermos or insulated food jar can keep food hot or cold and fresh for long hours. It’s perfect for school, at work, picnic or on a road trip.

You may try these: scrambled eggs, meatballs, sautéed beans, corn on the cob, congee, ramen, dumplings, leftover rice, grilled cheese, oatmeal, pasta, pierogies, pizza, pulled chicken or pork, quesadillas, chicken fingers, roasted veggies, soup, stew, veggie fritters, waffles or pancakes, a warm wrap, yogurt or smoothie. Be creative!

Hot soups and stews are fantastic in a Minimal insulated food jar.

How long can food last in an insulated food jar or thermos?

Given that you cooked the food to a safe temperature and then warmed it up to a piping hot temperature, the food inside the thermos container is not likely to go bad. Check the instructions that come with your thermos to find out how many hours it will keep food safe to eat. Your food will only be safe to eat for this length of time if you have packed it steaming hot (at or above 74°C or 165°F) or cold (at or below 4°C or 40°F). Otherwise, harmful bacteria could grow making your food unsafe to eat.

Most bacteria will grow rapidly between 4°C and 60°C (40°F and 140°F), so perishable foods should NOT stay at that temperature range longer than 3 hours (therefore, hot foods should be heated to 100°C or 212°F).

How to pack cold food in your insulated food jar or thermos?

  • Chill your thermos in the fridge or freezer.
  • You can also fill the thermos with ice and water. Put the lid on. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes to cool then pour out the water.
  • Once the thermos is chilled, quickly add cold food (at or below 4°C or 40°F) and put the lid on tightly.
  • To keep your food cold, pack your thermos just before leaving home.

How to pack hot food in your thermos or insulated food jar?

  • Warm your thermos by filling it with boiling water. Put the lid on. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes then pour out the water.
  • Once your thermos is warm, quickly add steaming hot food (at or above 74°C or 165°F) and put the lid on tightly. The only way to be sure your food is hot enough is to use a thermometer.

How to clean your insulated food jar or thermos everyday?

  1. Fill the thermos with warm water and a dab of dish detergent. Don’t submerge your thermos in water; it’s better to fill it.
  2. Allow it to soak for three to five minutes to remove any general crud.
  3. Wrap the dishrag or microfiber cloth around the bottle scrubber and use it to gently scrub the container. If there is stuck-on food in the thermos, use the bottle scrubber alone.
  4. Rinse with warm water and towel dry.

How to remove stains from your thermos or insulated food jar?

  1. Mix baking soda and dish soap.
  2. Apply the mixture of baking soda and liquid dish soap to a microfiber cloth or another soft cloth, then rub at the stain, moving back and forth in the same directions as the grain in the metal.
  3. Rinse with warm water and towel dry.

Whether you want to keep your favorite soup hot or homemade ice cream cold, Minimal insulated food jars are designed to keep contents fresh for hours (hot for 7 hours or cold for 9 hours).

Boasting double stainless steel wall construction and copper thermal technology, the BPA-free containers are ergonomically designed with a lid that doubles as a large soup bowl and include a silicone handle and foldable, full-size spoon. All of our products guarantee BPA, phthalates free and food graded components, making it one of the safest portable & personal food containers in the market.

We truly hope you enjoy using our Minimal insulated food jars as much we’ve enjoyed creating them!

 

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