Some foods taste best when enjoyed hot. While there are good thermos food jars to keep beverages hot, a portable food warmer helps to keep the meal hot. As the name suggests, they are portable which means you can easily carry them to your workplace. Not only to the office but good quality electric heated lunch boxes are also great travel partners. You can keep your meal fresh and hot for long hours.
Food warmers are common with people who go to the office or love to travel. But now you can find at least one electric heated lunch box in every household. This is because of their ability to keep food warm and fresh for a long time. People who love to work in their garage for hours keep electric lunch boxes by side to have a hot filling meal. Or you can pack the food for you and your partner for a long drive.
Best Portable Food Warmers
| Products | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Logic Tote | 6.8 x 8.8 x 2.5 inches | Check Price |
| Crock-Pot Lunch Warmer | 8 x 8 x 6.8 inches | Check Price |
| RoadPro 12-Volt Warmer | 10.5 x 7 x 7.8 inches | Check Price |
| Atto Portable Oven | 8.2 x 6 x 0.6 inches | Check Price |
| HotLogic Food Warming Tote | 9.5 x 7.5 x 3.5 inches | Check Price |
| COROTC Car Food Warmer | 9.7 x 6.9 x 4.6 inches | Check Price |
| 12V Personal Food Warmer | 11.7 x 9.1 x 3.5 inches | Check Price |
| 2-in-1 Electric Lunch Box | 9.4 x 6.9 x 4.6 inches | Check Price |
| Aotto 12V Car Food Warmer | 10.8 x 9.7 x 1.7 inches | Check Price |
No matter where you use it, we aim to help you select the best food warmer. So after testing and analyzing several products, we reached the following conclusion. Go through the reviews to find out which product meets your expectations the best.
1) HotLogic Mini Personal Portable Oven – Electric Food Warmer
For many, lunch break is the best part of office hours. But no one likes to open a box with soggy contents in it. But now you’ll never experience cold or lifeless food with HotLogic mini portable oven. This lightweight product is perfect for office use. And there are no confusing switches to set. Simply put your tiffin box inside, plug it in and you can work without worrying. The Mini-Mac will automatically heat and hold your meal hot until you’re ready for the break.
One main problem with cheap food warmers is they overheat the contents, as a result, they become dry. But thanks to amazing temperature control of HotLogic that provides overheat protection even if you forget to unplug. Also, the insulated tote with aluminum lining provides maximum heat retention. Be it glass, plastic, Tupperware, aluminum foil, or metal, this mini electric food warmer is compatible with a majority of flat-bottom containers.
Why go for HotLogic Mini-Mac?
- Lightweight(1 pound) product, easy to carry
- No need to set any parameters, simply plugin and starts heating
- Can fit containers up to 8.75″ W x 6.75″ L x 2.5″ H
- Comes in 9 beautiful colors
- You can use a variety of flat-bottom containers
- Capable of cooking frozen meats and vegetables
- Will not burn or dry your food
- Best rated food warmer on Amazon with over 3500 positive reviews
2) Crock-Pot Lunch Crock Food Warmer, Grey & Lime
The general concept of food warming goes like this. Either you directly keep your tiffin box in the warmer or take out contents on foil paper before heating. But who has time to do this all in official hours? So we’ve picked the Crock-pot lunch warmer that does not require any kind of extra material. It already includes a sturdy aluminum container with a 20-ounce capacity. Thus, the capacity is enough for a personal portion of salads, rice, or oatmeal.
Carrying handle makes it easy to transport units from one place to another. And then there’s an outer lid that keeps food sealed inside the container without spilling. Similar to the above product, there are no buttons or switches to adjust. Simply plug in your Crock-pot food warmer when you arrive at your destination and let the machine do the rest of the work. In the end, all you’ll get is warm, tempting, and tasty food.
Why buy a Mini Crock-Pot?
- It does not require any additional boxes
- The exterior remains cool-to-touch
- 20-ounce capacity is perfect for a single serving
- The inner metal container is removable for easy filling and eating
- Cord storage on the bottom when the unit is not in use
- Carrying handle for easy transportation
- Dishwasher-safe container makes cleanup a breeze
3) RoadPro 12-Volt Portable Food Warmer Stove, Black
While it is easy to find a restaurant in the city, things get a bit difficult when you’re on a highway. And if you prefer a homecooked meal on the road then make a seat for the RoadPro portable stove. This 12 V unit is capable to reach a temperature of up to 300 degrees. So not only does it effectively reheats pre-cooked food but can also cook several portions of frozen meat and veggies.
Tight latch on the front secures the lid in place. This ensures the contents do not fall or spill even if the road is not smooth. Moreover, the long length of the cord helps you to keep the portable food warmer comfortably on the car seat. Speaking of cord, the cigarette plug plugs into most 12 V lighter-type sockets. So not only you but truckers can also enjoy a warm meal on the go.
What makes RoadPro RPSC197 worth buying?
- Ideal for reheating or cooking canned foods
- The temperature can reach up to 300 degrees
- Takes less time to heat and cook as compared to other units in the same range
- Cigarette-plug makes it the best food warmer for car and truck drivers
- 5-1/2 foot power cord
- This portable stove uses disposable aluminum pans to heat food quickly
- Can reheat a good quantity of food at once
4) Atto Portable Oven Personal Food Warmer for Prepared Meals Reheating
Picnics are a great way to spend time with your friends or family. But having vegetable sandwiches every time can be boring. And sandwiches are not as filling as a homemade meal. But now you can enjoy a warm filling meal on your day out with family using Aotto portable electric food warmer. Designed with automatic temperature control, you do not need to open and check food from time to time.
Aotto food warmer reheats a variety of pre-cooked food without overcooking. And at the same time, it preserves moisture content to keep the content juicy and tasty. However, on the downside, it takes 1-2 hours for reheating and cooking can take as long as 2.5-3 hours depending on the texture. But we love the sealing effect of this premium lunch tote that blocks the scent coming off food. Let your coworkers guess what’s inside the box.
Why buy Aotto Magic Mini Oven?
- 45-watt unit slowly reheats food; ideal for people with no fixed lunchtime
- Lightweight, easy to store and carry
- Keeps the scent inside the box
- Accepts multiple flat-bottom sealed-top containers
- You can use aluminum foil, ceramic, plastic, glass, or even cardboard box
- Automatic temperature control
- Preserves moisture; will not dry your food
5) HotLogic 16801045-BLK Food Warming Tote 12V, Lunch, Black
Make warm meals on the go with HotLogic food warming tote. Classic and convenient this 12-volt unit is suitable for any person who wants to have good hot food on the way to the office, home, or delivery. This particular HotLogic food warmer is only for car or truck use. It features a 12 V connector that plus into your vehicle’s DC power outlet. And you can focus on your drive while your food gets hot as there are no controls to set.
Although the product is a bit costly, however, its even heating justifies the price. With HotLogic 16801045-BLK you’ll not feel overheating from sides or cold spots in the center. It evenly cooks and reheats fresh or frozen meats and vegetables. Or you can simply warm leftover pizza slices from last night without burning or drying. After you’re done reheating or cooking, unplug and store the cord safely on the side pocket.
Why go for HotLogic 16801045-BLK?
- Evenly cooks and reheats with no cold spots
- Brings food to the ideal temperature and holds it until you’re ready to eat
- Side compartment to store the cord properly after use
- Weighs 1.25 pounds; easy to carry
- Comes in 5 distinct colors
- Portable and versatile
- Required no monitoring as there are no knobs to adjust or buttons to click
6) COROTC Portable Food Warmer For Car, 12V, 110V, & 40W Adapter – Blue
Forgetting spoon is one common mistake we often make. No, but seriously who remembers to put a spoon when there are already tons of things to do in the morning? So Corotc electric lunch box has designed a special compartment on the top, especially for the spoon. As its lid is transparent, you’ll never forget spoon with this unit. Apart from the spoon, there is an additional plastic compartment to separate different dishes.
If you’re not sure whether you’re going to warm food in a car or office then this product is definitely for you. This self-heating lunch box includes two different types of cord, one for home(110 V) and another one for car(12 V). Therefore, you can fix the plug according to availability. An indicator light turns on as soon as you plug the device in. This tells that the food inside is heating so you do not have to open the box at certain intervals.
What makes the Corotc electric lunch box worth buying?
- Made of food-grade plastic, thus, safe to keep and warm food
- Strong heat resistance; saves energy
- Comes with 2 different plugs for both home and car use
- Provides with a high-quality 304 stainless steel tray
- The steel tray is safe to wash inside the dishwasher
- A stem outlet and special spoon compartment
- Food indicator light
- Affordable
7) Portable Oven 12V Personal Food Warmer with Lunch Bag for Car 12V (Black)
The life of truckers is hard. Somedays you get food on time and other days mother nature traps you in the way. But do not let external calamities hinder your mealtime with Alfredx portable lunch warmer. This mini oven is capable of cooking raw and canned foods. So not only truckers can also enjoy a warm meal on the go. Again, there are no controls or dials to set. Simply plug in the cigarette plug and it will start heating.
Thanks to the automatic temperature control that reheats/cooks food accordingly. The temperature ranges between 140 degrees F to 230 degrees F. So no need to worry about content inside as it won’t burn or get soggy. Moreover, it uses a thick tear-resistant aluminum film that heats quickly. Sometimes the food gets so hot that you might have to cool it down a bit before consuming it.
Why buy Alfredx personal food warmer?
- Great to cook meal from scratch, prepacked meals, and your favorite leftovers
- Accepts flat-base ceramic, glass, metal, aluminum foil, and cardboard containers
- Lightweight, portable, and easy-to-use
- It cycles automatically as well as adjusts the temperature accordingly
- 12 V plug; ideal for cars and trucks
- No drying or overcooking issue
8) Electric Lunch Box 2 in 1 Food Warmer for Truckers and Car (Work 110V & 12V 40W)
Home or car, now you can have a good warm meal anywhere with this small electric lunch box. There are two different plug holes to connect to the appropriate socket. One is a 110 V plug that is ideal for kitchen or office use, and the other one is 12 V lighter-plug that is suitable to warm meals in cars and trucks. The length of both the cords are enough to let you place the unit comfortably on your desk or car seat.
The best part about 1.5 L electric lunch warmer is you do not have to use any containers as it already includes one. You can directly put your favorite meal in the stainless steel tray. Plus, it includes a small plastic container to let you fill side dishes that you can add in the main servings while you’re ready to eat. And for you to not forget, there’s a special transparent compartment on top especially to keep the spoon.
Why buy Travelisimo electric lunch box?
- Comes with 2 plugs for both car and home use
- A removable plastic compartment lets you fill a small quantity of side dish
- The food directly goes on the stainless steel tray that is both durable and dishwasher-safe
- This heated lunch box with a car adapter uses 220 V plug that heats the food quickly
- Compartment to keep the spoon
- 1.5-liter capacity is enough for a single serving
- Excessive steam escapes through the steam outlet
9) Aotto 12V Car Food Warmer for Reheating Meal & Raw Food Cooking Lunch Warmer
Carry your Aotto personal portable oven with you and you’ll never have to look for any other heat source while out camping. This 12 V heated food warmer is with a cigarette lighter lets you heat, reheat, and cook meals on the go. It acts like a slow cooker that frozen meals in 2-3 hours or raw food in 1-2 hours. While it takes nearly 30-40 minutes to heat leftovers. Whereas, canned items take 1-2 hours to get steamy hot.
Aluminum insulated tote on inside of the mini portable oven maximize heat retention. As a result, it quickly reaches the temperature to cook/heat your food as well as saves energy once the cooking/heating is over. This aluminum tote is compatible with a wide number of containers. The only thing you need to take care of is the container, no matter, glass, plastic, metal, or ceramic, should have a flat-bottom and a sealed-top for the best results.
Why go for Aotto personal portable food warmer?
- The unit is capable of cooking a frozen meal
- Collapsible feature and hand-carrying design to easily carry it anywhere
- Easily plugs into the cigarette lighter in your car
- Can fit up to 9″ W x 6.75″ L x 3″ H containers
- No issue of overcooking or drying
- One of the best portable food warmer for camping, picnic or road trip
- Aluminum tote interior heats up quickly
Why You Might Need Portable Food Warmers?
If you’re bored of brining sandwiches daily to the office and seek a hot homemade meal during lunchtime then you must get yourself the best portable food warmer. Not only do they reheat food but are capable of cooking frozen and canned foods. Therefore, you’ll never have to use a microwave or oven of your office that is shared by many and god knows what smell it holds.
Apart from office, electric lunch boxes are ideal for campers, RV, picnics, cars, flight attendants, the kitchen, etc. They are extremely easy to use and the majority of them have no controls to set before use. Simply plug the unit in the correct socket and you can enjoy a warm, tasty, and delicious meal anytime and anywhere.
Does Electric Lunch Box Works? – Video
Here is a step-by-step instruction on how to use portable food warmer and how it performs in order to keep your food warm.
Buying Guide for Portable Foor Warmers
Size
Since they are portable food warmers, their size is not very large. They are like a medium rectangular storage container but with food warming capacity. You can easily put your round or rectangular lunch box in the warmer and warm the meal on the go. While there are some units that do not require a lunch box separately. They feature in-built containers, mostly of metal, wherein you store food and later plug to warm the contents. In short, you can easily carry a food warmer in your backpack just like a regular lunchbox.
Power Output
The primary need for any food warmer is a good power source. They do not require a high electricity outlet so you might want to check the source before plugging the unit in. Some units run on 11 or 12 V while others need 24 V power output. And you can easily find these power outputs in your car, office, and cafeteria. A 24 V food warmer will heat up food quickly than a 12 V unit.
Suitable for (Lunch, picnic, traveling)
Again, the name of the product reads portable food warmer. And portable items are easy to carry. Just like many other items, you can easily carry a portable food warmer to picnics, traveling, on-road trip, lunch at the office or college, etc. These lightweight units store easily in your backpack or trunk of your car. Simply plug them in a safe spot a few minutes before lunchtime and you can enjoy a warm meal that feels good while chewing.
Ease of Use and Compatible
From teens to elders, anyone can use food warmers. Thanks to its simple heating logic and ease of use that do not expect you to solve a complex math problem before warming the food. You just need to find a reliable electric source and plug the unit. Then wait till lunchtime to open a box full of a yummy, warm homemade meal.
Also Read:
- 5 Best Stanley Food Jar For Kitchen
- Top Rated Rubbermaid Food Storage Containers
- 5 Best Electric Potato Peeler
Conclusion
Now enjoy a warm meal anytime, anywhere with portable food warmers. Do not go by the name as they are capable of more than just warming the food. You can cook raw meat and vegetables or simply reheat leftovers. The reheating feature works well for canned and pre-cooked foods that are already tender. Any good quality food warmer will take nearly an hour to bring your food to the correct temperature. The process takes time but it worth investing in warm tasty bites in the car, home, or office.
