Thermos Food Jar with Microwavable Container, 12-Ounce, Stainless Steel

The media could not be loaded. The Thermos Food Jar with Microwavable Container is a total lifesaver for busy moms. It keeps food warm for hours, perfect for packing lunches that stay fresh until lunchtime. I love that it has a microwavable inner container—no need to dirty extra dishes, just pop it in the microwave when needed. The 12-ounce size is great for kids’ meals or snacks, fitting easily in lunch bags. Plus, the stainless steel is tough enough to handle a few bumps in the backpack. It’s my go-to for sending soups, pasta, or even leftovers, knowing they’ll stay at the right temperature all day.

(Added notes on Oct 2015)I've been using this food jar several times a week for 9 months now and really like it. I can prepare cold breakfast the night before in the plastic insert (eg: overnight oats, fruit salad), keep it in the fridge and pop it into the steel casing to go in the morning. I also use it for hot stuff (eg: hot oatmeal, soup, stew, scrambled eggs) which I prepare by microwaving in the plastic insert. This saves me on washing up extra bowls / pots.The plastic insert is quite sturdy. So far It has lasted fine with no cracks or warping (note: I hand wash the insert). Initially I was worried after reading about the experiences of other reviewers and ordered 2 extra plastic inserts from Thermos. However, I have not had to use them thus far.I have not had any difficulty with opening the jar, unlike other reviewers. I really like the convenience of having fewer utensils to wash up.This is just the right size for me at 12oz and the wide mouth is easy to fill / clean. I have other Thermos food jars at 16 and 10 oz which are better at keeping food hot, because of the full steel construction and better insulated lid. However, food can be warmed up again in the microwave if needed. The 12 oz size is the sweet spot - 10 oz is tad too small and 16 oz requires a long enough spoon to reach the bottom.

I love that I can load these after dinner with leftovers and pop them in the fridge. It’s easy to microwave in the morning and send them in the kids lunches. They are hard to open sometimes when the hot meal cools down and suction is created. We drilled a pinhole just below the lip of the handles that lets enough air in that the kids can open them at lunchtime. We can’t use them for soup or anything too liquidy, but it works for most meals.

I use this thermos every day to send my two kids to daycare with warm food for either lunch or breakfast. When sending breakfast items, I don't even bother warming up the outer shell using hot water and it manages to keep the food piping hot for the hour time between preparation and consumption. I've confirmed with the daycare teachers that lunches are still warm when pre-heating the container with hot water and that time difference is 3-4 hours.The only negative experiences I've had with this thermos so far are as follows:1) One of my kids broke my wife's foot by dropping a full thermos from a high chair. Clearly this product is robust and you may want to consider wearing steel toed boots if you plan on giving the product to a child in an elevated position who doesn't have complete mastery of motor skills.2) My kids managed to crack the handle tabs of the plastic insert. I've fixed this issue with superglue without issue twice and in the case where I couldn't find the tab piece, I was able to order new plastic insert replacements for $5 each.3) Daycare lost one of my thermoses and I had to order a new one.

I finally found the right product. The sleeve easily comes out with a simple turn and lift, and it can be microwaved and washed. Previous vacuum sealed canisters could not go through the dishwasher [water gets trapped inside], but this is fabulous! The insulated metal sleeve remains clean, so only the clear plastic and lid needs cleaning. [The metal sleeve only ever needs a wipe with a wet cloth, if its been handled with dirty hands. The container holds in heat and cold perfectly, and the clear container design allows me to see what's inside, if I need to put it in the refrigerator. Also, I contacted Thermos, and they sent me additional clear containers at very little cost, as I thought someone threw one out accidentally. I can have one in the wash and put it right back to use the next morning. My kids can easily open the container as the clear handles also gives them something for leverage. I have yet to have a single leak [which was also something previous products had issues with.] It's often tipped on its side and thrown into a punchbag or backpack. I absolutely love this product and it's really held up. Very smart design.

This product is a great idea, but the vacuum seal works so well that when heated food cools slightly, the top becomes impossible to remove. Our kids went hungry at school lunch because they couldn’t get the lid off.When they got home, I had to heat the container for 45 seconds in the microwave just to relax the vacuum.This would work fine for cold meals, but hot meals are a disaster.

I am ordering my 4th one! My daughter has used one everyday for the last 2 1/2 years. I put leftovers in the plastic part after dinner and put it in the fridge. I put it in the microwave for 1 minute in the morning, place it in the metal part, and then stick it in her lunchbox (she packs the rest of her food). It can go in the dishwasher, but I wash it by hand - first with cold water - which keeps it from staining, then with hot - they look like new much longer. It is worth the price to send a warm, healthy lunch to school. She says it is still warm at lunchtime.