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Lunchware

Reusable containers, wraps, and cutlery for packed lunches and takeaway.

Lunchware tested by The Reusable Edit
How to reuse

Care, cleaning & longevity for lunchware

Silicone, stainless, glass and bamboo each want different things. Get it right and a $40 lunch kit lasts a school career.

Everyday care

  • Empty and rinse as soon as you get home — food acids etch stainless and stain silicone if left overnight.
  • Hand-wash bamboo lids only; the dishwasher will warp and crack them within weeks.
  • Pop silicone lid seals out and rinse separately — the gasket groove is where mould starts.

Deep clean

  • Stained silicone (tomato, curry, beetroot): make a bicarb paste, rub in, sit in direct sun for a day — UV bleaches most food stains.
  • Smelly containers: pack with crumpled newspaper, seal, leave 48 hours — surprisingly effective.
  • Bento boxes with dividers: soak divider trays in warm soapy water separately from the main box.

Longevity tips

  • Rub bamboo and wooden lids with food-safe mineral or coconut oil every 2-3 months to stop them drying and splitting.
  • Do not stack lidded containers with the lids closed in storage — the seals compress permanently.
  • Replace clip-lock latches on plastic boxes at the first hairline crack; a broken clip usually means the whole box gets binned.
When to replace

The silicone gasket has gone brittle and replacements aren't sold, or the stainless has developed rust pits through the coating.