Three ways to take your lunch on-the-go while keeping it fresh
Have plans away from home and want to bring your own food? We're here to show you several practical ways to bring your own food without it losing any freshness or flavour. Wherever you go, you should be able to enjoy your meal in the way you deserve.
Appearances help the appetite, as we all know. Even though the flavour might be delicious, if a dish doesn't look fresh and appetising, it's highly likely that you won't enjoy eating it as much. Ensuring that this doesn't happen at home is easy, but when it comes to taking your food on the go, preserving both its freshness and appearance may be quite the challenge. And when it's summer, high temperatures make this even more complicated.
But don't worry – you have several options to get it right. Take note of these ways to take your lunch with you while ensuring that it stays fresh.
1. Create compartments inside the container
One of the biggest mistakes people make when packing their food containers is not considering that the food will move around inside and the damage this can do before it's time to eat their food. More than once, you've surely found all your food upside down and in disarray after opening your container.
It may not bother you much, but when it comes to kids, it's another story. As you know, children are a lot more picky when it comes to eating, so when different types of food mix together, it may cause problems.
The solution? Create compartments with silicone baking cups so everything stays separate and organised. This idea is particularly useful for fresh food, like fruits and vegetables that are already peeled, so that their flavours won't mix.
This material is also very easy to clean, so it won't involve much effort once you've finished eating. And if you choose bright, fun colours, your lunch will be even more appetising once you remove the lid. You're sure to have no leftovers!
If you're going somewhere where you can't refrigerate or heat up your food, like the beach or the countryside, the best solution is to take it in a vacuum container. Its material is designed to keep the food's temperature stable, no matter if it's cold or hot. This way, once you arrive at your destination, you'll feel like your food was freshly made. Although this type of container is normally used for liquids, it's suitable for all types of food: salads, sandwiches, wraps, pasta, fruit… Just make sure that you're using the correct size for your food and you're good to go! Because of its shape EFTERFRÅGAD is perfect to slip into your backpack or bag and bring with you on-the-go, as it doesn't take up much space. Also, since it has a wide opening, you can eat directly out of it with a spoon or a fork.
3. Choose glass containers
The material of the container you choose to store your food has a huge impact on its preservation. Of all the possible materials, glass is the best option, since it doesn't absorb odours or become stained by sauces, allowing your food to maintain all its flavour. It's also safe to use in the oven and, since it's clear, you can easily see what's inside without having to open it. Not to mention, it's an extremely easy material to clean.
Our advice? Combine several small food containers to bring a full meal with you, including a first course, second course and dessert. This way, your food won't mix and lose quality. In this way, you'll enjoy a delicious meal and forget about those sad, bland sandwiches and salads from the supermarket.
If you don't have a lot of time, you don't need to make things complicated: prepare a simple lunch with foods you like, store them in your glass containers and wrap them in a nice tea towel like this one, which can also double as your tablecloth. Bon appétit!
Which of these ways to take your lunch on-the-go seems the most useful to you? Whichever it is, here are some articles that may help if you're looking for some fresh new recipes for the summer or are planning on going to the beach. Don't miss out!
We love it when customers use our products in a creative way. Why not try to do something new with them yourself? But do remember, any modifications or changes that you make to IKEA products prevent them from being resold or used for their original use, and so voiding IKEA product warranties and your right of return.
