When it comes to keeping your food hot or cold, nothing does the job quite like a thermos. Thermoses have been around for years, and they are still one of the most popular ways to keep your food fresh.

At Ordo, we're experts on serving up warm, homestyle meals. Specifically for school lunches, but no matter the case, we’re here to help you out!

Keep reading for our complete buyer's guide on thermoses and food jars, and our top five for 2022. If you’re looking for thermos containers and food jars for kids’ school lunches, we have a separate article dedicated to just that.

Buyer’s Guide - Best Adult Thermoses

When it comes to buying the best thermos for you, there are a few things you should keep in mind. For our ranking of the best adult thermoses, we considered: size, material, heat retention, outside temperature, and lids. Price plays a large role in the buying process as well, so we tried to include a range of products at reasonable price points.

Size

When it comes to thermoses, you’ll want to consider the size of the thermos. If you're looking for something to take with you on the go, then you'll want something that is compact and easy to carry. However, if you are looking for a thermos that can hold enough food for an adult, then you will want to choose a larger size.

Material

The material of the thermos is also important to consider. Some materials, like stainless steel, are better at keeping food hot or cold. Other materials, like plastic, are more lightweight and less expensive.

Heat Retention

The most important feature of a thermos is its ability to keep food hot or cold. It can vary based on the kind of insulation and size of the thermos. Most are double-walled, which is ideal for keeping food hot (or cold) for several hours. When choosing a thermos, make sure to choose one that has good heat retention.

Outside Temperature

Another thing that you want to keep in mind when purchasing a thermos is the outside temperature of the body. A thermos should be cool to the touch because heat should not escape it. If you have cold contents inside, poorly insulated thermos will accumulate condensation. Typically, double-walled thermoses will have the proper insulation to maintain the outside temperature.

Lids

Another important feature to consider is how easy the thermos is to use. Some thermoses have screw-on lids that can be difficult to open, while others have push-button lids that are easy to use.

So without further ado, here are our top five!

Our Top Picks:

  1. THERMOS Stainless King Food Jar
  2. Mira Lunch, Food Jar
  3. Stanley Classic Legendary Food Jar
  4. Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar
  5. MAXSO Hot Food Container

THERMOS Stainless King Food Jar

THERMOS Stainless King Food Jar

The Stainless King Food Jar has a 16-ounce capacity, however, they offer a full collection of varying sizes. It's constructed from high-quality 18/8 steel that will keep soup hot for up to 9 hours and cold foods stay cold for up to 14 hours. The exterior shell stays cool to the touch with hot contents and is sweat-proof with cold. And it features an easy-to-use twist-off lid that vacuum insulates everything inside.

Mira Lunch, Food Jar

Mira Lunch, Food Jar

The Mira Lunch, Food Jar holds about 17 ounces. It is also made from 18/8 stainless steel that will keep hot foods at temperature for five hours and cold food at temperature for 10. It's double-insulated so the exterior will remain cool to the touch, without condensation from cold food. And the lid is a twist-off that features leak-proof technology so you don't have to worry about spills. Not to mention, it's available at a great price on Amazon!

Stanley Classic Legendary Food Jar

Stanley Classic Legendary Food Jar

The Classic Legendary Food Jar made by Stanley is a 14-ounce food jar made from also made from industry-standard, 18/8 stainless steel. You can expect this thermos to keep hot and cold food at the perfect temperature for seven hours each. It features double-wall vacuum insulation with a leak-proof and packable design, making it incredibly versatile. Lastly, the lid is an insulated lid with a pressure-release valve for easy opening.

Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar

Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar

The Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar comes in an array of sizes including 12 ounces, 20 ounces, and 28 ounces. It's made from BPA-free and phthalate-free; 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel. And with the signature, Hydro Flask TempTech insulation, it will keep your food cold or hot all day long. No need to worry about anything escaping this container! The lid on the Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar features a soft grip design that is easy to open.

MAXSO Hot Food Container

MAXSO Hot Food Container

The MAXSO Hot Food Container is available in both 17-ounce and 24-ounce sizes. No PVC, Food-Grade 304 Stainless Steel that keeps food hot for 12 hours and fresh n' cold for up to 24 hours! It features double-wall stainless steel, that keeps the sleek exterior cool to the touch. And the screw-up lid is specially designed to be leakproof. You can also use the top lid as a mini container, which is awesome. Right?

Stay Warm & Keep It Cool!

We hope you enjoyed our list of the top five best thermos containers and food jars for 2022 and thanks for reading!