The best thing about these containers is that they are "leech free." There's nothing worse than opening your lunch and finding it full of leeches.

I'd be down with these a lot more, except: not microwaveable. Bummaz.
I'm intrigued by your notion of getting take-out in them. How does this work? Because, honestly, my experience has been very different.

When I visited the UK in 2002, I brought with me my handy l'il travel mug, which I kept attatched to my daypack with a little carabiner. Whenever I yearned for coffee, I would unhook it and approach the nearest likely coffee dispensary. Invariably, the following scene would happen:
Me: I'd like some coffee, please. *places mug on counter*
Person behind counter: *looks at mug, then at me, then at mug* In that?
Me: Yes, please.
Person behind counter: *gets out disposable cup, fills it with coffee, carefully decants the contents into my mug, and throws away the disposable cup*
Me: *stifles sigh*

These look really nice (and I'm also happy they're leech-free, as Mick said. I can't stand leeches in my lunch, or dinner for that matter). Do they provide any significant insulation? If you pack a hot lunch inside, how long will it stay hot?

While I really like the stainless steel appearance (and the fact that stainless won't affect a food's taste or hold odors), unfortunately at my workplace, there's only a microwave to heat food. While I really prefer the stainless steel, unless the containers provide a vacuum/thermos type insulation, I'll need to also bring along a microwave-safe container to heat the lunch or waste paper plates.

Can anyone recommend a specific product that would work? My preference would be something that kept the food hot for 4-5 hours within stainless steel or glass/ceramic. Jokes about leeches aside, it would be nice to avoid the scratches, stains and odors that plastic containers tend to collect (especially with tomato sauces, in my experience). There's also a minor concern about heated plastic containers leaching Bisphenol A, phthalates, etc. into my lunch.

The insulated Mr Bento products, while well-made, unfortunately all seem to use plastic inner containers to hold your food.

Hmm... maybe these imply a market for little low-wattage induction ranges (or even just a hot plates) sized to fit one or two of these steel containers at a time, and then one could reheat food in these quite easily without a microwave, as long as you were willing to let them sit for a few minutes instead of boop-boop-boop-wait-a-minute-BEEP!-and-it's-hot, like with a microwave.

Nick you can get stainless steel vacuume thermos's that are wide and squat, although ive never seen any that are bigger then 300 ML which I find pretty small.

I know thermos brand makes them, im sure other brands do to.

I've often wondered about using one of those electric candle warmers for mine, but haven't yet. (I'm too cheap to buy the warmer.)

They also have a blog with cool pictures and lunch ideas.

www.om-goods.blogspot.com

The company also has a Facebook Group called "Zero-Waste Lunch Pledge".
There are contests to give-a-way free tiffins. I don't have the link but you can find by searching facebook and the link is on their blog too.

I really don't lnow why anyone would choose to buy one of these instead of a Mr. Bento (Under related items). Mr. Bento is roomy, convenient, and does a pretty decent job of keeping food warm, plus it is microwave safe.

There are add-ons to this so that you can put this in a thermos like container. I am not sure where you get it online, check out lifehacker thread http://lifehacker.com/5162031/tiffin-carrier-lunchbox for more details

This is a joke right?! these have been used here in india for over 50 years ! They are known as "tiffin carriers". the site mentioned seems to be really good at stealing ideas over which there are no copyrights. Just like those american dudes who tried to patent yoga, haldi and basmati rice . So yeah although given in the "cool tools" section as something really new original. This is just an old idea presented in a new format. So please dont go falling over yourselves in glee ,
read here for more info, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabbawala

I've seen electric candle warmers at a craft store for $3.

There is a local Asian market that sells a plastic version of this. Which means it can be microwaved.

My wife likes shiny things though, so we might have to pick one of these up.

Very nice indeed. I have been using my five (5) stainless steel thermos bottles for five years and have been wanting to add one of these carriers for day trips to help me resist fast food drive-in windows! Thanks.

Love your blog...Rosemary

http://contentinacottage.blogspot.com

To Sam #10-- If you read the site's review, you'll note it doesn't mention it's a new invention, it in fact it talks of others: "Not all tiffins are the same". There's no mention of copyrights, here or on the destination site to do with the product.

A "Cool Tool" need not be something that's new, I would in fact suggest most "Cool Tools" are quite the opposite, they're tried and tested over time. They just need to fit their purpose well, and, pehaps ideally, be under the radar of most people's awareness. Which seems to makes a Tiffen Carrier a perfect recommendation-- I've seen them around, but certainly wouldn't have be able to recall a name, nor know of a recommended place to aquire a well built one from.

Don't get so worked up Sam.

Thanks for the review Cool Tools!

Sam and others. I am from India and I remember using a tiffin for my lunches as a kid. When I had children I needed a convenient way to carry snacks to the park so I started using my tiffins and dabbas. Lots of people loved the look and started asking to buy them off of me. Hence why I started OM Goods. I am just an ecoist Indian mom trying to help save our environment one meal at a time.

If you check out om-goods.blogspot.com you can see the different pictures of lunches and snacks that I have done. None of them require heating. For example, have you ever packed pita bread and hummus for lunch with some fruit? Healthy and delicious!

I love using one of the nested food containers (puri dabba) for lunches as well. I've used daals(lentils) and rice in the tiffins and containers with no problem, except the re-heating of them, they can be used in the toasteroven just be careful, it's hot! Tiffins and Dabbas have been around in India for generations as Sam mentioned. Check out the wiki page he listed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabbawala

Next month OM Goods will be coming out with Tiffin Cozies that have a pocket for a water bottle, cloth napkin and utensils.

Namaste

In Puerto Rico, this kind of container has a long tradition, especially amongst field laborers. Known as "fiambreras", the meals they carried were usually a combination of rice, beans, viands, codfish, chicken and/or pork. Although not as common as before, you can still get a "fiambrera" service from local cafeterias or home-based businesses that will deliver to your house or office.

As for the article itself, a good-quality 3- or 4-tier "fiambrera" set can cost between $7-$12 at local discount and dry goods stores and with proper care can withstand 5-6 years of daily use.

There's something truly poetic in the phrase "taking my tiffins to pick-up my take-out"...