Get separate containers, not a bento tray

Separate containers with their own lids—not a single bento tray—are the only thing that really keeps strong-smelling foods from mixing.

Most multi-compartment lunch boxes share one lid or leave gaps between sections. The air moves right through. Salmon from one compartment will absolutely flavor the rice in the next one. Even the well-known bento brands with a gasket seal aren’t enough because the internal dividers don’t block aroma.

So the move is: buy a lunch bag or box large enough for a few small, airtight containers—glass snapware, Wean Green, or even little Ball jars. Put curry in one, onions in another, whatever smells in a third. Each lid seals independently. Pack them side by side. No cross-contamination, and you don’t have to eat everything out of the same tin.

If you really want a single box with compartments, look for a modular setup like Bentology where the sections are actually separate lidded containers that click together. But honestly, small jars and snack containers in a roomy lunch bag work just as well and cost less.

Your coworkers at the next desk will thank you.