Heated lunch boxes are worth it—if you can wait

Heated lunch boxes are worth the money if you have no microwave at work—just don’t expect them to work like one.

They plug into the wall (or your car) and slowly warm your food over 20 to 40 minutes. That means you need to plug it in right when you sit down, not when you’re already hungry. Most models use gentle steam-heat, so they’re great for rice, stews, pasta, and other saucy leftovers. They’re not going to crisp anything up or give you that fresh-from-the-microwave texture.

Two things to check before buying: make sure it’s a real electric heater, not one of those USB “warming” boxes (those barely take the chill off). And pay attention to the plug—if your desk doesn’t have an outlet nearby, you might be stuck.

If you’re okay with planning ahead, a good insulated thermos does the same job for way less money. But that means heating food at home before you leave. The heated lunch box is the better buy if you tend to grab cold Tupperware on your way out and want it hot at noon.

Six minutes in a microwave it is not—but a hot lunch at your desk beats a cold sandwich.