Let the food cool before you seal the box.

The trick is to let the food cool down for a few minutes before you put the lid on — that stops most of the dripping.

Condensation happens when warm, moist air hits the cold lid and turns back into water. If you seal a hot lunch, you’re basically trapping a rainstorm inside. Give it five minutes on the counter before closing, and you’ll have way less steam to deal with.

When you do open it, grab a paper towel and wipe the inside of the lid first, or tilt the lid away from you so the drips fall back into the box instead of onto your desk. If your container has a vent, crack it open for a minute before unsealing — that lets the pressure and moisture equalize.

And if you’re meal-prepping the night before, refrigeration does the hard work for you. The problem is really only when you pack hot food and eat it an hour later.

Future You will also appreciate not wiping the table at your desk.