Self-heating lunch boxes work, but they're not microwaves

Yes, the plug-in self-heating lunch boxes work — they get your food safely hot, just slower and without any crunch.

Before you buy, know this: you’re choosing between two types. The little ones that heat with a chemical pack are one-time use, mostly for military rations. For everyday work, you want an electric one that plugs into a wall outlet (or your car if you’re living in a truck). They work by low-wattage heating, basically a soft warm plate under your food container. You press power, wait 15 to 30 minutes, and you’ve got a hot meal.

There are two brands people actually use: Hotlogic makes a small heating box that you put your own meal prep container in — it heats to about 160°F, which is safely above the food danger zone. AOVO makes integrated bento boxes with a built-in heating plate and a timer. Both are better than eating at the desk out of a Tupperware that’s been sitting in a cooler. They all have the same limitation: they don’t brown or crisp anything. Great for soups, curries, pasta, rice. Bad for pizza and fried chicken.

If you don’t have a microwave, this is the difference between a decent hot lunch and a sad, cold one.