Silicone muffin cups fix most lunch box problems

Silicone muffin cups are the best cheap fix for keeping food separate in a lunch box.

They’re basically reusable food barriers. Throw a couple into whatever container you already own and you can keep dry stuff (crackers, cheese cubes, berries) away from wet stuff (yogurt, hummus, cut fruit) without buying a fancy bento system. They flex to fit any box, they’re dishwasher safe, and a pack of six costs about as much as a single fancy lunch container.

The dedicated egg holders are fine, but they’re a one-trick pony. If you pack hard-boiled eggs every single day, sure, buy one — the egg stays put and doesn’t roll into your grapes. But a silicone cup does the same job for less money and also works for literally everything else.

The other thing actually worth owning is a small leakproof sauce cup. Silicone cups keep food separate, but they don’t seal. A tiny 2-ounce dip container with a lid stops your ranch from becoming a salad dressing situation. Those two things together cover 90% of lunch packing.

Your sandwich doesn’t need to taste like pickles.