Skip the built-in cutlery slots.

Built-in cutlery slots are a gimmick. They only work if your fork and spoon are exactly the right size, and they eat up space that could hold actual food or a better organizing system.

The best workday lunch box is a simple insulated one with a flat, open interior — plus a separate small pouch or container for utensils, napkins, and condiment packets. You get more packing flexibility, and you can toss the pouch in a sink or dishwasher without wrestling it out of a molded slot.

Look for a lunch box that comes with a removable tray or a zip pouch. If it doesn’t, buy a cheap pencil case or a water-resistant toiletry bag and use that as your “kit.” It keeps the messy stuff contained, and you can swap it between bags.

Condiment packets are the real test. Built-in slots rarely account for the stack of soy sauce or ketchup packets you grab at the deli. A straight-sided pouch or small container handles those way better.

The goal is to keep the small stuff from floating around your lunch bag. A dedicated, removable pouch does that better than any molded plastic slot ever will.