Stainless steel is the lunch box for smelly food

Stainless steel resists odors best, and it’s not close. Glass is also non-porous, so it won’t absorb smells either, but it’s heavier and easy to shatter in a bag. Plastic — even the good stuff — will eventually taste like your curry.

The catch is the lid. A lot of stainless steel lunch boxes still have plastic lids or silicone gaskets, and those are exactly what will soak up the fish smell. Look for one where the food only touches steel, and if there’s a gasket, make sure it’s removable so you can clean it properly.

For fish, garlic, or curry, that’s your move. Pick steel, check the lid, and wash it well. Your Friday lunch shouldn’t taste like your Monday one.