The best sushi lunch box has a lid that nearly touches the rolls

The best lunch box for sushi is a shallow bento with a snug, low lid — not a tall Tupperware that lets the rolls bounce around.

Sushi doesn’t need a special box. It needs a container with almost no vertical play. If the lid is close to the tops of the rolls, they can’t tumble over each other and turn into a pile of rice and fish. That’s what bento boxes like Monbento do well: the lid presses down gently on the food, holding it in place without squashing it.

Pack rolls in one layer, nose to nose, in a box with dividers if you’re mixing in nigiri or sides. Dividers keep fragile pieces from sliding into each other. Resist the urge to stack layers, and don’t use a big container with empty airspace — shifting is what causes the damage.

If you’re buying one, look for something about two inches deep with a flat lid that clicks shut. A decent glass or plastic container with dividers will beat any novelty sushi tray. Those wooden takeout boxes are fine for eating at your desk, but they’re a bad choice for a commute.

Future sushi deserves better than a pile of rice and fish.