Hot Soup Anyone?
Soup is fantastic food. It can taste like almost anything and can have a ton of ingredients or just a few.
If you think you don’t like soup, you just haven’t found the right combination of spices, broths, vegetables, and meats.
I have some excellent recipes for cozy soups you can try if you need any ideas for excellent soups that will keep you cozy all day.
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There’s nothing better than some hot soup on a cold rainy, or snowy day.
If you are working or spending the day in the cold, hot soup will keep your body warm and give you a cozy feel to get you through the frigid temperatures.
Thermoses have been around for a long time.
Your parents had one, your grandparents probably had one, and even your great-grandparents most likely had one.
Most people use them for coffee or tea, but they make larger thermoses for foods like soup as well.
Soup thermoses or food jars are just like regular thermoses in the sense that they can keep food and liquids warm or cold.
Food jars are much wider than standard thermoses, and they have big lids that can also be used as bowls.
A lot of food jars even come with spoons that are stowed away in the cap.
Related: 10 Of The Coziest Soup Recipes For This Winter
You can have hot soup all day long with a soup thermos, and they are easy to clean as well.
But like most things, not all soup jars are made equally. I’ve made a list of the best soup thermoses out there for any style or need.
No matter which you buy, your soup will be safe and warm for hours.
Best Overall
Note: Scroll left/right on small screens to view all products in the table.
Best Soup Thermoses Reviews
Stanley Adventure Vacuum Food Jar
Stanley has been around since 1913, the founder William Stanley Jr. discovered that the welding process used to make transformers could be used to create vacuum insulated bottles out of steel.
Stanley bottles have been around ever since.
The Stanley Adventure food jar has a classic look with a few cool added extra features. There’s a D-ring mounted to the outside so you can clip it onto a bag.
The utensil that snaps on the side is a full-sized spork that doesn’t fold or bend. It’s sturdy to hold up against all kinds of foods.
The outer lid can be used as a bowl. The unique feature Stanley brings to the table with this food jar is the extra compartment built into the stopper.
You can bring dry foods along with your soup or coffee, like crackers or small cookies.
It’s a cool idea and great use of space that otherwise goes unused by other companies.
Related: Soup: Can It Be Frozen? How Do You Freeze It?
They advertise their food jar keeps food hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 12 hours.
The food jar is hand wash only and should not be put in a microwave. It can hold up to 18 ounces.
Stanley has been making vacuum-insulated steel containers for more than 100 years and is an excellent choice for high-quality products.
Your grandpa probably had an old Stanley thermos in the glove box of his truck. I know mine did.
Their food jar has a lot of neat additions and is an excellent buy for anyone looking to have hot food for lunch with no need for a microwave.
What I Like:
- Included full-sized heavy-duty spork
- Stainless steel
- Vacuum insulated
- Lid doubles as a bowl
- Extra storage for dry foods in the stopper
Thermos Stainless King Food Jar
Thermos has been making insulated containers since 1904. They know what they’re doing.
Much like all their other products, their insulated food jar is impressive.
Made with stainless steel and vacuum insulated walls, this thermos will keep anything hot for up to 7 hours or cold for up to 9 hours.
This jar can hold up to 16 oz, there is also a larger 24 oz version available. (Click Here To See On Amazon)
The mouth of the jar is extra wide for easy filling and the lid doubles as a serving bowl.
In the lid, there is a spoon that folds up and fits perfectly in a tiny compartment.
So you never have to worry about forgetting a utensil and having to drink your soup.
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Because the jar is made of steel, it is not microwavable.
It is safe to put the thermos on the top rack of the dishwasher, but for best results, they recommend hand washing.
Do not use any abrasive scrubbers like steel wool because it will dull the shiny exterior and interior of the jar.
Thermos has proved itself to be a fantastic company that produces amazing products for over 100 years.
The stainless king is another example of exceptional quality and innovation at a budget-friendly price.
Your soup will be nice and warm for lunch or early dinner in this food jar.
What I Like:
- Stainless Steel
- Vacuum insulated walls
- Comes with spoon
- The lid can be used as a bowl
Energyify Stainless Steel Food Thermos
The Energyify food thermos has a lot of bells and whistles.
The body of the jar is made with vacuum insulated stainless steel with a rubber no-slip disc on the bottom.
The cover lid is made with silicone with a carry handle attached to it and also doubles as a bowl.
The cap has a foldable spoon that has its own compartment. Under the spoon, there is a pressure release button that is unique to this food jar.
The reason for it is to release pressure making the cap easier to unscrew.
The company advertises that the thermos can keep food hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24 hours.
This is what the company advertises but from what I’ve seen; it’s closer to 7 or 8 hours for hot food.
It’s pretty average as a thermos, but it comes with a lot of cool features.
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The food jar is hand wash only, and the body is stainless steel, so it is not microwavable.
But, the cool thing about this thermos is the lid is made with silicone, so it is microwavable.
You can pour your soup into the lid and stick it in the microwave with no issues.
It can hold up to 17 oz and there is also a larger 24 oz size available. (Click Here To See On Amazon)
This is an excellent product that is worth the price if you are into extra features.
Making the lid out of silicone, so it’s microwavable, is a fantastic idea you won’t see anywhere else.
All-in-all, this is a reliable product that won’t disappoint.
What I Like:
- Microwavable lid that can be used as a bowl
- Included spoon
- Pressure release lid
- Stainless steel body
- Vacuum insulated
Zojirushi Stainless Steel Food Jar
Zojirushi has been around since 1918, their vacuum insulated products are known all around the world, and you will get a product of high-quality and innovation when you purchase from them.
This food jar is on the higher end price scale, but the Zojirushi food jar should last for years to come.
The food thermos is relatively simple in design. The body is stainless steel with Zojirushi’s vacuum insulation technology.
The lid and seal cap are all one unit, so you can’t use the outer cover as a bowl.
The mouth of the jar is 2 1/2 inches wide, so it’s easy to eat right out of the jar. The lid has a plastic ring around it with dimples to help with unscrewing.
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The jar is not machine washable and should be only washed by hand. It’s stainless steel, so do not put it in the microwave.
This is the 16.9 oz version but there is a smaller 11.8 oz version (Click Here To See On Amazon) as well as a larger 25 oz version. (Click Here To See On Amazon)
This is a reliable food jar. It will keep your food warm for up to 6 hours, and some people even use it for cooking food like rice and oatmeal.
The simple design makes it kid-friendly because there are fewer parts to lose.
It’s an exceptional product by Zojirushi and a great way to keep your lunch warm.
What I Like:
- Minimalist design
- Stainless steel
- Easy unscrew lid
- Wide mouth for easy eating and cleaning
Mira Stainless Steel Food Jar
This neat looking food jar is modern and stylish. The different colors make them perfect for kids and adults.
They are made with stainless steel with vacuum insulation for trapping in heat or cold for longer.
The minimalist style is simple. Just a jar with a lid. No extra caps or spoons to mess with. This makes them even better for kids.
Related: 10 Warm Cozy Winter Drink Recipes for Kids and Adults
The Mira can keep food hot for up to 5 hours and cold for up to 10 hours. It can hold up to 13.5 oz.
Because of the stainless steel, the food jar is not microwave safe. The company recommends hand washing only.
Do not overfill or leave food in it for more than 24 hours.
The Mira is simple and an all-around good thermos that will keep your food hot until lunchtime.
The unique look makes it easy to identify and is sweat proof, which means no more moisture leaking into your back or lunch box.
Overall this is a solid choice for a simple way to take hot soup wherever you go.
What I like:
- Minimalist design
- Vacuum insulation
- Stainless Steel
My Choice For Best Soup Thermos Overall
Stanley Adventure Vacuum Food Jar
Stanley vacuum insulated food jars have been around for years and they are a popular choice for school kids, workers, and outdoor adventurists.
It has a rugged durable build withstand heavy daily use and will keep your food warm or cold long enough to use for lunch and even dinner.
The added design features like the heavy-duty spoon and the extra dry food compartment really put the Stanley food jar ahead of the other choices.
If you want the best most effective food jar to keep your snack or meal hot or cold the Stanley Adventure Vacuum Food Jar is the best choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Soup Thermoses
How do I make my thermos or food jar stay warm or cold longer?
Any vacuum insulated thermos or food jar needs to be prepped to get the best performance.
If you need the thermos to stay hot, prep it by pouring boiling or hot water into the jar and leave it for around 5 minutes.
This will heat the insulated area, making ready to stay hot for longer. It also won’t cool down your food when you pour it into the jar.
If you want your thermos to stay cool, prep it by pouring cold water into the jar and leave it for at least 5 minutes, or you can leave it in the fridge overnight with the lid off.
This will make the insulated area cold and keep your food or liquids cold for longer.
Can I put milk or dairy products in my thermos or food jar?
Yes, you can, but dairy products can grow bacteria faster than other types of foods.
You shouldn’t leave dairy products in a food jar or thermos for as long as you would other foods.
The FDA recommends not leaving dairy products out for more than two hours and one hour if the air temperature is above 90 degrees F.
For more information, you can read this article by the FDA on storing food safely.
A thermos or food jar will give you a few more hours of safe food temperatures for dairy products and milk.
The end decision is up to you, but I wouldn’t recommend keeping cold dairy products or milk in a thermos or food jar for longer than 4 hours.
Will a thermos or food jar keep ice cream frozen?
If adequately prepped, a good thermos or food jar should have no problem keeping ice cream frozen for a few hours.
I would recommend prepping the thermos by keeping it in the freezer for a few hours with the lid off.
No thermos or food jar is made equally, so do a few tests with your own thermos to see how long it will keep ice cream frozen.
Will a thermos or food jar keep ice frozen?
Much like ice cream, thermoses and food jars can keep ice frozen for a few hours if appropriately prepped.
Prep the jar by putting it in the freezer for a few hours with the lid off.
You should be able to keep ice frozen for at least a few hours after this.
Will a thermos or food jar keep solid foods like mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, and pasta warm?
The short answer is yes.
Foods with a sauce like mac and cheese and pasta will stay hot longer than foods like chicken nuggets because they fill up the space in the food jar better.
For any food that needs to be kept warm, it is essential to prep the thermos or food jar by putting boiling water in it for at least 5 minutes.
Chicken nuggets are a little tricky because bacteria can grow so fast if you want to put them in a thermos, I recommend eating them within a few hours.
A tip to keep them from getting soggy is to put a paper towel under the nuggets to absorb some of the liquid that will collect from the steam.
Who invented the thermos or food jar, and when?
The very first vacuum insulated thermos was invented by a Scottish scientist names Sir James Dewar in 1892.
The first thermoses were made of glass. William Stanley Jr. invented the steel vacuum insulated thermos that is so popular today in 1913.
Can a thermos or food jar be washed in the dishwasher?
Most of the time, the answer is no.
A stainless steel thermos or food jar will rarely be dishwasher safe, and if it ever is, it is recommended to put it on the top rack of the dishwasher.
When it comes to stainless steel, it’s always better safe than sorry.
Most companies will always recommend washing their products by hand.
How do I clean my stainless steel thermos or food jar?
You should never use abrasive materials to clean a stainless steel thermos or food jar.
Things like scrubbers and steel wool will scratch and dull the steel.
To clean a thermos or food jar put a little soap in the jar and fill it will warm water.
Let it sit for around five minutes. Wash with a soft rag or sponge. Then dry with a towel.
For a deep clean, put one part baking soda and one part warm water in the jar and let sit for an hour.
Then wash out with soapy water and a sponge or rag.
Are thermoses or food jars recyclable?
Stainless steel is a recyclable material.
Usually, large stainless steel products like thermoses and food jars need to be taken to a scrap metal recycling company.
You will even receive a little money for bringing in your stainless steel product.
Can thermoses or food jars be put in the microwave?
If you have a stainless steel thermos or food jar, it cannot be put in the microwave.
Metal of any kind should never be placed in a microwave.
Can I put a thermos or food jar in the freezer?
You can only put a thermos or food jar in the freezer if it is empty, and the lid is open.
You should never put a sealed thermos with food or liquid in it in the freezer because the liquid can expand and it can misshape or damage your food jar.
Are you a soup fanatic who has a few tips on keeping soup warm for lunch? Leave any tips or ideas in the comment section below.
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