Give your Valentine a heart — er, hearty — meal with this Crock-Pot lunch warmer
Lunch is probably the most underwhelming meal of the day. From salads and sandwiches to last night's leftovers, whatever you go for midday is often out of convenience and speed. But what if hot soups, hearty stews, rice bowls and more were also on the menu? Well, teachers, truckers and more folks on the go are raving about Crock-Pot's Electric Lunch Box. And if not for yourself, might we suggest this popular pick as a Valentine's Day gift for your sweetheart? Seriously, better lunches are such an underrated gift!
Related: The best Valentine's Day gifts from Amazon, Walmart, Sephora and more
Yes, it's an electric lunch box (er, bowl?), and it can heat up your food almost anywhere. The 20-ounce gadget is kind of like a mini slow cooker, but it's designed to warm up your food, not cook it. It's great for people who want a hot lunch but don't have easy access to a microwave or for those who want to heat up their meal right at their desk.
Inside the warmer is a metal bowl to hold your food, and the lid minimizes leaks and spills — both are dishwasher-friendly. The tight-sealing lid also helps keep food moist, so you don't end up with dry chicken or rice (the worst!), and the soft, rubberized finish comes in pink, blue, green and black. An external lid with a handle makes toting it around a breeze.
Now, when it comes to actually using it, there are no buttons to push — just a detachable cord. Plug it in about 45 minutes before you're ready to eat, and you'll have a hot meal when it's time for your lunch break. The cord securely wraps around the bottom when you're not using it.
Related: I'm lusting after this burgundy Crock-Pot, on sale for Valentine's Day
More than 7,000 Amazon shoppers give the Crock-Pot Electric Lunch Box five stars, and according to the retailer, more than 6,000 people have bought one in the last month alone. Many people attest to buying them for their spouse too!
"I absolutely adore this!" said one customer. "I'm a teacher and only get about 20 minutes for lunch. The last thing I want to do is spend five of those in front of the microwave in the break room. I pack my lunch in this mini Crock-Pot, plug it in about an hour before lunch, and it's ready to go."
"Blue-collar approved," said a thoughtful wife. "Bought this for my husband who works in the oil field. He is always out in a truck and doesn't have access to a microwave. He always had to eat leftovers cold (or warmed up on the dash — ick!). Worked great and plugged right into his pickup! Small enough to fit in his Milwaukee pack lunch box so he doesn't have to lug anything additional."
Another buyer called it a "game changer for truckers" and added that they "no longer need to stop at a truck stop to heat food. I bought this along with an outlet power converter and it changed the game. Now I'm able to eat hot, homemade meals on the go."
One construction worker said: "I work construction on a big site with only one microwave. I heated up my lunch within half an hour. Put in cold food in the morning and had hot food ready at lunch. Been using those insulated food jars for a while and it just wasn't cutting it. ... [This is the] best buy I've made for work in a while."
Even desk dwellers love it! "I just plug it in about an hour before I plan to eat, stir it a couple of times and enjoy a gently and evenly warmed meal," said one buyer. "If I get interrupted, I just put the lid back on and it keeps my food warm until I get back. There's no odor while warming, so I've even been able to bring fish without offending anyone. The unit is very easy to clean as well. So glad I found this product!"
Some buyers cautioned that it can get pretty hot inside. "I love using this to heat up my lunch while still working. I just plug it in under my desk for about 20 minutes, and I have a hot lunch. I am not kidding when I say hot either," shared a four-star fan. "My only complaint is that the internal lid is so hard to get off. The outside lid is a twist, so it's fine. But the inside one is the rubber seal kind, and it's absolutely terrifying to try opening my hot soup."
On the other hand, if you want to keep your food cold, but don't have access to a fridge, check out this freezable lunch box:
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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