I bought myself a mini crockpot, it doesn't cook it only heats but if you plug it in an hour or so before lunch you'll have a nice hot meal. It was this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006H5V8QW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1It doesn't get hot on the outside and uses no more electricity at your desk than a small personal fan would, also smells don't escape it as it's heating the food.
Leftovers, soup, stew, even just the noodles with chicken and some veggies added to fill them out; will all make a good lunch either in a thermos (not super hot but at least warm) or using the crockpot to fully heat.
I got the same ones on Amazon. Lemme see if I can find the link.
dude, you bring a microwave to the job site? that is some next level genius there.
i've got a nice thermos, and grabbed one of these https://www.amazon.com/HotLogic-Mini-Personal-Portable-Black/dp/B00EC7XJ00/
to run off the truck inverter... but i think i really do need a microwave.
bringing your own food is way healthier than eating out, anyways.
I have what would appear to be the same containers. I guy them on Amazon. They work well but you should use plastic cutlery with them because metal knives will score them.
They are microwave and dishwasher safe.
Enther Meal Prep Containers [20 Pack] 3 Compartment with Lids, Food Storage Bento Box | BPA Free | Stackable | Reusable Lunch Boxes, Microwave/Dishwasher/Freezer Safe,Portion Control (36 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072B9F7W4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_oqSXAbGC479N4
Hi have you tried the lunch crockpot? Although we do have a microwave here at work, I don't like how rubbery some foods can get, I've had mine for about 2 years now and I just plug it in 1 to 1 1/2 hours before lunch. The other advantage is that I can keep it plugged in while I eat so my food stays hot. https://www.amazon.com/Crock-Pot-Lunch-Crock-Food-Warmer/dp/B00CEILVAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546539745&sr=8-1&keywords=crockpot+lunch#customerReviews
Also a pilot. This changed my travel food game in a big way. Bring two sizes of Pyrex that stack in themselves and you’re golden.
Some tips/comments for anyone interested in doing something similar:
Make sure you have enough freezer space. Our fridge freezer can only hold about 30 boxes (and that's if it's crammed full), so we had to buy a small standalone freezer to hold the rest.
Pick meals that freeze & reheat well. I didn't do that the first time around, and had a couple of meals that were not so great. Pasta seems to freeze and reheat really well, for example. Cream or cheese based recipes...not so much. This time around I did some research online to get an idea of what works well - lots of people out there with tips and suggestions on freezer meals.
Next time we do this, we plan to split it out over two days, just so that it doesn't turn into a whole day effort. Day one: brownies, one meal, and any cutting/prep we can do. Second day will be the rest of the meals, and plating.
If you have a slowcooker, that's a good way to do one meal with minimal effort.
We basically used every pot, pan, and cooking utensil in the house.
The boxes we used are these ones. The lids are a bit of a pain to get on, but once on properly, they work fine.
We use a dry erase marker to write down the meal name and the date.
Cost: can't be exact, but this was roughly $150 at the store (with some non-prep groceries mixed in that total, so I'd estimate closer to $130 for just these meals). We're still filling in some blanks in our pantry, too, like sugar/flour, some spices, etc., so some of those are upfront costs that will apply to future recipes, rather than being a normal monthly cost. I'd estimate, though, that if this month and last month are typical, that it will cost roughly $100 - $130 a month to do 5 separate meals.
Enther Meal Prep Containers [20 Pack] 3 Compartment with Lids, Food Storage Bento Box | BPA Free | Stackable | Reusable Lunch Boxes, Microwave/Dishwasher/Freezer Safe,Portion Control (36 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072B9F7W4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_pjZBBb4FAHVEX
Not 100% what you asked, but if you are at a desk, you may want to consider one of these.
Crock-Pot SCCPLC200-PK 20-Ounce Lunch Crock Food Warmer, Pink https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006H5V7ZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yMKmCbVTD64RG
You can take the inner pot home and back every day, and it’s dishwasher safe. Plug it in in the morning and you’ve got a piping hot lunch at noon.
It’s just a reheater so it’s perfect for leftovers. I’ve had mine for two years and I can’t recommend it enough.
Sir, may I introduce you to the Hot Logic Mini. For a mere 40 dollars you can now warm all of your food in your truck. They have both a 12v and 120v model (which is what I use with an inverter.) I usually just take leftovers with me, but it also will cook up those frozen meal sorts of things in about 2 hours. For the winter months when I want soup or chili I use the Crock Pot Lunch Crock. Hot Logic LunchCrock
Amazon! They are way bigger than I thought they would be. Definitely won’t fit in a regular lunchbox - Enther Meal Prep Containers... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072B9F7W4?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf maybe that will work?
The adapter acts like a on/off switch also helps charge other devices you may have. The tote works really well in warming food up. I've done frozen chicken patties in it Chef boyardee left overs. Idk what size container you need but they might have bigger ones
You should consider getting a Hot Logic food warmer. Someone suggested it on another post where the OP was an EMT as well. It can plug into the car lighter and you just put your food in about an hour ahead of time to reheat. I figure cold food will only satisfy your taste buds for so long, so this can be another option to expand your options.
I got the containers on Amazon They are BPA free, microwaveable, freezer, and dishwasher safe. They are also reusable. I meal prep for myself and my husband so we will go through all those meals, but they do freeze well if you wish to freeze them.
Sure a cute work lunchbox is great, but have you seen https://www.amazon.com/Fred-M-T-Emergency-Transport-Insulated/dp/B007M2OHEY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=organ+lunch+box&qid=1626453914&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEySFNWWDM0NDQ0S1dMJmVuY3J5cHRlZE...
Hot Logic Portable Personal Mini Oven, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EC7XJ00/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_92XXNJ383W0YZAKS2XG1?psc=1
I work in the construction industry and always ate my meals cold too.
That thing is fucking amazing. Please check it out.
Cold pasta salads and when you get tired of cold foods look into getting a hot logic) that you can plug into the back on the ambulance and have hot food.
Do you have access to a plug? If so, there are actually little mini crock pots that you can throw your food into early in the morning, and then they are hot by lunch time.
Crock-Pot SCCPLC200-PK 20-Ounce Lunch Crock Food Warmer, Pink https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006H5V7ZY/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_3hR5wbHTN0NGH
Here's a link. I just searched for "lunch crockpot" on amazon, and this is one that I got. A little expensive at first, but I think it might help you to have more varied meals and in turn will be cheaper than ordering out.
Edit: this is for fully cooked meals btw. So don't throw in raw meat or veg and expect it to be fully cooked. From the reviews, the food does get piping hot though.
What a great night of sleep! The blackout curtains must be a nice change from the essentially non-existent ones at your last hotel. Or was that two hotels ago? You are always on the move I can't keep up with you!
I know some of your job sites leave...something to be desired...by way of amenities😂, but are you always able to find an outlet? A friend of a friend has a meal prep company and swears by these. I guess best described as a lunch box that you plug in and it slowly heats the food. I got one for my dad when his office kitchen was being renovated and he raved about it!
I really like this container for washing lol 😅 and my dremel is great for sanding or cutting off small pieces
Not sure if you have heard about this saw this on shark tank few years ago they have car charger or plug in charger both versions
Hot Logic Food Warming Tote 12V, Lunch, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074TZKCCV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Q5H6H8QEP8HZM63009F8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
This guy has been a super sourpuss in this subreddit to the point where I think he's just trolling.
There's plenty of safe and good ways to cook in/out of your prius, and to prove it I'll throw one in the pot: I like my hotlogic mini, it cooks food off of the cigarette lighter:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074TYC7DY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_KEFZJEFS6Y4EH7AK925N
Works great, you just need a little patience.
A PID controller can help you achieve the optimal temperature. 120-200 degrees max is what you'll want as to not exceed temperature ratings for containers(styrofoam integrity can be compromised at 212°F, for example) The concern is not so much melting anything, but loss of integrity and potential chemical emissions.
Personally I just went with something like this https://www.amazon.com/HotLogic-Mini-Personal-Portable-Black/dp/B00EC7XJ00/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=12v+oven&qid=1607744346&s=home-garden&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFUVVg5MzVEU0tHTEImZW5j...
Back when I worked out of a work truck I got one of these so I could have hot meals in the winter.
They seal really well. They can take boiling liquids and can be in the freezer just fine.
I know Crockpot make a warmer which you can take to work, but I'm not sure if you power it in your car, however I found an alternative on Amazon which might be good! The first one needs the food to be cooked first, so do some research on the second one too, personally I'd cook in advance just to make sure regardless though.
Your work doesn’t have any microwaves? I’m not sure how they get away with that. Well if they don’t you could consider getting a Crock Pot lunch pot. For this you just need an outlet to plug it into. You can plug it in the morning and it will keep your food warm all day. Keep in mind this doesn’t cook raw food, but you could bring leftovers and put them in there. I’m not sure if you’re into meal prep but you could prep a bunch of food on Sunday, freeze them individually and then take one out each day and put it in the crock pot. Target has them for around $20 and you can get them for around the same price on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Crock-Pot-SCCPLC200-PK-20-Ounce-Lunch-Warmer/dp/B006H5V7ZY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489167013&sr=8-1&keywords=crock+pot+lunch
Hey fellow trucker! Great first post, thanks a ton, really looking forward to your suggestions. Just looked up that roadpro, is this it on Amazon? And is it better than just using a microwave?
Hot Logic Mini - 12V Version
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074TZKCCV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7WzSAbVPCY6CD
I travel a ton for work. And I just finished up chemo treatments so my palette and my tummy doesn’t cooperate with eating out a lot. Plus I’m usually exhausted after a speaking engagement and having to be “on”. And hotel food is blah and expensive and I can never decide if I want the $20 overcooked wings or the $20 iceberg salad.
So I’ve been traveling with my own food and warming it up if I’m only going to be gone for 2-3 nights. You can take pre-cooked food in a cooler on the airplane. And I purchased a food warmer tote, since a lot of hotels do not have microwaves. And for breakfast I can usually only eat yogurt or a bagel since I’m still battling morning nausea. Lunch I’m usually out and about.
And to keep things cool I use the ice machine and full the sink with ice and out my cold stuff in the sink. Or I take garbage can liners (I ask the housekeeper for some extras) and double bag ice and put into my cooler in top of the things I want to keep cold.
I carry a sharp kitchen knife, and basic spices in very small plastic containers that are used for creams/lotions (size of a quarter) and put it all in a ziplock and into my suitcase that I check-in. When I was in Hawaii for a week, we rented a house that had kind of everything we needed. But we shopped at the farmers market vs supermarket. It was less expensive and I was able to buy fun stuff like fresh goat milk and goat cheese, apple bananas and avocados the size of my head. We ate like Kings!
Hope this is a bit helpful.