Thermos Stainless King Matt

The Thermos Stainless King food flask is designed to carry lunch without bringing the entire kitchen along for the journey. Its insulated lid doubles as a bowl, which is an excellent arrangement for anyone who has heard a separate container rattle about in a bag all morning.

A lid with a second job

The 470 ml food jar has a wide opening for filling and eating. The supplied product information describes a stainless-steel interior and exterior, with vacuum insulation intended to maintain the temperature of the contents. The lid can be used as a bowl, giving you a separate place to serve a portion without packing another dish.

Steven The Alley Cat would naturally regard that bowl as an invitation to inspect lunch. Whether you share it is a matter for you and your appetite for negotiation.

The wide mouth should make filling less fiddly than pouring a stew through a narrow neck. It also gives you room to reach inside when cleaning. You'll still need to wash the lid and the jar, of course: fewer items to carry does not mean the dishes have vanished.

Things to consider

The capacity is 470 ml, so check whether that suits the size of lunch you usually take. A single soup serving may fit your routine nicely; a large meal or several separate courses may call for a different arrangement.

The product title and description we received give different temperature-retention figures. We can't verify which applies to this exact variant, so don't rely on either figure without checking the manufacturer's information for the specific model. Actual food temperature will also depend on preparation and conditions. Follow the manufacturer's food-safety and cleaning instructions.

The supplied details describe an exterior that stays cool to the touch with hot contents and resists condensation with cold contents. Those are product claims; we haven't independently tested them, the seal or how long this jar keeps food hot or cold. Check the lid is properly closed before placing it in a bag, and consult the care instructions for suitable cleaning methods.

Who is it for?

The flask makes sense for someone who wants a compact container for soup or another meal and likes the idea of a lid that doubles as a bowl. If your priority is a larger portion or keeping several foods separate, consider the capacity and layout before buying.

Sir Trash Panda verdict

The wide opening and bowl lid make a practical-looking combination for lunch away from home. The capacity and conflicting insulation claims deserve a closer look before purchase. Less crockery, potentially, but not a domestic miracle.