Thermal food containers effectively preserve the warmth of meals for extended hours without compromising nutritional value or flavor. However, many are still unfamiliar with the proper methods for utilizing, cleaning, and storing these containers. Don't miss out on Mytour's informative article!
1. Effective Usage of Thermal Food Containers
Thermal food containers are commonly employed to retain the heat of meals, featuring a three-layer construction comprising a premium stainless steel layer, a vacuum layer, and an outer insulation layer.
Despite being designed for hot foods, the heat tolerance of thermal food containers remains within certain limits. Therefore, when using them, it's essential to refer to the manufacturer's information to avoid damaging or distorting the container and reacting with the surface materials, which may produce harmful substances.
Additionally, users should take note of a few things after using thermal food containers:
- Avoid overloading the food container, as it may spill out when sealed, reducing thermal effectiveness.
- For hot-cold food containers, wait about 20-30 minutes between each use to prevent temperature shocks, which can distort the container.
- Do not place hot food containers in the refrigerator as they have poor cold-retention capabilities. Additionally, exposure to cold may cause liquid food to expand, potentially distorting the container and reducing thermal efficiency.
- Avoid using food containers in the microwave for reheating, as metal materials can generate electric sparks, posing a fire hazard and causing damage.
- Always check if the lid of the thermal food container is tightly sealed, and ensure that the rubber gasket is not misaligned to optimize heat retention time and prevent food leakage.
- Maintain hygiene after use and clean them with regular dishwashing liquid. To eliminate unpleasant food odors, you can use vinegar or baking soda.
2. Guidelines for Cleaning Thermal Food Containers
After each use, it is advisable to clean thermal food containers to prevent odors and bacterial growth. Use regular dishwashing liquid for cleaning. In case you store strongly scented foods, absolutely avoid using strong cleaning chemicals to clean the container. Instead, you can use warm water combined with dishwashing liquid or vinegar, lemon, or baking soda to clean as follows:
- Dilute dishwashing liquid with warm water and pour it into the thermal food container, then seal the lid tightly for a few hours to effectively eliminate odors and kill bacteria. Finally, rinse the container thoroughly and let it air-dry before reuse.
- Mix baking soda with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to create a foamy mixture. Then, pour this mixture into the container and shake vigorously several times. Rinse the container with warm water and dishwashing liquid to notice the disappearance of unpleasant odors.
- Alternatively, you can simply dilute baking soda with warm water and pour it into the thermal food container overnight. Proceed to clean the container before use.
3. Some Tips for Properly Preserving Thermal Food Containers
When using thermal food containers, proper storage also contributes to keeping the container always new, durable, and ensuring thermal efficiency. Check out some tips below for your reference!
- To prevent musty, moldy odors and maintain hygiene, it's advisable to store the thermal food container upside down to let it drain before use.
- When storing the thermal container with food, keep it separate and avoid stacking it with other items.
- Additionally, avoid strong impacts that can dent, deform, and reduce the thermal retention capacity of the container.
- When not in use, it's recommended to crumple newspaper and place it inside the container, sealing the lid tightly. This method helps absorb moisture, prevent unpleasant odors, and ward off mold after extended periods of non-use.
Thus, this article from Mytour has shared with you some effective ways to use, clean, and store thermal food containers, ensuring safety when used. Save and share with friends and family! Thank you for following our article!