This Self-Heating Lunchbox Will Warm Up Your Meal in Just Minutes Wherever You Are

We’ve all faced lunchtime disappointment before—either when heating up leftovers that turn out uninspiring the second time around or spending a lot of money on takeout that winds up being just ho-hum. Eating a delicious hot meal when you’re busy or at work can seem nearly impossible at times, but Heatbox, the leak-proof lunchbox that steams up to three meals on a single charge, is looking to change that.

With more than $65,000 raised already, this self-heating lunchbox crushed its original $33,000 Kickstarter goal, but you can still back the product until December 19 by heading here. Pledges start at $132, and backers will receive the Heatbox for 30 percent off its retail value. And for each backer that Heatbox receives, one meal will be donated to Share the Meal or the World Food Programme charities.

To get the whole thing to work is simple: All you have to do is pour 30 ml (about one ounce) of water into the Heatbox, which can be done before you leave in the morning. Then you insert the inner container with your food, cover that with the inner lid, and then place the bamboo lid on top.

Once you're ready to eat, the Heatbox can be turned on either with the button on the container or through its app, which allows you to select low, medium, or high settings. Depending on what setting is right for your lunch, your food will be hot and ready to eat in eight to 12 minutes. According to Kickstarter, once the campaign is over, the app will also feature healthy recipes to try out.

It takes about 90 minutes to charge the Heatbox, and it can be used up to three times on a single charge if you steam three small meals on low. If you have large meals that are heated on medium or high, you can use the lunchbox twice on a single charge.

Cleaning this self-heating lunchbox is easy. Both the inner container and lid can go in the dishwasher, while the bamboo lid and Heatbox should be cleaned with a cloth and minimal amounts of soap and water.

But why steam? According to Spruce Eats, cooking with steam has numerous benefits. It's a far more delicate way to cook when compared to boiling or simmering, making it ideal for seafood. And since the food isn't being submerged in water, it retains up to 50 percent more of its nutrients. You also avoid cooking foods in unhealthy fats and oils while steaming, potentially leading to healthier meals.

You can back the Heatbox on Kickstarter by heading here.

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