Zebra Stainless Steel Food Carrier

We bought 3 sets of these. 2 for ourselves, and one for a friend. We mostly use ours for taking leftovers home from restaurants or for picking up takeout orders. We strongly dislike having, cooking, or storing our food in aluminum or any kind of plastic. We don't microwave our food either. Consequently, we don't eat out often. But, when we do, we try to choose places where they don't use aluminum pots and pans or microwave ovens in their cooking. Which is an endeavor that is harder than you might think to accomplish... When it's not possible to find such a place, we at least can minimize our exposure to unhealthy food environments by using these containers to transport the leftovers home. So much better than having styrofoam, plastic or aluminum containers leaching their poisons into our food. These are beautiful containers. Very good quality stainless steel. Easy to use and clean. And they are also great conversation pieces. More often than not someone will stop and comment on them. Some to ask about them: what they are and why we have them. Others to say what a great idea! And often asking how much they cost (they were under thirty dollars each when we bought them in 2013) and where can they buy them? And yet others to comment and reminisce about the ones they remembered using in the old country (usually India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and that general area). My own experience was in Germany, where I went to boarding school for a couple of years. They had larger, differently stacked versions of these, which they used for transporting the food to housebound sick students, down with a cold or the flu, and to teachers wanting to occasionally stay in their rooms to eat, rather than eat in the dining room.

Own both the 10cm and 14cm sizes. Each is 3-levels, and locks beautifully. NOT water-tight, and don't try to carry a soup in it ever; however it is wonderful for: +noodle dishes that don't need to be reheated (think somen salads, cold soba noodles [use a small, covered container for dipping sauce], pasta salads of all sorts, etc.) +green salads of all kinds--the metal doesn't react and you can put a little container of your dressing in the tiffin, when you put the dressing on the salad you won't discolor your container. We like to keep the fast-food dressing packets they put in your meal, and use them here. We usually share a dressing packet in the restaurant anyway because they're so big, or just use our dressing at home if we're doing takeout. +storing cookies or pastries, or even mini-cupcakes! +making jello molds--we've made a flavor in each level (orange with mandarin oranges, lime with pineapple, strawberry with halved red grapes, etc.), and when we take it to parties, it's easy to unpack, slice into wedges, and serve with a dollop of whipped cream on top. It looks really cool in the stainless steel containers, and makes a super fun "jello pie" with the whipped cream on top! +storing all kinds of semi-food or non-food items, from corralling all those take-out packets of ketchup and mustard, to an easy way for guests to have a variety of breakfast blend-in items. We put out a basket of breakfast cereal mixes, from oatmeal to quinoa to flax as well as boxes of cereals, and this goes alongside with cupcake liners full of raisins or chopped dried fruit, packets of Splenda or sugar, or shelf-stable mini creamers for those who like their cereals a little richer. Easy to make the night before, lock it all up in the tiffin, and in the morning just unpack it and lay it out with a cold carafe of milk. Each layer is pretty deep--the 14cm is about 2.5" deep, and the 12cm is about 2" deep. Really nice when you have something you don't want crushed in presentation. The 14cm size is ridiculously large for one person's lunch. Great for a family picnic, though, or for cold food storage. When using the tiffins, you do need all 3 levels stacked in order to use the locking component. If you don't need all 3 levels, and just want two, we find that using a long Velcro strap (get it at Lowe's or Wal-Mart) and wrapping the whole thing up in a cloth or in a bag that ties works just fine and keeps everything together. Aside from the top lid, be aware that there is no other lid--each of the levels acts as the lower level's lid. If you pack the tiffin really tightly, you could get food on the bottom of the container above it. But we've used cling film/saran wrap/plastic wrap on the top of a tiffin when we worry about it, and it's never been a problem. Handwash. Have had these for YEARS and used them a long time. They still stand the test of time. No rusting, no chipping. Have only had one dent on an overseas move, but that didn't harm the food safety of the tiffin, nor the nesting ability at all. Worth every penny.

I was looking for a 304 stainless steel lunchbox for my son to take to school. He had been carrying a Planet Box everyday but it's divided sections and thin profile did not allow for the days I wanted to send something a little larger (slice of pizza or a yogurt container). This has more than enough room to feed a teenager (when the time comes) and I can fit a small jelly size Mason jar in it with pudding or yogurt. If there are days I only want to send one or two sections I just fit a long piece of velcro through the lid loop and around the bottom to keep everything together without needing the metal clasp.

I've had four sets of these zebra stainless steel food containers since 1990s when my children were young. We used them to carry food during our outdoor camping days. When they left home for college, I used them for storing food in the refrigerator or in the cupboard for non perishable food items such as grains, dried beans, etc. I have ordered several more sets of these recently to use for storing prepped/cut vegetables, fruits, and cooked dishes in the refrigerator. The stackability of these food containers help keep my refrigerator clean and uncluttered. Things are easy to find because I use masking tape to label and date the contents. They're easy to wash and keep clean. They don't occupy extra cabinet space because once they're empty, I wash them right away and keep them stacked up and store them back in the refrigerator. I usually just hand wash them, but they are dishwasher safe. These containers are very useful for my purpose. By using these long lasting stainless steel food grade containers, I don't have to use plastic containers or plastic wraps that use fossil-based materials to produce that could cause havoc to human health and eventually end up polluting the environment. These zebra brands are my preference because they're sturdy and easy to clean and made of food grade high quality material. The only caveat is that they're not for transporting liquid, but as long as they stay in the refrigerator, and not tipped over, they're also perfect for storing liquid soups.

I just got this today and already I'm in love. I ordered a 12cm and a 14cm, thinking they'd be good for different situations. As it turns out, what I need is something in between. The 14cm is 3-tier and has massive capacity. It's also rather tall and won't fit in the mini-fridge at work (but will be good for bringing food offerings to parties). The 12cm is 2-tier, which limits me a bit, though the size of each container is darn near perfect. I'm a nosher, so I like to have a variety of foods on hand to eat throughout the day. I just packed tomorrow's lunch: I put 2 kinds of vegs in one container, and used the other for fish and scallop (in a To-Go-Ware Mini Sidekick) and chicken meatballs. A third tier would be great for fruit or salad, and as it turns out I'll be carrying a separate Sidekick with avocado and throwing an apple in the bag. It would be nice to have them all together. So I actually ordered a Stainless Steel Food Carrier - 3 Tier, 12 Cm , and am impatiently waiting for it to arrive. I had previously ordered the To- Go Ware 2-Tier Stainless Lunch Box and will be returning it. It's fiddly and the pieces don't want to separate once you have them together. This one, by comparison, is sleek and simple and all the pieces fit nicely together, but separate when you want them to. I feel good about the purchase because I'm trying to get plastic out of my life and that of my son. I've been using Pyrex containers for my lunch, but they weigh a ton! I'll still be using them at home, but this sweet, compact, sturdy little tiffin will be leaving the house with me every day. Note: I'm not opposed to all To-Go Ware products, and actually really like their To-Go Ware Stainless Steel Snack Containers - Tiffin Sidekick - 5 Pack . Plus, the bag that goes with the 3-tier Stainless Steel Tiffin with Cotton Carrier Bag rocks. You can buy them without the tiffin from To-Go Ware's website.

Update 9/8/15: I was so impressed with the quality of this tiffin lunch box, I ordered another set. It's so versatile. They're perfect food containers to use in the kitchen for meal preparation and storage and are especially good for leftovers. These are the best value for my money because they basically will last a lifetime, which I can't say about many things that are being sold nowadays. I love my Zebra tiffins. They look so cute and beautiful! ------------------------------------------ If you're looking for a quality tiffin lunch box, Zebra brands (from Thailand), are the WORLD'S BEST!! Seriously, I've checked out ALL the ones from India and China, as well as those re-branded under some "eco-friendly" names in the U.S -- they ALL have problems - don't let the mirror-like finish fool you or the "cute" plastic bright colors and plastic hinges fool you - they're usually very thin and/or will soon corrode and rust.. Only Zebra brand tiffins (made in Thailand) are 304 18-8 graded stainless steel and are manufactured in a ISO 9001 standard. Others CANNOT make this claim. Make sure you have a genuine Zebra tiffin - look for the Zebra logo engraved on the lid and on the bottom of each tiffin bowl. There are many imitators and fake ones out there, so make sure to ask if it's a Zebra brand and make sure it has the Zebra logo engraved on each piece. You will not regret purchasing a Zebra tiffin. Their quality is amazing!

I have a smaller Zebra set bought years ago in a market. It still looks shiny. I am pleased with the larger Zebra set, sturdier and better made quality is superior to other thinner less expensive metal stacking sets which can warp and not stack snugly. Perfect for storing and serving make ahead side dishes, take along meals. The stacking holder does not fall apart as it does with other thinner metal stacking sets. My first set is about 8 years old, used weekly.

This item is practical and handy for simple outings and/or picnics. It is easy to clean and can be carried easily, It is attractive. Will not hold heat for long and I don't think it is meant to. Can hold 3 seperate items. We use it to carry snacks and light foods (veggies, pastries, fruit, chips, etc). Looks a lot like the ones I've seen utilized in Indochina, China, Japan, Indonesia, South America and the Caribbean.

Eigentlich schön gemacht, aber für warme Mahlzeiten eher nicht geeignet, denn leider sind die Behälter für Flüssigkeiten nicht dicht : Wenn's kippt, siffen Suppe und Soße in die Umgebung. Schade! Aber warum nicht Obst, Apfel-, Gurken- und Mohrrübenschnitzel für die Reise mal in hübsch mitnehmen. Das macht sich auch schön auf der Picknikdecke!