Taking your own lunch to work in a flask isn’t just a great way to save money, it also means you can eat something hot and comforting instead of spending a fortune in the canteen, grabbing another meal deal or ordering a take-away.
I’ve had a small pink chilly’s flask for a few years now and have used it sporadically over the colder months for my lunches at work but I don’t use it as well as I could and get bored easily as I tend to just put soup in it and you can only eat so much soup, right?
It also only keeps food hot for 4-6 hours so I can pop food in it at 8am before I leave for work but need to try and eat it by 12.30 to guarantee that it’s going to be warm still (note how I say warm and not hot).
Last Winter, we bought a bargain Thermos drinks flask for my partner who works 2 night shifts every 8 nights and when it’s a cold night, the hot chocolate he’s been taking in this has been very much appreciated. We make it up about 6pm and it’s still hot at 3 in the morning which is brilliant.
We bought it from Morrisons for about £6 and as we always do when we see something that looks like a good deal, we checked on Amazon to see (a) how much it is actually selling for as ‘sale’ prices aren’t always better than you would get elsewhere at a normal price and (b) what people who had bought it already were saying about it.
We found it cost £22 on Amazon (Aff link – here) and that the reviews were super positive with a 4.7 rating over about 15k reviews so we knew that this £6 bargain flask really was a bargain. It was used every night shift from when it was bought until the warmer summer nights when it was more juice than hot chocolate that was appreciated. 😁
We dusted it off a couple of weeks ago and it’s now back on night shift hot chocolate duty again.
But this Winter, we wanted to take it one step further and try to start preparing hot food for him to take to work along with his hot chocolate.
Hot food is much needed during a long night shift and although he does have access to a microwave, he is often called to a job at some point during either heating his meal up or eating it which means it sometimes goes to waste or ends up being eaten cold.
A flask is our way of solving that for us – he can literally open the flask and start eating and if he gets interrupted then he can just pop the lid back on and it has a better chance of being warm when he comes back to it.
So this is the flask we bought (aff link – here)…
We stuck with Thermos as the claim to keep drinks hot for 10 hours on our drinks flask was true so we trusted the claim on this flask to do the same for food. We did do our usual Amazon check before we bought it when we saw it reduced in Tesco and again, the reviews backed up the claim so we bought it.
I thought I’d share some of the meals that work well in a flask in case you want to give it a go – I’ve included the homemade versions as that’s my goal for this Winter but also, there’s convenience options for most that will still save you money.
1. Homemade Soup
The classic choice for a reason. Soup is filling, healthy, and incredibly cheap to make in bulk using up whatever veggies you have in the fridge to use up or whatever veg you can get cheaply from the shops. Soup reheats beautifully and stays hot until you need it in your flask.
{Convenience Option} And it doesn’t have to be homemade if I’m honest, a tin of soup from the shop will still save you money and give you a warm and filling meal when you need it without the need to make your own.
2. Pasta with Sauce
Cook up some pasta the night before and mix it with your favourite sauce – think tomato and basil, creamy mushroom, or a spicy arrabbiata. Stir in some grated cheese or leftover cooked chicken for extra flavour. Just make sure your pasta isn’t overcooked, as it will soften a little more in the flask.
{Convenience Option 1} You can actually just use a packet of pasta and sauce rather than make your own.
3. Chilli or Curry
A warm, spicy chilli or curry is perfect for cold workdays. Both keep their flavour really well and are filling enough that you don’t need much else. Serve with rice or a chunk of naan bread.
{Convenience Option} Batch cook your chilli and curry and pop some in the freezer in flask sized portions so you can just reheat and pop in the flask before you set off for work.
4. Risotto
If you’ve got leftover risotto from dinner, it’s an ideal lunch option. Mushroom or pea risotto travels particularly well and feels like a real treat when everyone else is eating a soggy sandwich.
5. Noodles
Instant noodles might be quick, but homemade versions are cheaper and tastier. Cook up some egg noodles with soy sauce, veggies, and a bit of leftover chicken or prawns. Pop them into your flask while hot, and you’ll have a filling meal ready to go.
This doesn’t work so well for me on a morning as there’s too much prep if I’m honest. It’s brilliant for my partner for his night shifts as I love to cook this for me for tea on the nights he’s at work so I double it up and put half in the flask for him.
6. Stew or Casserole
A good stew is the ultimate comfort food. Beef stew, sausage casserole, or even a veggie version with beans and root veg will all stay warm for hours and taste even better after sitting in the flask for a bit.
{Convenience Option} This is another one where leftovers and batch cooking will really make your life easier.
7. Macaroni Cheese
Yes, mac and cheese works in a flask! I use leftovers from when I cook macaroni cheese and I reheat it the next morning to go in the flask
8. Baked Beans or Bean Chilli
For a super-budget option, heat up a tin of baked beans or make your own bean chilli with kidney beans, chopped tomatoes, and spices. It’s cheap, warming, and surprisingly satisfying.
9. Corned Beef Hash
Genuinely my favourite flask food!
I cook my corned beef hash in the slow cooker and make a huge batch each time with the specific plan of packed lunches
10. Porridge (for early starts!)
If you head to work early or prefer something warm mid-morning, porridge in a flask is a winner. Add your oats, milk, and fruit, and it’ll stay warm until you’re ready to eat. Great for overnight shifts or chilly commutes.
A decent flask is a small investment that pays off fast. You’ll cut your lunch spending, waste less food, and eat much better during the workday. Win-win! 😀
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