10 Best Tried and True Japanese Soup and Food Jars in 2022 (Zojirushi, Thermos, and More)
Our editors searched Japanese e-commerce sites (such as Amazon, Rakuten, and kakaku.com) for the best soup and food jars. We picked out the 10 most popular products and tested them for the following:
- Heat Retention
- Cold Retention
- Ease of Cleaning
- Weight
- Tightness (Spill-proof)
This is how we hand-picked the most exceptional Japanese soup and food jars.
Quick List - Top Japanese Soup And Food Jars
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How to Choose Japanese Soup And Food Jars
Here are three big things to look out for when choosing the right Japanese soup and food jar for your needs.
Make Sure the Temperature Stays Around 60℃ (140℉) after 6 Hours
Another thing to consider – bacteria thrive at temperatures between 20℃ and 50℃ (68℉ – 122℉). So, for simple food safety reasons, aim to get a soup jar that keeps warm foods at temperatures above 50℃ and cold foods at temperatures below 20℃.
Check if You're Able to Wash Every Nook and Cranny of the Jar
To figure out how convenient a food jar is, the best thing you can do is take it in your hand and inspect it for nooks and crannies; if you can’t, however, then you’ll have to read reviews.
Most jars will have stainless steel interiors; some also feature ceramic coating, which helps food and grease slide off and prevents discoloration. These might offer less insulation than simple stainless steel, but they’re helpful if you eat foods that stain easily, like curry.
Check if It'll Fit Everything You Want
Finally, think about how much you want the jar to hold. Needs differ from person to person, but here are some rough guidelines.
- Less than 300 milliliters: For kids or a small soup on the side
- 310 – 400 milliliters: For adults with smaller appetites or a larger side dish
- Greater than 410 milliliters: For adults who like to eat. Can hold main dishes like stew or porridge
Most soup jars on the market fall somewhere in between 250 and 500 milliliters. Unless you eat the same type of thing every day, you may want to get several sizes and mix and match.
A couple of other things that often get overlooked are whether the soup jar will fit your bag or lunchbox and whether it’ll feel heavy when carried (especially on a shoulder).
10 Best Japanese Soup And Food Jars Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Thermos Vacuum Insulation Soup Jar｜JBM-501 | | An All Arounder With the Best Heat Retention | |
2 | Thermos Vacuum Insulation Soup Jar｜JBQ-400 | | You'll Appreciate This Easy-Open Food Jar | |
3 | FORTEC Lunch Pot｜FLR-6861 | | Built to Be Slim and Lightweight | |
4 | Asbel Lantus Soup Bottle｜HLB-SR500 | | Has All the Basic Functions of a Good Food Jar | |
5 | Skater Thermal Insulated Delicapot｜LJFC3 | | Works Well and Has Plenty of Fun Designs | |
6 | Doshisha mosh! Vacuum Insulation Food Pot｜DMFP300 | | 6 Pastel Shaded Jars With Great Heat Retention | |
7 | Peal Metal keeps Food Mug｜HB-272 | | Overall Average, but Great Affordability | |
8 | Tiger Thermal Insulated Soup Jar｜MCL-B030 | | Easy to Clean and Find Replacement Parts | |
9 | Zojirushi Stainless Steel Food Jar｜SW-GD26 | | A Small, Sturdy Food Jar With 5 Parts | |
10 | CB Japan midi Food Jar | | Repels Stains and Odors |
ThermosVacuum Insulation Soup Jar ｜ JBM-501
An All Arounder With the Best Heat Retention
You could separate the lid, both inner and outer, into a total of four parts. We thought it struck the perfect balance between convenience and hygiene; the jar didn’t take much time to assemble or disassemble, and there weren’t any hard-to-reach crevices. And if you do manage to lose any of the parts, it’s easy to find replacements online.
You'll Appreciate This Easy-Open Food Jar
In order to counteract this, Thermos added an “Open Assist” feature to the lid, which balanced out pressure and unsealed the jar for us. In total, there were five parts to this cap. It was easy to take apart and wash with a kitchen sponge, and it was easy to put together again.
This jar finished second for heat retention and fourth for cold, so it did its job well. Weight was also average for the size. There are no real downsides to getting this jar, other than the price–but we think the benefits far outweigh the cost.
Built to Be Slim and Lightweight
The inside was covered with a ceramic coating. Food and stains slid off of it, so the body of the jar was easy to clean. There were also no odd bumps or swells, so even though the container was a bit narrow, it was easy to navigate with a spoon.
On the flip side, there were crannies in the lid we couldn’t reach with a normal kitchen sponge, and it was a struggle getting the gasket off and back on. Still, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another jar that performs as well at this price point–small inconveniences may have to be overlooked.
Has All the Basic Functions of a Good Food Jar
The lid could be separated into four parts. The crevices on the bottom of the lid were quite deep, and we weren’t able to reach into them with a kitchen sponge. Replacement parts are easy to get if you live in Japan - you can just send the brand stamps worth however much the parts are, and you’ll get the parts in return–free shipping.
There was also a vent so air can easily pass in and out of the container, ensuring the lid will never get stuck. It’s a good product to consider if you’re looking for a bigger food jar.
Works Well and Has Plenty of Fun Designs
We didn’t have trouble disassembling the lid, but it did take some effort to get the gasket back on. The opening only spanned 6.7 centimeters, so it may be too narrow to eat comfortably with a spoon. There was a plastic cover for the lip, however, which made the jar more comfortable to drink from.
The lid was well-designed and could be washed with a kitchen sponge. We didn’t have any complaints about heat or cold retention, either. The body was also light and child-friendly.
Doshisha mosh! Vacuum Insulation Food Pot ｜ DMFP300
6 Pastel Shaded Jars With Great Heat Retention
When it came to insulation, it was inferior only to Thermos – soup needed no reheating at lunchtime. However, the narrow mouth and stout body that made the pot so attractive also made it inconvenient; when we tried to scrape out the insides, our spoon kept bumping against the lip.
The lid was designed so food wouldn’t get caught, but there were nooks that we couldn’t reach with a kitchen sponge. It had only three parts, so we doubt you’ll lose anything, but if you do need replacements, they’re readily available on mosh!’s site.
Overall Average, but Great Affordability
There was a plastic cover for the lip so we could drink comfortably from the jar. There wasn’t a vent, but the lid was big and grippy; you shouldn’t have an issue with it sealing itself shut and being difficult to open.
The lid separated into three parts; the plastic cover for the lip separated into two. We were able to wash the lid with a normal kitchen sponge, but we had trouble getting the gasket off the plastic cover. Replacement parts are available, but there isn’t much information online; you’ll have to call in and inquire.
TigerThermal Insulated Soup Jar ｜ MCL-B030
Easy to Clean and Find Replacement Parts
However, the lid had six parts, just on its own. It was the most complicated lid we tested. Plus, there were a lot of crevices, and it wasn’t the easiest to wash. The gasket was quite stiff and was difficult to remove and install.
The jar only finished eighth for both heat and cold retention–quite a lukewarm performance. However, Tiger’s a big brand and, at the very least, it’s easy to get replacement parts online.
A Small, Sturdy Food Jar With 5 Parts
The lid separated into five parts and the plastic lip into two – the gasket and the main body. It was easy to assemble and disassemble everything, but we wished we didn’t have so many odd bits and ends to wash.
Replacement parts are available online, and ordering is painless. The jar also seemed to be sturdy. You can expect a certain level of quality and other conveniences with this branded jar.
Repels Stains and Odors
We can say that the grooves running up and down the jar not only added an element of design but also made it easy to hold. The inside of the container was treated with fluorine. It repels stains and odors, which is helpful if you’re packing curry for lunch.
There were just three parts in total. You could remove the gasket from the lid, and that was it. It left a few bumps and crevices that were difficult to get to and wash.
How We Tested the Soup and Food Jars
Test ① Heat Retention
Test ② Cold Retention
We’d like to note that even the products that finished last kept temperatures well below 20℃ (68℉), which is when most bacteria start to proliferate. In that sense, you could say that all the products we tested offered adequate cold retention.
Test ③ Ease of Cleaning
Test ④ Weight
We weighed each jar – dry and empty – on a scale. Lighter products received higher scores.
Test ⑤ Tightness (Spill-Proof)
None of the products we tested spilled even a drop of water. The brands do recommend replacing the gasket every year, though. As long as you keep your food jar well-maintained, there shouldn’t be an issue.
Preheat and Precool Your Food Jar for Even Better Results
We also recommend pairing your soup jar with an insulated pouch. Finally, make sure whatever you put into the jar is either fresh off the burner and piping hot or fresh out of the fridge and freezing cold.
More Tried and True Tools for the Kitchen
Your kitchen can be stocked with a ton of amazing gadgets that can help extend the life of your foods, make cooking easier, or just simply your life in general. If you're looking for more tried and true products, then look no further than at some of our other buying guides. We've tested them so you don't need to!
Top 5 Japanese Soup And Food Jars
No. 1: Thermos｜Vacuum Insulation Soup Jar｜JBM-501
No. 2: Thermos｜Vacuum Insulation Soup Jar｜JBQ-400
No. 3: FORTEC｜Lunch Pot｜FLR-6861
No. 4: Asbel Lantus｜Soup Bottle｜HLB-SR500
No. 5: Skater｜Thermal Insulated Delicapot｜LJFC3
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.