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See why.Insulated Food Carriers
Insulated carriers used to be for pizza delivery workers or caterers only, but we found five models designed to keep your famous lasagna piping hot all the way to the potluck or picnic.
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What You Need To Know
Insulated food carriers are designed to keep casseroles hot en route to a potluck, picnic, or holiday dinner. Since our previously winning carrier was redesigned, we tested its replacement, plus four others (priced from roughly $25 to about $40) designed to carry 13 by 9-inch baking dishes. We evaluated their heat retention and stain resistance. We also tested their design and sturdiness by walking around the block and driving over 5 miles of bumpy roads with them.
One carrier was too big—our lasagna dish shifted inside—but two contenders, including our winner, offered a snug fit; plus, they expanded to include extra dishes.
But heat retention was the biggest factor. We want food ready to serve on arrival—no reheating necessary. Additionally, the longer food stays piping hot, the safer it is (the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends not holding food at temperatures below 140 degrees for more than 2 hours). In four of the five carriers, macaroni and cheese dipped from 180 degrees (fresh out of the oven) to 140 degrees in less than an hour. The new model from the manufacturer of our old favorite (which has insulation half as thick as its predecessor’s) dropped below the minimum in just 12 minutes. Compare that with our new favorite, which kept macaroni and cheese above 140 degrees for more than 3 hours. Our only quibble—that it wasn’t as easy to clean as the others—is a small trade-off given that no other carrier matched its heat retention.
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Design: 3 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Heat Retention: 3 stars out of 3.
The redesigned version of our former favorite is just as good as the old one, keeping food ripping hot for more than 3 hours. Its sturdy frame expands upward to fit two 13 by 9-inch baking dishes, while a handy zippered pocket holds serving utensils. One gripe: Oil stains were tough to clean off the polyester exterior.
Recommended
- Design: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 2 stars out of 3.
- Heat Retention: 2 stars out of 3.
Available in several funky patterns and colors, this carrier kept food above 140 degrees for a respectable 40 minutes. Though only the bottom compartment is insulated, the expandable top lets you transport cold salads or sides. It comes with a pair of lidded plastic containers that fit snugly in either compartment.
Recommended with reservations
- Design: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 3 stars out of 3.
- Heat Retention: 1.5 stars out of 3.
Though it kept macaroni and cheese above 140 degrees for 25 minutes—long enough for a brief drive across town—other higher-ranked carriers did much better. Made from 50 percent recycled fabric, it fits one 13 by 9-inch baking dish snugly and has a stain-resistant interior and exterior that were simple to clean.
Not Recommended
- Design: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 3 stars out of 3.
- Heat Retention: 1 stars out of 3.
The redesigned version of our former winning food carrier came with plenty of bells and whistles, including a 13 by 9-inch Pyrex baking dish with fitted lid and microwavable hot pack. But these perks couldn’t make up for the carrier’s keeping hot food above 140 degrees for only 12 minutes. The new version’s thinner insulation and flimsier construction took their toll.
- Design: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Heat Retention: 1 stars out of 3.
This floppy, thin tote was too big for a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, letting our casserole slide and spill during a bumpy drive. Worse, it kept food above 140 degrees for only 10 minutes.
Reviews you can trust
Reviews you can trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them.
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