20-Oz Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar

HonestPiranha4587

Mar 7, 2026 3:52 PM

165 Comments

Joined May 2021

HonestPiranha4587Mar 7, 2026 3:52 PM

165 Comments

Maybe I'm too dumb to understand what this is for. It's insulated to keep something hot or cold. If it's for hot food, you really don't wanna keep it hot for very long because it's going to be in that unsafe temperature window for bacteria.

If it's for cold food, when it comes time to eat it you can't put this metal container in the microwave so you have to eat it cold. Or transfer it to a different container which kind of defeats the purpose.

So what are people using this for? Gazpacho?

1

JellyJelly22

Mar 7, 2026 4:27 PM

367 Comments

Joined Nov 2014

JellyJelly22Mar 7, 2026 4:27 PM

367 Comments

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Quote from HonestPiranha4587

:

Maybe I'm too dumb to understand what this is for. It's insulated to keep something hot or cold. If it's for hot food, you really don't wanna keep it hot for very long because it's going to be in that unsafe temperature window for bacteria.

If it's for cold food, when it comes time to eat it you can't put this metal container in the microwave so you have to eat it cold. Or transfer it to a different container which kind of defeats the purpose.

So what are people using this for? Gazpacho?

hot lunch for school kids...

4

2

Timless

Mar 7, 2026 6:00 PM

3.2K Comments

Joined May 2018

TimlessMar 7, 2026 6:00 PM

3.2K Comments

Yea. Very limited use. Have several of these. End up using it for ice.

2

Giantcrazy

Mar 7, 2026 11:11 PM

3.7K Comments

Joined Sep 2006

GiantcrazyMar 7, 2026 11:11 PM

3.7K Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

Quote from HonestPiranha4587

:

Maybe I'm too dumb to understand what this is for. It's insulated to keep something hot or cold. If it's for hot food, you really don't wanna keep it hot for very long because it's going to be in that unsafe temperature window for bacteria.

If it's for cold food, when it comes time to eat it you can't put this metal container in the microwave so you have to eat it cold. Or transfer it to a different container which kind of defeats the purpose.

So what are people using this for? Gazpacho?

I've found that if you heat up the jar first (by putting some boiling water in it and capping it for a few minutes) then anything you put in that's hot will remain hot for a few hours. If it goes in at nearly boiling temps you'll get to the just-barely-cool-enough-to-eat range about 4 hours later. I've done this a couple of times when taking hot stew/chili on the boat during cold weather.
Put hot food in a room temp container and you'll have room temp food in that same time period.

6

4

GreySquirrel365

Mar 8, 2026 4:47 AM

356 Comments

Joined Mar 2021

GreySquirrel365Mar 8, 2026 4:47 AM

356 Comments

Quote from HonestPiranha4587

:

Maybe I'm too dumb to understand what this is for. It's insulated to keep something hot or cold. If it's for hot food, you really don't wanna keep it hot for very long because it's going to be in that unsafe temperature window for bacteria.

If it's for cold food, when it comes time to eat it you can't put this metal container in the microwave so you have to eat it cold. Or transfer it to a different container which kind of defeats the purpose.

So what are people using this for? Gazpacho?

damn, am I old? Are Thermos no longer something that people know exist?
Also food safety gets way too much armchairing. If these vacuum containers are any good (idk if this particular one is), it can keep food pretty hot for a surprisingly long time. USDA recommends not leaving food out for 2 hours. Even with no intervention the window is fairly large. When you cooked the food, you killed off the majority of bacteria so hot food in insulated jar is likely good for several hours (easily span morning to lunch). Realistically, if your goal is just to not shit your pants, rather than avoid getting fined by health inspector, you have a lot of leeway

12

SmartMitten1737

Mar 8, 2026 5:46 AM

21 Comments

Joined Feb 2023

SmartMitten1737Mar 8, 2026 5:46 AM

21 Comments

The 28 oz color cascade is also on sale for $22.48, 50% off of $44.95

2

mkthords

Mar 8, 2026 5:54 AM

72 Comments

Joined Jan 2017

mkthordsMar 8, 2026 5:54 AM

72 Comments

thanks

SociableSardine7821

Mar 8, 2026 6:32 AM

1 Comments

Joined Mar 2026

SociableSardine7821Mar 8, 2026 6:32 AM

1 Comments

Quote from GreySquirrel365

:

damn, am I old? Are Thermos no longer something that people know exist?
Also food safety gets way too much armchairing. If these vacuum containers are any good (idk if this particular one is), it can keep food pretty hot for a surprisingly long time. USDA recommends not leaving food out for 2 hours. Even with no intervention the window is fairly large. When you cooked the food, you killed off the majority of bacteria so hot food in insulated jar is likely good for several hours (easily span morning to lunch). Realistically, if your goal is just to not shit your pants, rather than avoid getting fined by health inspector, you have a lot of leeway

Yeah bacterial growth happens in a few hours and can make you uncomfortable or slightly sick. Actual spoilage is when that bacteria eats the food and leaves toxins. That's when you get proper food poisoning and it takes a very long time in the "danger zone" before it's a problem to eat then and there.

1

zapppz

Mar 8, 2026 8:06 AM

5K Comments

Joined Sep 2013

zapppzMar 8, 2026 8:06 AM

5K Comments

Quote from HonestPiranha4587

:

Maybe I'm too dumb to understand what this is for. It's insulated to keep something hot or cold. If it's for hot food, you really don't wanna keep it hot for very long because it's going to be in that unsafe temperature window for bacteria.If it's for cold food, when it comes time to eat it you can't put this metal container in the microwave so you have to eat it cold. Or transfer it to a different container which kind of defeats the purpose.So what are people using this for? Gazpacho?

Bacteria are killed by cooking food already. It's in a closed insulated environment so bacteria can't get in or already dead inside due to pressured heat (unless you keep cap off for prolonged period of time)

Cold food you generally want to keep cold thus microwave is not needed

1

Nm4223

Pro

Mar 8, 2026 9:30 AM

644 Comments

Joined Feb 2018

Nm4223

Pro

Mar 8, 2026 9:30 AM

644 Comments

Is it good for pep vials storage?

titanicsink

Mar 8, 2026 1:21 PM

27 Comments

Joined Mar 2006

titanicsinkMar 8, 2026 1:21 PM

27 Comments

Quote from SociableSardine7821

:

Yeah bacterial growth happens in a few hours and can make you uncomfortable or slightly sick. Actual spoilage is when that bacteria eats the food and leaves toxins. That's when you get proper food poisoning and it takes a very long time in the "danger zone" before it's a problem to eat then and there.

Its really 2 options, Either put the food in stright from being cooked, so its hot and the bacteria was killed off by cooking, or put the food in from being kept cold and will stay cold so no bacteria will grow.

A proper thermos should be able to keep the food above the 140 F mark for multiple hours(specifically a lunch)

JellyJelly22

Mar 8, 2026 1:22 PM

367 Comments

Joined Nov 2014

JellyJelly22Mar 8, 2026 1:22 PM

367 Comments

Quote from SociableSardine7821

:

Yeah bacterial growth happens in a few hours and can make you uncomfortable or slightly sick. Actual spoilage is when that bacteria eats the food and leaves toxins. That's when you get proper food poisoning and it takes a very long time in the "danger zone" before it's a problem to eat then and there.

It's ok, eating some bacteria is good for your immune system, do you know bateria are everywhere? stomach acid will kill most of it.

The 28oz is also on sale at$22

3

1

Strmtrper6

Mar 8, 2026 6:23 PM

5.3K Comments

Joined Dec 2007

Strmtrper6Mar 8, 2026 6:23 PM

5.3K Comments

Quote from Giantcrazy

:

I've found that if you heat up the jar first (by putting some boiling water in it and capping it for a few minutes) then anything you put in that's hot will remain hot for a few hours. If it goes in at nearly boiling temps you'll get to the just-barely-cool-enough-to-eat range about 4 hours later. I've done this a couple of times when taking hot stew/chili on the boat during cold weather.
Put hot food in a room temp container and you'll have room temp food in that same time period.

This one in particular? I have a couple Thermos and RTIC ones and I've never needed to do this. The vacuum insulation is good enough that the tiny bit of metal on the inner wall doesn't really steal any of the heat.

Strmtrper6

Mar 8, 2026 6:31 PM

5.3K Comments

Joined Dec 2007

Strmtrper6Mar 8, 2026 6:31 PM

5.3K Comments

Quote from HonestPiranha4587

:

Maybe I'm too dumb to understand what this is for. It's insulated to keep something hot or cold. If it's for hot food, you really don't wanna keep it hot for very long because it's going to be in that unsafe temperature window for bacteria.

If it's for cold food, when it comes time to eat it you can't put this metal container in the microwave so you have to eat it cold. Or transfer it to a different container which kind of defeats the purpose.

So what are people using this for? Gazpacho?

You can get ones with plastic insert(s) for microwaving if that's what you need,

But this will easily keep food hot enough for a few hours for lunches and such without any such danger zone. Ever been to a buffet?

People have been using Thermos bottles for decades to keep food hot for lunch on the job site. My dad had one in the 40s when he worked in road construction and he survived.

1

Jerry_Clarkman

Mar 11, 2026 4:25 PM

907 Comments

Joined Nov 2010

Jerry_ClarkmanMar 11, 2026 4:25 PM

907 Comments

Quote from GreySquirrel365

:

damn, am I old? Are Thermos no longer something that people know exist?Also food safety gets way too much armchairing. If these vacuum containers are any good (idk if this particular one is), it can keep food pretty hot for a surprisingly long time. USDA recommends not leaving food out for 2 hours. Even with no intervention the window is fairly large. When you cooked the food, you killed off the majority of bacteria so hot food in insulated jar is likely good for several hours (easily span morning to lunch). Realistically, if your goal is just to not shit your pants, rather than avoid getting fined by health inspector, you have a lot of leeway

This is the way! Cook the food (which kills the bacteria) not reheat up the food in the microwave. Then place in container and seal right away. At this point there's very little bacteria in there. By the time you eat it, there may be a few hundred MAX. Bacteria doubles every 20-30 minutes.

20-Oz Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar

$20

$40

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