I am considering using this for my kid's lunches. How hot does the glass food container get? Would it burn their hands when they remove the container?
1266214
The heating plate cycles off and on with a maximum temperature around 212°. The maximum temperature of the food container will be less than the heating element, however if the food container (and food) has reached the maximum temperature it will be too hot to handle with bare hands.
1266215
The longer you leave it in the hot logic, like any other heater, yes they could possibly burn themselves.We had pizza that had to sit until it cooled. BE CAREFUL!!!
1266216
My daughter is 12 year old and has been bring lunches for about 6 months now without any problems. The hot plate is surpringly hot (~170°F or ~77°C) so it's not up to boiling point. We always use glassware. She would plug in the warmer about 30-45min before lunch. If you have a soup, plug it for about 1-1.5hr before. Just use a paper towel to handle the glassware. The powercord can be better designed such as having a coil powercord.
1266217
I haven't had any problems with burning my hands on any containers, but to be safe, maybe they should lift containers out of it with napkins. It doesn't come with a glass food container - what you see in the picture here is exactly what you get. The black tray is what gets hot, and the plug kind of comes out the corner of the thermal case, so an container that you use in it will need to sit flat on the heating element (the black plastic tray). http://prntscr.com/47ad9j
1266218
I haven't used a glass container yet but the plastic containers do get pretty hot so I wouldn't suggest it for children unless heated for less than 1 hour. After 1 hour the food lets off steam so it could be dangerous for children. Hope this helps!
217881
Is cool to the touch! Like the previous answer, the grill gets warm, but really should be no problem around little ones!
1042330
No... this container does NOT keep food warm... Still a great dish and easy use But to answer the question no...
171414
It would keep the luch warm for them if it was packed in the morning. The only problem is the unit is very hot when it comes out of the micro wave so I would not wanting a 5 or 6 year old touching them at that time Older kids OK or it would be OK at lunch time or even at morning break
70321
Yes. We have used it for everything. Mac n cheese, beans and rice, and lasagna and other things. The kids eat at 12:30 and the thermos is packed by 7:30. I was told the food is almost too hot to eat so I stopped filling it with hot water to heat the canister and it has been perfect. But if you want "just cooked" hot, fill it with hot water, put the top on, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Pour the water out and fill it with your food.
2175652
It depends on your 4 year olds attitude and strength and how tight you close it. Usually there are adults around to help them though during lunch. It does keep things hot you do need to follow the directions though.
1545815
I have use both the handled mug and bowl in microwave. When using the bowl for oatmeal, I have removed it from the microwave without burning my hands, as the bowl does not get overheated. Of course, I'm not leaving it in the microwave for any extended periods of time. I always use the handle when using the mug, but I haven't experienced any overheating or burning of the hands with it either.
1824244
Not hot at all!! You can touch it and hardly feel any heat. Safe if kids around.
1545813
I don't think it gets as hot as glass in the microwave, but it does get warm/hot where the food touches the CorningWare. I can usually take the cups out by the handle. If I were to put it in the oven I would expect the whole thing to be to hot to handle without an oven mitt.
306222
The lid and handles do get hot since they are metal. As long as you use pot holders or oven mitts it's fine.
1739420
I'm sure you could use it for the microwave, but I usually heat items in a stoneware or heat-safe glass container first and then portion into the little plastic units. That way the plastic isn't too warm for tiny hands and I can serve something like re-heated spaghetti or leftover fruit to all three of my little ones at once without multiple heats.
297438
I have used my lids many many times and never been burnt by the steam. It actually pushes the steam out sideways, so it's not coming directly up towards your hand.
1938445
That really depends on your perspective :) It gets hot, but in my opinion not hazardous hot. If I put my hand on it and held it there, it will burn. The reality is, I will put my hand on it, my brain will say, HOT and I will take my hand away, no harm done. If a toddler fell against it, they would know it was hot and be able to move away with no harm done, if they fell against it and stayed there, then yes not good.Does that help? Hot enough to be hot, but not hot enough for instant injury.
1789774
We microwave ours. But my husband now will heat in a mug and pour. My kids don't. We like chai and creamers in our house. The kids make it themselves. These containers don't get really hot like a mug would. Less dangerous for them to drop. Hopefully OK to drink! They are great for cold drinks too!
753216
After about a month of using this heater we are satisfied with it's operation. It does get rather hot to the touch on the top of the unit (not skin burning hot, but similar to hot ceramic coffee cup hot...you don't get a blister, but holding it for long isn't pleasant!) The plastic sides are literally cold to the touch, and the front (warm) are not an issue. Having a 2 year old touch the top would not be an unpleasant experience for her, but it's hot enough to remind her not to touch it. Having 3 kids, we were extremely finicky about what they had in their rooms. This heater in my opinion is probably the safest type of heater to use in that environment given it's a "heater". Most portable fan heaters with metal grills are much hotter, and even the plastic grilled heaters with metal elements we use get hotter to the touch on the front. Hope this helps!
2196698
I wouldn't use it for hot beverages myself, though it would certainly keep them hot. The problem is, it uses a straw, not a "sippy-cup" style spout, so it would be very easy to burn your mouth badly. Also, though the mouthpiece is silicone (and thus would be fine with even the hottest drinks), the straw is (BPA free) plastic, and I'm not sure how well it would hold up to heat.
725278
The box would fit inside the lunchbox ? It would be paper in the lunchbox it's pretty hot so we could possibly catch on fire? Of course, it may be better than the aluminum pans causing Alzheimer's !!!! Glass is probably your best option .