What is tastier and healthier - homemade borscht or porridge from the canteen? Of course, the first one. True, you can't put a hot lunch into an ordinary thermos, you need larger dishes. There is a way out - a thermos for food.
First, a few words about its design. The thermos consists of an inner flask, body, lid and stopper. There is a vacuum between the bulb and the body, although there are models with insulation. Some thermoses come with a set of cups and carry handles.
Neck... Key selection criterion: neck width. The wider it is, the more convenient it is to apply food. The diameter of the neck of food thermoses is usually equal to the diameter of the body. There are models with a combined mouth. Place a narrow throat under tea or coffee; use a wide throat for food.
Cap... The covers are in two parts. The plug covers the neck and the outer cap protects the plug (often used as a cup). The cork has a gasket of rubber or other material for thermal insulation. When choosing a thermos, look at the design of the lid and cork. The simpler it is, the better the insulation and the lower the risk of breaking.
Flask... Glass, metal and plastic are used for manufacturing:
- glass flask. Glass is non-toxic, food hardly sticks to the inner wall. Minus one - it is fragile. Careless handling will easily render the thermos unusable;
- metal flask. Stainless steel flasks are reliable and keep heat well. From the point of view of hygiene, everything is also in order. Stainless steel does not corrode, however, it is harder to wash it than a glass flask.
- plastic flask. Plastic does not hold heat well, is fragile and therefore is used in inexpensive models.
To reduce the risk of damage to the bulb, rubber shock absorbers are used. It is difficult to consider them. To find out if they exist, check out the product description. Remember that a thermos with a glass bulb should not be laid horizontally.
External enclosure made of metal and plastic (glass is rarely used). Plastic weighs less, although the risk of damaging it is higher. The metal cases are robust but weigh more. A thermos with a glass flask is suitable for trips around the city. Some models use rubber rings on the body. They reduce the risk of injury.
Recommendations: for picnics and on hikes, take a thermos with a flask and a metal case. If hiking is irregular, then a thermos with a glass flask and a plastic case will do.
Volume. The main rule is that the larger the volume, the better the product keeps heat. At the same time, a volumetric thermos is heavier. In general, the choice depends on your preferences and goals.
Additional equipment:
- cups and cutlery;
- containers for individual dishes;
- strap for attaching to a backpack;
- pens;
- covers: additional protection and thermal insulation.
Recommendations when buying a thermos in a store:
- Tighten the cap and lid tightly, shake the thermos lightly. Rattling indicates product defects, in particular, poor attachment of the bulb.
- Check the plug. It should close the neck tightly. At the same time, unscrew without effort.
- Smell the thermos. Bad smell is a bad sign.
- Inspect the case for damage: scratches, cracks, chips. Defects affect the ability to keep warm.
- Check the O-ring between throat and body. Precisely fitted ring will keep liquid from spilling out.
How to check the quality of a thermos? First of all, check how the thermos keeps warm:
- pour boiling water to the top;
- after 5 minutes, pour out the water: this way you will warm up the product;
- pour boiling water again, but not completely - leave ~ 1 cm for air;
- if after half an hour the walls are warm, then the thermos is defective: return it to the store.
Another quality check:
- pour boiling water into a thermos;
- leave for a day;
- after the time has elapsed, check the water temperature. If it has not dropped below 55C, then everything is in order with the thermos.
Summarize. The main selection criteria: body and flask made of metal, wide neck. Containers for different dishes and cutlery will be useful. You will find such thermoses in our store fotos.ua.
