How to Choose an Ello Lunch Bento Stack for Work or School

Quick answer

Choose the Ello Lunch Bento Stack Plastic Food Storage Container, Set of 2 if you want a light, compact lunch kit with a removable divider and included fork and knife that slips into a work bag. Choose an Ello Duraglass set instead if you reheat lunch in the same container or dislike plastic for hot foods. The stack is the better school and commuter pick; glass is the better desk-lunch pick.

Match the container to your bag before you match it to your menu

A lunch container only works if it actually travels with you. The Ello Stackable Bento Lunch Container is built as a stack: a 2 cup container and a 3 cup container, each with its own locking lid, plus a machine-washable strap. Because the two pieces nest and strap together, the set takes up roughly the footprint of the larger container in a bag rather than two separate boxes. That matters if you carry a slim work backpack or a school bag that already holds a laptop or books.

Measure your bag's main compartment before buying anything. If the opening is narrow, a stacked set is easier to slide in than two side-by-side containers. If your bag is deep and unstructured, a stack can shift around, so use the strap and pack it against a flat item like a notebook.

Decide whether you need a divider or a full-size container

The bento stack's 3 cup container includes a removable divider, which lets you keep a sandwich or wrap separate from a side without using extra bags. The 2 cup container has no divider, so it suits a single item like fruit, yogurt, or crackers. If your lunches are mostly one-dish meals, a divider adds cleaning steps without adding value.

If you pack the same portion size every day, a single-size container is simpler. The Duraglass 1.7 Cup Food Storage Container is a good example of a one-job container: airtight locking lid, leak-proof, and sized for a single serving. Buying a set of identical containers is easier to stack and store than mixing sizes, but it gives you less flexibility when your lunch changes day to day.

Choose plastic or glass based on how you reheat

This is the decision that most often goes wrong. The bento stack is plastic and designed for cold or room-temperature lunches packed in the morning. If you plan to microwave lunch at your desk, a glass container is the more straightforward choice because you can reheat in the same vessel. The Ello Duraglass Refresh Meal Prep Containers, Set of 2 are 3.4 cup glass containers with leak-proof lids and a silicone protection boot; the sleeve also gives a no-slip grip and protects tabletops.

Glass is heavier and costs more, and the silicone sleeve adds a small amount of bulk. Plastic is lighter and cheaper, which is why it remains the better fit for kids carrying their own bags. Neither option is wrong; the mistake is buying plastic for a hot-lunch routine or glass for a kindergartner who needs to carry it unassisted.

Check the lid style against how you carry the bag

The bento stack uses locking lids on each container, so you can use the pieces together or separately. That flexibility is useful if one container comes home empty and the other still holds food. The Duraglass Color Lock Glass Food Storage, 3.4 Cup Set of 5 uses snap-on airtight lids that lock to the glass base, and the set includes five containers and five BPA-free plastic locking lids. A five-piece set makes more sense if you prep several lunches at once rather than packing one lunch at a time.

More containers also means more lids to keep track of. If your household already struggles to match lids to bases, a smaller set with identical pieces is easier to manage than a large mixed set.

Plan for the strap, the fork, and the small parts

The bento stack includes a stainless steel fork and knife, which removes one thing from your packing list but adds two small items that can be lost. The strap is machine washable, which helps if a container leaks or a drink spills in the bag. Neither feature appears on the glass meal prep sets, so if you want a self-contained kit with utensils, the stack is the more complete package.

If you already carry reusable utensils, that advantage disappears and you can choose based on material and size alone.

Decision rules for picking your lunch container

• If you carry a slim bag and pack cold lunches: Pick the Ello Lunch Bento Stack Plastic Food Storage Container, Set of 2. The two containers strap together into one footprint, and the included fork and knife mean you do not need a separate utensil pouch. Best for commuters, students, and anyone packing lunch the night before.
• If you microwave lunch in the same container: Choose a Duraglass option such as the Ello Duraglass Refresh Meal Prep Containers, Set of 2 or the Duraglass 1.7 Cup Food Storage Container. Glass reheats without the material concerns that come with plastic, and the 1.7 cup container is oven-safe with the lid off. Best for desk lunches and reheated leftovers.
• If you prep several lunches at once: Buy the Color Lock Glass Food Storage, 3.4 Cup Set of 5. Five identical containers and lids make a Sunday prep session faster than mixing sizes, and the tempered glass resists stains and odors. Best for batch cooking, but check your cabinet space first.
• If you need one container for one person: Skip the sets and buy the Duraglass 1.7 Cup Food Storage Container. A single 1.7 cup container with an airtight locking lid is enough for a one-person lunch and easier to wash than a full set. Best for light eaters and single servings.

Product facts to compare

• Lunch Bento Stack Plastic Food Storage Container, Set of 2: Set includes a 2 cup container and a 3 cup container with a removable divider, a stainless steel fork and knife, locking lids on each container, and a machine-washable strap. This is the only option here that arrives as a complete lunch kit, so it suits commuters and students who want one item to grab rather than assembling containers and utensils separately.
• Ello Duraglass Refresh™ Meal Prep Containers, Set of 2: Set of two 3.4 cup glass containers with leak-proof lids and a silicone protection boot that protects glass and tabletops and provides a no-slip grip. The silicone boot addresses the main downside of glass, which is chipping, and the no-slip grip helps when you are eating at a desk or a shared table.
• Color Lock® Glass Food Storage, 3.4 Cup Set of 5: Set of five 3.4 cup tempered glass containers with five BPA-free plastic locking lids; the glass resists stains and odors and the lids are described as leak-proof and airtight. A five-piece set is the better buy if you batch-cook or prep several lunches at once, but it takes up more cabinet space and gives you five lids to track.
• Duraglass™ 1.7 Cup Food Storage Container: 1.7 cup container with an airtight locking lid; leak-proof, stain-resistant, freezer, microwave, and oven-safe with the lid off, and protected by a silicone sleeve. This is the single-serving option for someone who wants one container for one lunch, and the oven-safe-with-lid-off detail makes it more versatile than the plastic bento stack for reheating.

Who should buy which

Best for

• Students and commuters who carry a slim bag and want containers, lids, and utensils in one purchase
• Anyone who packs cold or room-temperature lunches and wants a light, compact stack
• Households that want the option to use the 2 cup and 3 cup containers together or separately

Not for

• Anyone who reheats lunch in the same container and prefers glass
• Batch cooks who need five or more matching containers
• People who already carry their own utensils and do not need the included fork and knife