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    KitchenLunch BoxLunchBots Large Cinco Stainless Steel Lunch Container
    #2 of 7
    LunchBots Large Cinco Stainless Steel Lunch Container

    Key Specs

    Body Material

    18/8 stainless steel

    Gasket / Seal

    None (all-metal design)

    Compartments

    5

    Capacity

    32 fl oz

    LunchBots

    LunchBots Large Cinco Stainless Steel Lunch Container

    #2 of 7 lunch boxs tested

    7.2R3 Score / 10
    RecommendedGood, with trade-offs worth knowing.
    Safety
    5.448% weight
    Usability
    9.630% weight
    Efficacy
    7.922% weight

    The bottom line

    What the product listing won't tell you

    Know before you buy

    The LunchBots Large Cinco is the cleanest all-stainless lunch container in this category — no gasket, no latch, no plastic anywhere near food — but it is definitively not leak-proof. Pack only dry foods or budget for separate leak-proof cups for sauces and wet items.

    Buy it if

    • You primarily pack dry lunch components — sandwiches, crackers, fruit chunks, cut vegetables, cheese cubes, or dry snacks.

    LunchBots Large Cinco Stainless Steel Lunch Container

    LunchBots

    LunchBots Large Cinco Stainless Steel Lunch Container

    $34.99
    Buy on Amazon
    LunchBots Large Cinco Stainless Steel Lunch Container

    LunchBots

    LunchBots Large Cinco Stainless Steel Lunch Container

    $34.99Buy on Amazon

    $34.99

    Buy on Amazon

    We may earn a commission. It doesn't affect our scores.

  1. You want zero plastic, zero rubber, and zero silicone touching your child's food during the entire school day.

  2. Your child is 3+ and struggles with latches — the lift-off lid is the easiest lunch container to open independently.

  3. You want a one-time purchase: the all-stainless construction and lifetime warranty mean this container should last through elementary school and beyond.

  4. Dishwasher convenience matters — the entire container (no gaskets to remove) goes straight into the dishwasher.

    5. Skip if

    • You pack yogurt, dressings, sauces, hummus, or any liquid — they will leak without a separate sealed container.

    • You need a standalone container for a backpack without a dedicated lunch bag — the latch-free lid is not secure for loose transport.

    • You require published third-party PFAS panel testing documentation — LunchBots does not publish PFAS-specific lab results for the stainless steel line.

    Safety research

    Safety standards and ingredients related to LunchBots Large Cinco Stainless Steel Lunch Container

    Ingredients avoided
    ingredients
    Microplastics from Heated Plastics- Microscopic plastic particles smaller than 5mm (microplastics) and smaller than 1 micrometer (nanoplastics) that shed from plastic components when repeatedly heated. Recent studies show heated plastics release millions of micro- and nanoplastic particles per gram. These particles have been found in human blood, placenta, and breast milk, and can carry other chemicals like phthalates and BPA as they leach into food and air.
    ingredients
    Melamine- An organic compound used to make hard, heat-resistant plastic (melamine resin). Found in cheap air fryer accessories, dishes, and utensils. Leaches formaldehyde when heated above 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Not safe for high-heat cooking. Associated with kidney damage and the 2008 Chinese milk contamination scandal.
    ingredients
    Phthalates- A group of plasticizer chemicals used to make plastics flexible and durable. Found in PVC, vinyl, food packaging, personal care products, and kitchen appliance components. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors that affect testosterone and thyroid hormones, with strong evidence linking them to reproductive harm, particularly in developing boys.
    ingredients
    BPS (Bisphenol S)- A common replacement for BPA found in thermal receipt paper, plastics, and food containers. BPS binds to estrogen receptors at similar potency to BPA and has been detected in 81% of Americans tested. Many products labeled BPA-free contain BPS instead.
    Standards met
    standards
    FDA Food Contact Rules (21 CFR)- The U.S. regulatory framework governing every material that can touch your food - from nonstick coatings on air fryer baskets to plastic containers, packaging films, and can linings. Codified in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR), Parts 170-199, these rules define which substances are permitted in food contact applications, what migration limits apply, and how manufacturers prove compliance. Critically, FDA does not pre-approve finished cookware - meaning that "FDA compliant" on a product label is a manufacturer's self-declaration, not a government stamp of approval.
    concepts
    Endocrine Disruption- A broad category of chemical interference in which synthetic substances mimic, block, or interfere with the body's hormone signaling system. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) -- including BPA, phthalates, PFAS, parabens, and flame retardants -- trigger biological effects at extraordinarily low doses, with some of the most concerning effects occurring at levels far below conventional toxicology thresholds. The WHO and Endocrine Society have identified EDCs as a global health threat, with particular concern for fetal development, reproductive function, metabolism, and cancer risk.

    Every term is independently researched and sourced.

    Full Safety Dictionary

    What's inside

    Specs the product listing doesn't explain

    Performance

    What determines how well this performs its core job

    Capacity32 fl oz
    Safety & Materials

    What your food and family come into contact with every use

    Body Material18/8 stainless steel
    Gasket / SealNone (all-metal design)
    Dishwasher SafeYes — fully dishwasher safe
    CertificationsLead-free (third-party tested)
    Living With It

    Noise, maintenance, and what happens if something goes wrong

    WarrantyLifetime
    Other Specs

    Additional product details

    Compartments5
    Empty Weight17 oz (1.06 lbs)
    Leak-ProofNo — open tray design
    Lid ClosureLid lifts off (no latch)
    Chemical ClaimsBPA-free; lead-free (third-party tested)
    Replacement LidsYes — sold on lunchbots.com
    Age RangeKids and adults (all ages)
    Prop 65 WarningNone

    How we scored it

    7 criteria — open any layer to see exactly what we found

    5.4

    Safety

    Poor

    7.9

    Efficacy

    Good

    9.6

    Usability

    Excellent

    Food Contact Material SafetyCritical
    31%
    7.8▾

    Criteria

    Body / Tray Material
    10/10

    The container is solid 18/8 stainless steel — the same grade used in commercial kitchens and surgical equipment. Nothing leaches, nothing degrades, nothing chips. If your child is eating from this daily for 10 years, the material isn't changing.

    Lid & Gasket / Seal Material
    10/10

    There's no silicone ring, no rubber seal, no plastic gasket — just stainless lid sitting on a stainless tray. Mold can't grow in a crevice that doesn't exist. Every surface that touches your child's food is the same metal.

    Chemical Safety Disclosure
    1/10

    LunchBots states BPA-free but the disclosure tier scores at 1. No published PFAS-free declaration or independent chemical panel test was found for the stainless steel products. For an all-stainless design with no coatings, PFAS risk is inherently low — but the documentation isn't there if you need it.

    R3 verdict

    No plastic, no silicone, no coating touches your child's food at any point in this container. The 18/8 stainless steel body and stainless lid are chemically inert — nothing migrates into food regardless of what's packed or how long it sits.

    Third-Party Certification & VerificationCritical
    17%
    1▾

    Criteria

    Third-Party Safety Certifications
    1/10

    LunchBots has stated lead-free but the certification tier scores at the lowest level. There's no NSF cert, no Mamavation listing, and no PFAS lab report attached to the stainless steel line. If you specifically need a brand that publishes full independent lab testing, the Cinco doesn't have it.

    R3 verdict

    LunchBots scores 1/10 on certification verification. There's no NSF certification, no Mamavation approval, and no published PFAS panel results for the stainless steel line.

    The lead-free claim maps to the lowest tier. For families who specifically want independent verification of the full chemical safety profile, the documentation isn't available.

    The all-stainless construction materially reduces the practical risk here, but the paper trail has significant gaps.

    Moderate confidence
    Seal & PortabilityCritical
    12%
    6.2▾

    Criteria

    Leak-Proof Performance
    3/10

    This container will not contain liquids. Dressings, sauces, yogurt, hummus — any wet food will leak during transport. LunchBots is transparent about this: pack dry foods only. If that doesn't work for your family's lunches, this isn't the right container.

    Compartment Design & Capacity
    10/10

    Five sections with different sizes means you can pack a real sandwich in the large compartment, two full sides, a fruit section, and a snack — all in one tray. No stacking, no extra containers. At 32 fl oz total, this is genuinely enough volume for a complete school lunch for ages 4 through adult.

    R3 verdict

    Child-FriendlinessImportant
    17%
    9.2▾

    Criteria

    Ease of Opening for Children
    10/10

    No latches, no clips, no coordination required. The lid lifts straight off. For children in preschool through early elementary, this is the difference between opening their own lunch and asking a teacher for help every day.

    Empty Weight
    8/10

    At 17 oz empty, the Cinco won't dominate a kindergartener's backpack. Add a full lunch and you're typically around 1.5-2 lbs total — within the range pediatric recommendations allow for young children's bags.

    R3 verdict

    The lift-off lid is one of the most child-friendly openings in the category — no latch coordination, no dual-clip struggle, no hand strength required. A 3-year-old can open it.

    Cleaning & MaintenanceImportant
    14%
    10▾

    Criteria

    Ease of Cleaning
    10/10

    Dishwasher, top or bottom rack, every night. No taking apart seals, no hand-scrubbing corners, no mold check. The whole container goes in as-is and comes out clean. That's 180 school nights of zero friction.

    Stain & Odor Resistance
    10/10

    Pack spaghetti sauce today, fresh strawberries tomorrow — stainless steel won't hold the color or the smell. No permanent red staining, no curry smell that won't go away. The container is the same after 500 uses as it was on day one.

    R3 verdict

    Cleaning this container is as simple as it gets: put it in the dishwasher. No gaskets to remove, no seals to air-dry, no crevices to check for mold.

    Durability & LongevityImportant
    10%
    10▾

    Criteria

    Material Durability
    10/10

    Tomato sauce, curry, berries — none of it stains stainless steel. Pack the same container for 5 years and it looks the same. It can dent if it hits concrete at the right angle, but dents are cosmetic. The container still functions perfectly.

    Warranty Coverage
    10/10

    Lifetime warranty at $35 is rare. If a manufacturing defect appears — seam failure, lid fit issue, construction flaw — LunchBots replaces it for free. Buy from lunchbots.com or an authorized retailer to keep the warranty valid.

    R3 verdict

    This is where the Cinco stands out clearly. 18/8 stainless steel doesn't warp, doesn't stain, doesn't absorb odors, and doesn't crack.

    Price EfficiencyNice to have
    0%
    8▾

    Criteria

    Price per R3 Point
    8/10

    Thirty-five dollars for a container that should last a decade with a lifetime warranty. That's around $3.50 per year if it lasts 10 years of daily school use. Compare that to $15-20 plastic containers that need replacing every year or two.

    R3 verdict

    At $34.99, the Cinco delivers strong value — performance justifies the price in most scenarios. Factor in the lifetime warranty and the 10+ year expected lifespan, and the effective annual cost for a daily-use container is low. A solid value proposition in the stainless lunch box category.

    Moderate confidence
    Read the full methodology

    How we scored it

    7 criteria — open any layer to see exactly what we found

    5.4

    Safety

    Poor

    7.9

    Efficacy

    Good

    9.6

    Usability

    Excellent

    Food Contact Material SafetyCritical
    31%
    7.8▾

    Criteria

    Body / Tray Material
    10/10

    The container is solid 18/8 stainless steel — the same grade used in commercial kitchens and surgical equipment. Nothing leaches, nothing degrades, nothing chips. If your child is eating from this daily for 10 years, the material isn't changing.

    Lid & Gasket / Seal Material
    10/10

    There's no silicone ring, no rubber seal, no plastic gasket — just stainless lid sitting on a stainless tray. Mold can't grow in a crevice that doesn't exist. Every surface that touches your child's food is the same metal.

    Chemical Safety Disclosure
    1/10

    LunchBots states BPA-free but the disclosure tier scores at 1. No published PFAS-free declaration or independent chemical panel test was found for the stainless steel products. For an all-stainless design with no coatings, PFAS risk is inherently low — but the documentation isn't there if you need it.

    R3 verdict

    No plastic, no silicone, no coating touches your child's food at any point in this container. The 18/8 stainless steel body and stainless lid are chemically inert — nothing migrates into food regardless of what's packed or how long it sits.

    Third-Party Certification & VerificationCritical
    17%
    1▾

    Criteria

    Third-Party Safety Certifications
    1/10

    LunchBots has stated lead-free but the certification tier scores at the lowest level. There's no NSF cert, no Mamavation listing, and no PFAS lab report attached to the stainless steel line. If you specifically need a brand that publishes full independent lab testing, the Cinco doesn't have it.

    R3 verdict

    LunchBots scores 1/10 on certification verification. There's no NSF certification, no Mamavation approval, and no published PFAS panel results for the stainless steel line.

    The lead-free claim maps to the lowest tier. For families who specifically want independent verification of the full chemical safety profile, the documentation isn't available.

    The all-stainless construction materially reduces the practical risk here, but the paper trail has significant gaps.

    Moderate confidence
    Seal & PortabilityCritical
    12%
    6.2▾

    Criteria

    Leak-Proof Performance
    3/10

    This container will not contain liquids. Dressings, sauces, yogurt, hummus — any wet food will leak during transport. LunchBots is transparent about this: pack dry foods only. If that doesn't work for your family's lunches, this isn't the right container.

    Compartment Design & Capacity
    10/10

    Five sections with different sizes means you can pack a real sandwich in the large compartment, two full sides, a fruit section, and a snack — all in one tray. No stacking, no extra containers. At 32 fl oz total, this is genuinely enough volume for a complete school lunch for ages 4 through adult.

    R3 verdict

    Child-FriendlinessImportant
    17%
    9.2▾

    Criteria

    Ease of Opening for Children
    10/10

    No latches, no clips, no coordination required. The lid lifts straight off. For children in preschool through early elementary, this is the difference between opening their own lunch and asking a teacher for help every day.

    Empty Weight
    8/10

    At 17 oz empty, the Cinco won't dominate a kindergartener's backpack. Add a full lunch and you're typically around 1.5-2 lbs total — within the range pediatric recommendations allow for young children's bags.

    R3 verdict

    The lift-off lid is one of the most child-friendly openings in the category — no latch coordination, no dual-clip struggle, no hand strength required. A 3-year-old can open it.

    Cleaning & MaintenanceImportant
    14%
    10▾

    Criteria

    Ease of Cleaning
    10/10

    Dishwasher, top or bottom rack, every night. No taking apart seals, no hand-scrubbing corners, no mold check. The whole container goes in as-is and comes out clean. That's 180 school nights of zero friction.

    Stain & Odor Resistance
    10/10

    Pack spaghetti sauce today, fresh strawberries tomorrow — stainless steel won't hold the color or the smell. No permanent red staining, no curry smell that won't go away. The container is the same after 500 uses as it was on day one.

    R3 verdict

    Cleaning this container is as simple as it gets: put it in the dishwasher. No gaskets to remove, no seals to air-dry, no crevices to check for mold.

    Durability & LongevityImportant
    10%
    10▾

    Criteria

    Material Durability
    10/10

    Tomato sauce, curry, berries — none of it stains stainless steel. Pack the same container for 5 years and it looks the same. It can dent if it hits concrete at the right angle, but dents are cosmetic. The container still functions perfectly.

    Warranty Coverage
    10/10

    Lifetime warranty at $35 is rare. If a manufacturing defect appears — seam failure, lid fit issue, construction flaw — LunchBots replaces it for free. Buy from lunchbots.com or an authorized retailer to keep the warranty valid.

    R3 verdict

    This is where the Cinco stands out clearly. 18/8 stainless steel doesn't warp, doesn't stain, doesn't absorb odors, and doesn't crack.

    Price EfficiencyNice to have
    0%
    8▾

    Criteria

    Price per R3 Point
    8/10

    Thirty-five dollars for a container that should last a decade with a lifetime warranty. That's around $3.50 per year if it lasts 10 years of daily school use. Compare that to $15-20 plastic containers that need replacing every year or two.

    R3 verdict

    At $34.99, the Cinco delivers strong value — performance justifies the price in most scenarios. Factor in the lifetime warranty and the 10+ year expected lifespan, and the effective annual cost for a daily-use container is low. A solid value proposition in the stainless lunch box category.

    Moderate confidence
    Read the full methodology
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    Where to buy

    Verified retailer — current pricing

    Starting price

    $34.99

    R3 approved retailer Score unaffected by purchase
    Buy on Amazon

    We earn a small commission on purchases. It never influences our scores — R3 is funded by readers, not brands.

    Other Options to Consider

    Alternatives that address specific trade-offs

    Why this matters: You require published third-party PFAS panel testing documentation — LunchBots does not publish PFAS-specific lab results for the stainless steel line.

    PlanetBox Rover Stainless Steel Bento Lunch Box
    Better third-party certification & verification

    PlanetBox Rover Stainless Steel Bento Lunch Box

    PlanetBox

    8.0$69.28

    Scores 5.0/10 on third-party certification & verification vs 1.0 here

    Yumbox Original Leakproof Bento Lunch Box
    Better third-party certification & verification

    Yumbox Original Leakproof Bento Lunch Box

    Yumbox

    6.2$32.99

    Scores 4.0/10 on third-party certification & verification vs 1.0 here

    Monbento MB Square Bento Lunch Box
    Better third-party certification & verification

    Monbento MB Square Bento Lunch Box

    Monbento

    5.3$34.95

    Scores 4.0/10 on third-party certification & verification vs 1.0 here

    OmieBox Insulated Bento Lunch Box for Kids
    Better third-party certification & verification

    OmieBox Insulated Bento Lunch Box for Kids

    OmieLife

    4.7$49.95

    Scores 2.0/10 on third-party certification & verification vs 1.0 here

    Didn't find the lunch box you need?

    See all lunch boxs we reviewed

    #2 of 7 lunch boxs reviewed

    standards
    CPSC Compliance / General Certificate of Conformity- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission sets mandatory safety standards for consumer products. A General Certificate of Conformity (GCC) is a written self-certification manufacturers issue for general-use products. For children's products, a stricter Children's Product Certificate (CPC) is required, backed by independent third-party lab testing. Neither certificate guarantees a product was actually tested correctly - but they do establish legal accountability.
    concepts
    BPA-Free Label Claim- A marketing label indicating a product does not contain bisphenol A (BPA). While it guarantees the absence of one specific chemical, it does not mean the product is free of other bisphenols -- most notably BPS and BPF, which are structurally related substitutes with comparable estrogen-mimicking properties. 'BPA-free' is a starting point, not a safety certification.

    The one gap is chemical disclosure: LunchBots publishes BPA-free and lead-free testing but hasn't issued explicit PFAS-free or phthalate-free claims for the stainless line. With an all-metal design, the practical risk is negligible — but families who need the declaration on paper can't find it.

    The one gap is chemical disclosure: LunchBots publishes BPA-free and lead-free testing but hasn't issued explicit PFAS-free or phthalate-free claims for the stainless line. With an all-metal design, the practical risk is negligible — but families who need the declaration on paper can't find it.

    Moderate confidence
    Moderate confidence

    Five compartments with varied sizing is genuinely excellent for packing a complete, varied lunch — this is one of the best compartment designs in the category. But the open tray design means zero leak-proof capability.

    These two facts exist together: it's the ideal compartment configuration paired with a complete inability to contain wet foods. Families who primarily pack dry lunches won't notice the gap.

    Families who pack sauces, dressings, or yogurt will need separate sealed containers.

    Five compartments with varied sizing is genuinely excellent for packing a complete, varied lunch — this is one of the best compartment designs in the category. But the open tray design means zero leak-proof capability.

    These two facts exist together: it's the ideal compartment configuration paired with a complete inability to contain wet foods. Families who primarily pack dry lunches won't notice the gap.

    Families who pack sauces, dressings, or yogurt will need separate sealed containers.

    Moderate confidence
    Moderate confidence

    The weight (17 oz empty) is well within the acceptable range for school-age children, sitting in the 0.8-1.1 lb sweet spot where stainless steel bento boxes perform best. This combination — easiest possible opening, manageable weight — makes the Cinco genuinely suitable for young children who are expected to manage their own lunch.

    The weight (17 oz empty) is well within the acceptable range for school-age children, sitting in the 0.8-1.1 lb sweet spot where stainless steel bento boxes perform best. This combination — easiest possible opening, manageable weight — makes the Cinco genuinely suitable for young children who are expected to manage their own lunch.

    Moderate confidence
    Moderate confidence

    The entire container — lid and tray — is dishwasher-safe in one piece. Stainless steel's non-porous surface means no color transfer and no residual odor between meals.

    The entire container — lid and tray — is dishwasher-safe in one piece. Stainless steel's non-porous surface means no color transfer and no residual odor between meals.

    Over 180 school days per year, the time savings from zero-friction cleanup genuinely adds up.

    Over 180 school days per year, the time savings from zero-friction cleanup genuinely adds up.

    Moderate confidence
    Moderate confidence

    Pair that with a lifetime warranty and you have a container designed to last from preschool through high school without replacement. The only durability concern is cosmetic denting from drops — which doesn't affect function and is excluded from warranty coverage.

    Pair that with a lifetime warranty and you have a container designed to last from preschool through high school without replacement. The only durability concern is cosmetic denting from drops — which doesn't affect function and is excluded from warranty coverage.

    Moderate confidence
    Moderate confidence