If you reheat your leftovers at the office, you may already know the horrors of the communal microwave. Shared microwaves are hotspots for bacterial growth, plus having to wait for one can be inconvenient. That’s where having the portable Crockpot Lunch Crock food warmer comes in handy. Reviewers call it the “best damn thing ever” and “truly the perfect little lunch gadget!” for heating up lunch on the go, the second you need it. Plus, because it makes food so hot and tasty on the go, reviewers say it’s saving them money on fast food and takeout when traveling, driving, working and otherwise. Right now, it’s on sale for 25% off, making it under $30.
This adorable yet super useful small appliance holds 20 ounces and is ideal for heating up leftover soups, chili, stews, roasts and more.
I first became familiar with this rather interesting gadget when my mom sent me a link to it on Amazon and asked if it was worth buying for her to take to work every day. Being the shopping-obsessed person that I am, I of course set out to find an answer for her and everyone else who brings their own hot lunch to work. It comes with a detachable cord that you simply connect to the warmer and then plug into an outlet whenever you’re ready to eat. It comes in threw colors: black, blue and green.
I bought one shortly after my mom put me onto it — I can confirm the hype and 4.6-star rating is definitely deserved. I’ve found it to be incredibly useful for reheating leftover delivery dishes or cooked meals without having to use my stove or oven. The sweet spot for how long it takes to heat most of my meals is between 30 minutes and an hour.
Reviewers call it “absurdly convenient” for how straightforward it is.
“Plug it in, forget about it, and hours later your food is still warm without being nuked into rubber,” one wrote. “Spill-free, dishwasher-safe, and zero weird smells floating around the break room.”
If you’re concerned about your food spilling all over the seat of your car or inside your bag, fear not. The warmer has a removable storage container and a tight-sealing lid to put your anxieties to rest. “I was able to put it in my work purse and it was bulky or heavy. It didn’t spill in my purse or with the commute over to work from home,” one wrote. “I was able to use the cord and store it back under the crockpot. I have all of my coworkers buying them, so now we no longer have to use the community microwave.”
You won’t even have to worry about burning your hands by touching it, as the outside stays cool and all the hot goodness stays inside. In addition to the top handle, which makes it easy to carry on the go, this leftovers essential is super easy to clean. Both the interior storage container and lid are dishwasher-safe.
Plus, it’s saving users from the dreaded workplace microwave AND making leftovers more appetizing — saving you $$$ on takeout!
“I bought this so that I could take a hot meal to work and not have to use the gross community microwave,” one reviewer shared. “I HIGHLY recommend this item for anyone who has to share a microwave at work.”
Another writes they “load it up with hearty meals (chili, stew, pasta, leftovers that deserve better than a sad microwave),” describing, “by lunchtime it’s warm, cozy, and ready to go.” “On cold winter days, opening this thing feels like cracking open a little food hug,” they said.
Unlike a microwave, which can unevenly heat your food, reviewers say “this mini-crock pot uniformly heats the food to the perfect temperature,” meaning “the leftovers taste more like they did when they were first cooked.”
“...THIS WARMER MADE ME LIKE LEFTOVERS again,” one said. “I received it on Tue and took leftover enchiladas and mexican rice to work the past two days (IN A ROW), and I am absolutely hooked! This is my new favorite kitchen/work gadget.” Others say that this gadget is saving them money, allowing them to have “homemade hot food now on the go.” “All the money we save not buying sandwich meat has more than paid for this gadget,” one wrote.
If you still aren’t convinced that you need the Crockpot Lunch Crock, let these reviews — which make me really hungry — sway you:
“I love this little thing. I hate reheating any type of meat. This crockpot has changed that. The slow warming of the food doesn’t zap the meat and make it taste funny like the microwave. It honestly take 20-30 minutes to heat food up in the crockpot, super quick. The crockpot is perfect for quick meals. I plug it in at my desk and my food is heating up nicely. I did struggle at first figuring out how to plug it in the first time. But after trying another way, everything has worked out perfectly!” — Lucy
“My workplace only has a microwave as a means of heating food. I find that microwaves don’t cook the food uniformly and usually makes me very aware that I am eating leftovers. This mini-crock pot uniformly heats the food to the perfect temperature and the leftovers taste more like they did when they were first cooked. The crock-pot was smaller than I had imagined, but that turned out to be a bonus because it’s easier to pack and transport. I also like the idea that I can leave the actual crock-pot at work and simply bring the inner container to and from work. The twist on seal is very secure and, in my opinion, is far more secure to transport than a Tupperware-type container. The inner container holds almost an entire can of Juanita’s soups...Almost. You’ll have to leave out 5+oz of broth to avoid overfilling, otherwise you’ll make a big mess (don’t ask how I know). If I had read the can I would have discovered that it contains 25oz of soup. This 20oz crock-pot means exactly 20oz. An entire can of Juanitas is pretty filling though, so the size of the inner container is nearly perfect as far as I’m concerned. 5 more oz would make it completely perfect am I right @Crock-Pot Brand. :-p Other reviewers have mentioned that the lid is hard to remove after cooking, and that is true; however, the solution is to remove the rubber steam vent before untwisting the inner lid. The drop in pressure will make the lid way easier to twist off. I never saw a user’s manual in my box but If there is one then this tip should be in it. :-D As long as this product remains reliable I expect to get a lot of use out of it. I’m glad I bought it!” — Zorro!
“This Crock Pot is one of the best purchases I have made since it has already saved me so much money since I am not buying my lunch every day. It holds the perfect amount of food for lunch and is so much more convenient than having to walk across my work building to use the microwave. I like my food HOT so I plug it in about an hour and a half before I plan to eat it and stir the food every 30 minutes or so. I will say that it is kind of spendy for what it is since you can get a full size crock pot for not too much more. Definitely would suggest getting it when it is on sale!” — Advorsak
“Heats up faster than I expected! I have been using it for leftovers, ready in about an hour but I haven’t checked really to see if its warm sooner. I just plug it in about an hour before lunch. This morning I put in quick oats, flax seed, dried fruit and water and drove to work. It seals tights so no worry of spills. Plugged it in and perfect oatmeal! Again I plugged it in and checked on it in a hour. It may have been done sooner. I should pay more attention. I love this thing! It does get really hot too! I dislike having to use the microwave at work for many reasons I’m sure you can understand but the microwave dries things out. This little crock-pot doesn’t dry out my lunch! I don’t know how I managed before having it! Would highly recommend.” — Michelle Wilson
Looking for other seemingly basibuys that have made people’s lives better? Check out this list, courtesy of HuffPost Shopping.
A water bottle cabinet organizer
Kristen Aiken, HuffPost editorial director of life and commerce, said this water bottle organizer “has eliminated water bottles from falling on my head every time I open my cupboard.” Available in two colors and for six, nine or 12 bottles, the mini storage rack fits right in your regular cabinet and is adjustable for different bottle sizes. It has non-slip feet and makes it easy to find the bottle (or travel mug!) you’re looking for without potentially knocking a bunch over like bowling pins in the process.
A handy set of necklace extenders
HuffPost breaking news assignment editor Lydia O’Connor said, “These necklace extenders are not exciting but I had a few necklaces on super short chains and this has made them so much easier to wear. Nice to mix up depending on the cut of your top.” The extenders come in a set of three (2, 4 and 6 inches) in gold, silver or rose gold to match your jewelry. They have lobster clasps to attach to your necklace and add some length, so you’re not stuck with an awkwardly short chain.
A rechargeable clip-on book light
Holmes also shouted out this clip-on reading light, saying, “For anyone who enjoys reading or crafting and it’s too dark, this light has the longest battery life ever. I use it for needlepointing and reading and I’ve maybe only charged it once since I got it in April.” (At the time of publication, that’s three months of use.) The light’s horizontal design covers a wider surface area, perfect for reading, and the three color temperatures and stepless dimming options make it simple to find your preferred lighting. The light clips on to your book for a hands-free experience, and the gooseneck is bendable and flexible.
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