Product Review: The Bento Lunch Box by Black+Blum

Thanks to my friends at Reuseit.com, I've got a handy little bento box to show you this week that is a fantastic addition to my waste-free lunch arsenal of lunch bags and boxes. The Bento Lunch Box by Black+Blum is a cute little tray about 2.5” high x 7.5” wide x 4.5” deep. It has a deep tray with a removable divider that you can use to separate foods (or remove it all together like I do most of the time). It comes with a small sauce container that holds about 1 ounce of sauce or dressing, and when the sauce container lid is open, it can be propped nicely on the side of the container so it doesn't fall. There's a fork clip on top of the box (you can put chopsticks here too), and the included fork is rounded to make scooping easier and features an angled edge on one of the prongs to act as a "knife" for cutting. The clear lid doubles as a small plate with a small reservoir for sauce, a feature I found really handy.

The box looks nice and has a sturdy feel to it -- it's not cheap or flimsy. The clear lid is sturdy, and the closing clips lock tight, though I don't think the lid is really leak-proof -- I wouldn't use this box for soup. The main tray is small, so don't expect to pack a big salad in this box, but it is the perfect size for rice or pasta-based lunches. A lunch-size serving of homemade fried rice fit perfectly and was quite filling. A small portion of meat and potatoes would fit as well, though I won't be using this small box for my husband's lunch anytime soon (maybe my son's though!) The small size makes it perfect for carrying snacks as well. I tried it for some tabbouleh and used the divider to carry some pita triangles on the other side, and the divider protected the pita from getting damp (win!).  To me, this box is screaming "sushi!" but since I don't make sushi at home, I haven't gotten to test that theory.

The bento box is BPA-free polypropylene and copolyester. The box is microwave safe up to 2 minutes, and it's dishwasher safe. The lid should be opened before microwaving, and there's a handy white pressure-release valve on top as well.

Pros:

• Small size is easy to carry
• Tight, clear lid lets you see inside
• Handy sauce container plus a sauce reservoir on the inside of the lid
• Fork clip
• Tray size is perfect for one healthy-size serving, rice or pasta-based lunches probably working best

Cons:

• Small size may not be big enough for big eaters
• Sauce container can be a little awkward to dip into, better to pour sauce into lid to dip
• Fork isn't covered -- I prefer my fork to be protected to keep it clean

Black+Blum, a partnership between Dan Black and Martin Blum, is based out of London. Black+Blum also makes a larger Box Appetit Lunch Box and this Lunch Pot (which I'm dying to try next!)

Disclaimer: I was given the item above to review by Reuseit.com. I was not paid to write this review. I am an ambassador for Reuseit.com in hopes of promoting a waste-free, reusable lifestyle. The views expressed above are my honest opinions of the product reviewed.