Guide to Choosing the Best Take Out Food Containers

Take out food containers or to go food containers are in high demand, due to the development of delivery services or convenience for customers to take unfinished food with them in the restaurant. No matter for which purpose, taking out the food not only means taking the food out from the restaurant but also means the carry out food containers keep the flavors and freshness of the food until they get home.

What are Take Out Food Containers?

The take out food containers are designed for restaurants and food service providers to pack the food and transport them to their customers who don’t want to eat their meals in the restaurant. These containers can be designed in various sizes, shapes, and materials to accommodate different types of food and beverages.

Types of Take Out Food Containers

Take out food containers have various sizes and shapes to fit different needs, they also can be made in different materials to accommodate different types of foods. Let’s take a look at who are they to serve your take out business.

Sugarcane Containers

Sugarcane containers are a very popular food packaging material in recent years, made from bagasse fiber, the material is biodegradable and compostable, very friendly to our environment. The emergence of this material is great progress in solving the current environmental pollution problems caused by disposable tableware. The take out food boxes made from this material are suitable for hot food, cold food, greasy food, fast food, desserts, and bento meals.

See why sugarcane bagasse fiber is a good material to make food packaging.

Plastic Take Out Food Containers

Plastic take out food containers are also one of the choices for food packaging, this type is clear and easy to show customers what’s inside, suitable for displaying some food for sale or beautifully presented food. These containers come in a great variety of sizes and styles to choose from.

Aluminum Foil Take Out Containers

The aluminum foil take out containers are a great choice for the food that needs to stay hot. The aluminum foil can keep the temperature of the food in the container during transportation, so this type of food container is suitable for roasted chicken, grilled meats, cakes, pies, and BBQ dishes. The aluminum foil food container can also prevent the moisture from sinking in, so you can store the food in the refrigerator for a long time. The foil container is normally round and rectangular, very suitable for takeout.

Paper To Go Containers

Paper to go containers are convenient and flexible, can be made in various sizes and shapes, suitable for holding salads, cold noodles, sandwiches, pastries, bread, muffins, cookies, cakes, and brownies.

Styrofoam Takeout Containers

Styrofoam takeout containers are made from insulation foam, suitable for keeping the temperature of the food, like keeping the hot food hot and keeping the cold food cold. Suitable for serving food like pasta, casseroles, grilled or roasted meats and vegetables, French fries, fried chicken, onion rings, curry, chili, and gravy, etc.

Tamper Evident To Go Containers

Tamper evident to go containers are very popular because they can greatly ensure the safety of the food inside the container and can effectively prevent food leakage. No one could open this food container unless you destroy it.

Deli Containers

Deli containers are suitable for serving cold items that need to be heated when you take them to home. They can be in various sizes and shapes to hold hot and liquid like items, which is an essential takeout food container for delis and restaurants.

Clamshell To Go Containers

Clamshell to go containers are also one of the popular take out food containers and are widely used by different food providers. The one-piece design and excellent sealability make the container suitable for serving various foods, like salads, fruits, desserts, and fast food, a great choice for takeout business.

To Go Bowls with Lids

If your restaurant provides the service for catering or takes large group orders or offers family dining, the to go bowls with lids are essential for you. They can be made from plastic or plant-based fiber and can be provided in different sizes, styles, and shapes.

Portion Cups and Lids

Portion cups and lids are essential for sauces, dressings, dips, and more. They are mainly made from 3 materials: paper, plastic, and plant-based fiber, making it easy to take away the condiment. When your customer orders multiple types of condiments, you can use them to pack. The portion cups also help you to control the portion of condiments.

Compartment Food Containers

Nowadays, the take out food containers also have multiple-compartment designs and can be made into various sizes and shapes, according to the specific foods you want to serve. The compartment food containers are widely used in school canteens, company canteens, enterprise and institution canteens, and cafeterias, convenient for separating various foods.

What to Consider Before Choosing the Best Carry Out Food Containers?

Like what you see above, there any various kinds of carry out food containers serving food suppliers, but which one is best for you, this needs to be based on the actual needs. Let’s see what you need to consider before selecting the best to go food containers.

Food Size and Shape

The size and shape of the food you want to fit into the food containers decide the size and shape of the to go food containers. For example, if you order rectangular-shaped food, we need to use rectangular-shaped takeaway food containers to pack.

Thermal Retention

If you have a request on the temperature of the delivery food, you need to choose the food container material that performs well in temperature control, such as aluminum foil, Styrofoam, etc.

Leak-Proof Design

If the food you are selling has liquid, oil, or sauce, you need to pay special attention to the food container you order must have a leak-proof design.

Vented Design

If you don’t need to keep the food warm, or you want to reheat your food after you get home, you can choose a take out container with a vent design, which can effectively prevent the food in the box from getting soggy.

Divided Design

Do you supply fast food or various foods and your customers don’t want to mix them into one container, you can choose the compartment food container to let each food fit in each compartment.

Environmental Protection

The environmental problems caused by disposable packaging have become very serious, and people from all walks of life are paying close attention to them. Therefore, when choosing takeout boxes, we need to pay more attention to their environmental friendliness. For example, bagasse containers are both biodegradable and compostable, while plastic, aluminum foil, and foam packaging boxes bring very poor environmental problems.

Cost Effectiveness

Although packaging materials are a very small part of the total cost of a restaurant, some companies are also very concerned about the price of disposable packaging. Therefore, after choosing the takeaway box that is suitable for your restaurant, you also need to pay attention to the price of this packaging box.

Visualization

If you’d like to promote your brand, and your restaurant logo, you need to choose the to go food containers that could print your idea on them. If you want to display the food to your customers, you’d better choose a container with a clear lid.

Local Policy

Some countries or regions prohibit the use of plastics, while others prohibit the use of foam. Therefore, you need to purchase the corresponding carry out food container materials based on the actual local conditions.

What Needs to Pay Attention When Pack the Food for Delivery?

No matter this is your takeaway order or your guests need to pack up their leftovers, you need to know how to pack this food for the best delivery quality, please refer to the below steps:

Pack Cold and Hot Food Separately

If one customer orders hot and cold food together, please do not pack them together, you need to pack them in the insulated bags separately.

Pay Attention to Drink Takeaway Orders

If your customer also orders the drink or beverage, you need to ensure the tightness of the container/cup lid and use the disposable drink carriers as extra protection.

Pack Fried Foods in Vented Food Containers

If you sell fried foods and customers order takeout orders, you need to package them in vented containers to keep the food crispy.

Place a Label on the Seal

To ensure the safety of the food during transportation, it is better to place a label on the seal. When the order reaches the customer, the label is intact, which means no one has opened the food during the process.

Are Take Out Food Containers Microwavable?

When your customer gets their takeaway food, they may not eat immediately, so it is better to pack your food with microwavable food containers so that your customers do not need to change to their own plates or bowls and need to wash them.

Whether food containers are microwavable or not, depends on the container material. Like what you see above, we talk about the commonly used food container material, and whether are they all microwavable. Let us have a look.

The Materials of Carry Out Containers that CAN Microwavable are:

• Polypropylene (PP) Plastic Containers
• Certain Paper Containers (with special coating)
• Sugarcane (Bagasse) Containers
• Cardboard Containers ( but not all, need to confirm specific markings )

The Materials of Carry Out Containers that CAN NOT Microwavable are:

• PLA (Polylactic Acid) Containers
• Styrofoam Containers
• Aluminum Foil Containers

How Much Do Take Out Containers Cost?

The price of take out containers will vary depending on different materials, sizes, designs, and other elements. Here is the normal price of disposable containers on the market, you can have a look.

Plastic Containers: PP or PET food containers normally range from $0.1-$0.5 per pc.

Styrofoam Containers: Foam food containers normally range from $0.05-$0.20 per pc.

Aluminum Containers: Aluminum foil food containers normally range from $0.20-$0.60 per pc.

Paper Containers: Paper containers normally range from $0.10-$0.40 per pc.

Sugarcane (Bagasse) Containers: Bagasse fiber food containers are normally ranging from $0.15-$0.50 per pc.

PLA (Polylactic Acid) Containers: PLA food containers normally range from $0.20-$0.60 per pc.

Cardboard Containers: Cardboard food containers normally range from $0.10-$0.40 per pc.

If you want to wholesale take out containers or in the carry out containers wholesale business, contact Eco March to get wholesale prices! We also offer customization services to support your business.

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