Why Bento Boxes are my favorite way to pack a lunch for work.
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- Опубліковано 9 тра 2024
- Thank you to WeWork for sponsoring this video! Try WeWork all access at a special introductory price: www.wework.com/solutions/wewo...
📃 RECIPE Link(s)
Salmon Temaki Bento Box Lunch ➡️ www.ethanchlebowski.com/cooki...
Mediterranean Bento Box Lunch ➡️ www.ethanchlebowski.com/cooking-techniques-recipes/mediterranean-bento-box-lunch
Mexican Inspired Bento Box Lunch ➡️ www.ethanchlebowski.com/cooki...
Bento Boxes I used in this video:
Grey - amzn.to/3Xlkjc5
Black - amzn.to/3YrioDG
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📚 Videos & Sources mentioned:
▪ How to Add More Play to Your Life (NY Times Article): www.nytimes.com/2020/08/14/sm...
▪ Bento Box Exploration (Google Arts & Culture): artsandculture.google.com/sto...
▪ The Harmony of 5 Principle in Food: kbjanderson.com/washoku-the-h...
▪ Paolo from Tokyo Video: • Behind the Counter at ...
▪ Imamu Room Channel: www.youtube.com/@imamuroom/vi...
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USEFUL KITCHEN GEAR
🌡Thermapen Thermometer: alnk.to/6bSXCCG
🍳 Made In Wok I use: bit.ly/3rWUzWX
🥌 Budget Whetstone for sharpening: geni.us/1k6kComboWhetstone
🧂 Salt Pig: geni.us/SaltContainer
⚖ Scale: geni.us/FoodScale
🍴 Budget 8-inch Chef's knife: geni.us/BudgetChefKnife
🔪 Nicer 8-inch Chef Knife: geni.us/TojiroChefKnife
🧲 Magnetic Knife Rack: geni.us/MagneticKnifeRack
🥘 Cast iron griddle: geni.us/TheCastIronGriddle
📄 Baking Sheet: geni.us/NordicBakingSheet
🛒 Wire Rack: geni.us/WireRack
🍳 Saucepan: geni.us/Saucepan
🪓 Woodcutting board: geni.us/SolidWoodCuttingBoard
⏱ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
1:33 Why Bento Boxes make the best packed lunch
2:50 What should I put in my Bento?
4:10 What's the best type of Bento Box to buy?
4:58 Bento Box #1
7:32 Bento Box #2
11:14 Bento Box #3
🎵 Music by Epidemic Sound (free 30-day trial - Affiliate): share.epidemicsound.com/33cnNZ
MISC. DETAILS
Music: Provided by Epidemic Sound
Filmed on: Sony a6600 & Sony A7C
Voice recorded on Shure MV7
Edited in: Premiere Pro
Affiliate Disclosure:
Ethan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to [Amazon.com](amazon.com/) and affiliated sites.
Ethan making a complicated bento box just to eat it in his kitchen standing up
Convenience at its finest.
Great to take with you...or just store in the fridge until you are ready to devour ✊
Better than me eating my bento boxes crying in the supply closet at work
@@ColAlbSmi 😂😂
@@ColAlbSmi god bless you brother may you get a bigger secret supply closet with a comfy seat and table 😊
Hiii, random suggestion: I think a video on freezer meals would be amazing! You could do a deep dive on the science of why some things freeze well and others don’t, and different steps you can take to make sure that meals freeze better. I have loved all your meal prep-style videos so far and think this would be super helpful. Love your videos!
this is such a great idea. freezer meals is a super underrated way of doing meal prep!
I agree and will one-up your idea... Let's see some individual serving freezer meals that are pre-sealed in a vacuum sealer and can be taken straight from the freezer and dropped in a sous vide water bath... and ready to eat when you get home from work. Sort of how a crock pot is supposed to work, except you just take one out of the freezer, drop it in the water, and then go to work.
Yes please! In my experience potatoes have way worse texture after freezing, so would like some tips on what potato type and meal works best for freezing.
Ayyyy he got you
Love this idea. Hopefully something similar had been post on his channel recently!
Imamu Room is one of my favorite creators! She definitely deserves the shout out. Not only is her channel the best comfort watch, but I've also gotten several dinner ideas from her bentos! Highly highly recommend her channel to everyone
Came here to say just that! Love Imamu Room!
same! i get a lot of my meal ideas from her too!!
Same!! So glad to see her channel get a shoutout!
I love Imamu Room, the biggest inspiration I've gotten from her channel is that things that feel long & complicated maybe aren't & could make a perfectly reasonable weeknight meal. Oh, and everything is better with kewpie mayo 😁
I loooooove her channel. Her humor is underrated. She cracks me up. I am so happy for them and their new shop too. Great food. I have taken ideas from foods she has made.
To me as an ADHDer with a cooking hobby, this is something I've been doing for a while. The interactivity and novelty of combinations really is the best way to make me eat my "boring" prepared food instead of splurging on something way less healthy and cost-effective. Also, works really well as sort of a charcuterie board thing at home. Got something fresh, a protein, some crunch, something pickled, 1-2 sauces and a way to wrap it up or dip away. Really nice suggestions for themed boxes there!
I love this, I feel similarly but like....... how do you remember to clean your bento box thing with your adhd 😅😭 I feel like I never remember to clean it and I just get stressed abt it when I find it two days later all moldy 🙃
Ty for writing this - university student struggling to pack lunches
@@anemonemilyyy just put it in the dishwasher or leave it to soak in the sink so when you do need to clean, its very easy
I recently found out I have ADHD and have issues with impulsively buying outside food. I recently thought about doing what you're doing and your comment has confirmed that it would be worth my time
@@anemonemilyyy hahaha same, I try really hard to put it in my lunchbox bag, and to make sure to put that on the passenger seat with my purse every day. Therefore, my hope is to remember it with my purse, the latter of which is solidly a habit. Or put your cell phone or something important on top of it to make it more of a habit to bring inside. :)
Loving this! Bento Boxes are very similar to the Dabbawala culture in Mumbai where Dabbawalas (Box-carriers/men) bring food made at home by a spouse or mother to working professionals all over the city. The boxes are usually metal and stacked in three layers and usually follow a bread-protein-veggie system or just bread and veggies for those who are vegetarian. It's amazing how different cultures come up with concepts that seem to similar to each other, independent of each other.
Growing up in Korea lots of kids brought these types of lunch boxes to school, and having ones that could keep your food warm until lunch time was a godsend. Glass meal prep containers wish they were anywhere close to those bento packs.
Meal prep seems lifeless in front of Asian bento or tiffin 🙈
Sorry but you are comparing apples and oranges (two different use cases) there. Glass containers aren't leaving the house, who would want to risk shatter them?
@@Hybridsixtynine I usually take a glass container to school when I need to microwave my food, so does my mom when she goes to the office haha
@@Hybridsixtynine the heat retaining thermal boxes tended to be expensive. Not everyone could afford them, unfortunately.
@@Hybridsixtynine do you mean for kids or in general? a bunch of people including myself bring their meal in glass containers here
The Bento box is awesome, but if you want to eat a hot meal, or you like wetter styles of food such as chili, curries, mac & cheese, or casserole leftovers, you have to go with an Indian Tiffin Carrier. The concept is similar, separate compartments for the separate parts, but a Tiffin is usually metal, (Stainless Steel) carries three to seven separate components, and keeps your food warm for hours. Packing a tiffin for someone is an act of love.
For those who don’t want to buy a new a bento box, I do this but with deli containers stacked on top of each other.
IMO your solution is way better, all around.
What an interesting concept!Would have never considered 'playing' with my lunch in a way to make it more fun to have lunch. Love the channel man
It’s a little more work, but a lot more fun which is well worth it in my opinion!
I tried bento boxes for about a month. They're expensive, hard to clean and a bit small overall. I ended up buying a pile of 'meal-prep' containers from wal-mart when they were on sale so now my lunches are made of stuff that is supposed to be hot. I also have deli containers which work better for soups.
It's not for everyone. Remember that bento started in a country where the traditional dynamic of men working while women stay at home is still prevalent. Bento is made by a stay at home partner for the person who works outside of the home. Taking time to make an elaborate lunchbox in the morning when you have to get out of the door for work is just not feasible for a lot of us. I just make a sandwich, and pop some berries into a plastic box.
@@gemmeldrakes2758 yes. This.
@@gemmeldrakes2758 you're saying the bento can't be made the night before? or prepped on the weekend?
@@gemmeldrakes2758 easy to make with leftovers after dinner, grab and go in the morning. Something this complicated in the morning, if you're not a morning person, would be really hard
@@jetah50 I am often busy on weekends, so I don't get a lot of time for large scale meal prep. I do prepare my sandwich fillings, fruit snacks, etc the night before, and assemble in the morning. It is just not an elaborate bento style prep.
this was a great video, and i appreciated that different cultures were taken into account! just an fyi, the middle eastern spices are called "Zah-tar" (treated like two words) not "Zat-ar". and traditionally theyre used exclusively on bread, so using it for chicken is novel. the food you made looks great, just offering insight as an arab!
Thanks for the info!
It's always nice when the food police show up on scene.
@@hxhdfjifzirstc894 i prefer to be thought of as the culture cop
@@hxhdfjifzirstc894 also i said using it on chicken was novel (meaning new). it's not a bad thing
I didn’t actually know that. In America most (white) people just treat it as one word. Interesting :)
Love the call out to Imamu Room and her Husbentos ^_^ watching her channel actually really helped me out when I was struggling with some food issues.
I love your videos because you don't just show us recipes, you actually go through a logical thought process (which is how it SHOULD be); Changing the way we think about how to approach meal prep is FAR SUPERIOR to just showing a 20 minute video with 4 "look what I made" recipes. Keep doing what you're doing man, I'm a fan.
Thats so kind
Yessss, thank you for the imamu room shout out! I literally love her and her videos so much. She seems like the nicest person and when NOTHING is helping against my insomnia, her videos still helps calm and quiet my mind. Can't recommend her channel enough ✨
This is so lovely and inspiring. My husband and I both work from home and I've been craving ways to add little sparks to make our situations a bit more interesting day to day. This sounds like just the ticket.
Ethan, you make some of the most enjoyable food content on UA-cam! As someone who watches way too many cooking videos across a dozen channels, it’s always inspiring to see what you’re having fun with.
I’ve struggled to make time for lunch at work for many years. Thanks for the encouragement to try something new!
Imamu room is my favourite comfort watch! I definelty was jealous of kids with lunchables my mom would even recreate them in snacks but its wasn't the same lol. I def enjoy making lunches with some sort of function to eating them sushi bowls with seaweed snacks are a real fav. Though not "healthy" pork Katsu is always good cold or hot in a bento format with a cucumber salad and rice
I appreciate you doing this so much, Ethan. I've been watching a lot of yours and other cooking videos as I get serious about my diet for fat loss and thinking through portion control and meal prepping. Bento boxes come to mind frequently. You answered the question in my head without me having a way to ask you. Thank you :)
This is a brilliant video. Love how you tied it in with the sponsor, and combined novelty with taste and healthiness, amazing!
I love bento and have been making them for many years. I love your easy slaw recipe. Got to try that one soon.
FYI, many bento boxes are not microwavable. If that's a feature that you want, then make sure it's listed it on the packaging or item description. Don't assume it'll be fine. Also, a lot of them are hand wash only, so if you want one that's dishwasher safe make sure it is listed as such. One feature that wasn't mentioned that is a huge deal to me is a spill-proof or leak-proof container. Like the previous features I mentioned, don't assume that it'll be fine if it tips over. The best containers with this feature will be hand-wash only because the lid will contain a gasket. Just be aware.
exactly! I don't trust microwaving plastic. even the ones labeled as "safe" still feels bad
@@AndersonSilva_FM and really, all the label "microwave safe" means, is that it won't melt from being microwaved. This doesn't mean that it keeps the food from plastics leeching into it.
Great video Ethan! I was just thinking about pulling out my bento box again. I’m definitely going to take inspiration from you and create some yummy combinations.
Love the ideas for lunches to pack for the office! Keep them coming!
I love making bentos. I usually do a hand roll style one but since salmon can be quite expensive I use canned kippers or sardines in spicy tomato sauce. Super tasty, very inexpensive but still filling enough to keep me going until I get home and can have a heavier meal. I keep my meals light when at work and have the heavier ones at home because I get so sleepy.
Bento boxes just have that vibe to it especially if someone else makes it for you its like a warm hug after a tiring few hours at work.
I just saw this and it is now one of my favorite videos. Here in Montreal, I love taking my chilled bento box to the park with my guitar to practice, my tablet to read and a huge ice water bottle. I'll also sometimes bring a soccer ball to kick around with people. Great content! 🙂
Always looking for more bento box ideas. Thank you
Loved the shoutout to Imamu Room! Her channel has been my source of comfort videos for years
Onigiri (rice balls) are also fun to make. You can make a bento box with a few different fillings to use for onigiri.
Totally love the concept of Bento boxes ! Thank you for inspiration !
I love the concept as well, it makes for a much more enjoyable experience.
Yet more great content and inspiration for our weekly shopping list! Thanks Ethan for improving our meal prep game tenfold and actually creating great healthy food which tastes good👌💪
Just wow. Great video! Really liked the inspiration and the study on Play in adult life you provided. Never saw this concept for Bentoboxes before. Very helpful and inspirational video, thank you!💯🙏🏻
yess thank you soo much i asked for this so many timess
Glad you found something that makes you happy and brings you joy!
I'v been watching both Paolo fromTOKYO and Imamu room for quite some time now! Definitely wasn't expecting one, and definitely not both of them being mentioned in another of my favorite UA-camr's video. I'm glad they are being appreciated. Thank you for always giving us the most high quality videos!
This is such a great idea! I’ve been looking for something like this! Thank you!
THis is a really brilliant concept. I am appreciative that Ethan is covering this. It is really helpful to get ideas from him, because it makes my standard of living better at a lower cost.
This was amazing, thank you!
Thank you for these ideas for lunch. I’m retired but living super close to Disney World and being a pass holder I have daily access to the parks. We decided to start bringing our food to the parks bc everything is ridiculously expensive. Thank you again for this video ❤
yes! I've been interested in getting into bentos this spring/summer as i've started biking more and am curious in convenient and exciting foods to pack for longer bike rides / picnic days
OK Ethan, I love everything you did here. I like to assemble as well, these are great ideas. Keep up the good work.
I’m eating the Asian one now and I had the Mexican one for lunch. They’re amazing! Whenever I can’t figure out what to cook, you always have great timing and recently put up a video. Thanks!
Ethan you are fantastic! Really enjoy your videos
Absoluitely love these kinds of videos!
yes , switched to a bento box style about a year ago for my husband and he loves it:)
Awesome video! Would love to see more bento box ideas, I never have inspiration of what to pack for lunch.
This was great introduction on how to put together a healthy bento lunch. I loved this tutorial.
It’s amazing how you always seem to nail video concepts I’m interested in. You are doing an amazing job of bridging the gap between healthy/prepared and delicious/visually appealing. Gods work my friend!
I really enjoyed this video I'm trying to be healthier during lunches but sometimes get analysis paralysis. Anyway been a big fan for a while now. Thanks for all the work you put into these videos Ethan!
Stunning video again Ethan, long time lurker here. Absolutely enjoying the content right now.
Great video! I love this kind of interactive lunch with all the different textures and colours - the Mexican inspired one really speaks to me! Yum! 😋 they are all great ideas though. I will have to return to the office a few days a week in future so will definitely keep these in mind.
Love your videos, keep up the great work homie :))
you are so creative awesome idea loved it
Thanks for your good tips
Summer is my favorite time to get creative with my 3 compartment bento since I work outside and want to eat cool, refreshing things.
The bento is impressive but what's even more impressive is to learn that WeWork is still around
💛 all your video's mate👍
Food should be fun!!! Thanks for acknowledging this.
Been here since before 150k subscribers. So glad to see Ethan hit 1.5m and the content is still as good as ever. Keep being interesting and innovative!
Imamu! I love her! Thanks for this video inspiration!
Great video and fun idea. Quality of video and graphics is your best here.
When I eat food I really love having a whole bunch of things to try like tapas or sharing plates, so this is a perfect thing for me.
Great video Ethan!
Thanks for these! I've loved using Bento boxes for lunch but I think the larger Mombento boxes that I have are much too roomy for me, and this reminds me that I would love to get more smaller Bento boxes for myself. My hubby can use my pink one too 😸
Great ideas for what to fill them with!
Was making something very similar for my Dad for quite a while now and I'm so happy to learn it has its own name.
My dad isn't a big fan of fish and plain rice rice, so I usually pack him something more European like a couple slices of cold cut meat, funky cheese, fresh bread and soft scramble eggs in the sauce container, and in the large reheat container a whole ready meal like chicken fried pork chop cut into slices with mashed potatoes and gravy, or a "make it yourself" taco set with shredded bbq pork and beans or chili con carne with cilantro rice in reheat container with a couple home made tortillas, pico de gallo, a couple lime wedges and some very mild salsa.
Beats gas station packed sandwiches or roadside cafeterias or the kind of sandwiches dad was making himself in a hurry before leaving for work.
I eagerly anticipate every Imamuroom video!!❣️ And I also love Paulo!!
Great ideas. I always made it a point to physically leave my place of work at lunch. It was just a way to decompress, eat and chill. Afternoon always went better.
I just accepted a new job this year that will require me to go into the office 3 days a week. I'm really not looking forward to it because I enjoy making food at home for lunch. I think this is going to help me get through the in office days!
Mezze platter as lunch is something I'd never thought of, but will definitely try!
Can concur! At Chipotle, I actually order the kids meal tacos. They come in a little box with compartments just like a bento. And there is just something so enjoyable about building my own taco… same concept as the bento! Love this vid :D
I hope they give you your drink in a sippy cup, too. LOL
When I was a kid I knew a few kids who had bento box style lunches in regular old Tupperware containers, and a few who had those tiffin boxes. I LOVE the tiffin boxes for a hot lunch!
Imamu Room is amazing! I’ve loved her channel for also giving me tons of ideas for dishes even if I’m not making a bento.
what an excellent video!!!!
I’m going to be honest, I’ve been kind of doing this without even realizing. I like to make a lot of small components to certain dishes, such as “tacos” or a homemade chipotle Bowl essentially, and i bring all the leftovers in separate little containers and then assemble and eat…. The bento box makes it a lot easier and it’s the same concept. Super cool
These look great
Great idea and great video
I love the whole concept of this video! Weirdly enough, I’d never really thought of a bento box in this light
Haven't seen anyone mention this yet, but god damn you're a good videographer
He has grown A LOT since his first videos.
Feeling that Austin power outage 😥 Hope you were able to stay warm! Thanks for the video.
Glad to see that you know Imamu Room. One of my favourite food channels alongside yours on UA-cam.
She has that comforty and warm vibe to her channel which I absolutely love.
Great video btw.
My favorite bento is to make seasoned rice balls (ongiri), freeze them and put them frozen in the box. By lunchtime the rice has thawed and is ready to eat. The seasoning keeps it fresher (rice wine vinegar and sugar and salt all have preservative properties). I swap fill this out with any protein (air fryer wings are a favorite and can be made ahead) and quite often pieces of lettuce that I use to make wraps. The traditional bento doesn't need to be reheated, but with a modern office most of the time you have the microwave which can open up a whole bunch of options.
Great ideas. At my work I will send up to 20 minutes waiting for the microwave so I have a mini crock pot I got to heat up my proteins. I do like the idea of the bento for my other components because right now I am using a lot of small plastic containers.
the fact that your table was so low was really cool. framed almost perfectly by the counters drawing your eye to the center. for some reason being the shot feels sort of homely.
I would definitely love to make this
I like this! I eat in my work truck and heat up my food on my dash as I drive. Always a struggle to stay healthy but your recipes have helped!
Hey, we have same bento box. I love that thing.
Golden episode
I purchased some of those presses you used on the salmon but you didn't have a purchase link in the description. Either way thanks for showing them I really needed a good press and these will work amazing!
Imamu Room is the most cozy channel to watch😍 i love her.
Great Inspiration for bentos
I AM SO HAPPY YOU MENTIONED IMAMU!!!! I absolutely love seeing a new husbento!!! She’s the best!!❤❤❤
Definitely going to steal that bean recipe for my next taco night!
Glad to hear the reference to Paolo, Ethan! And thanks for the other links in your sources. Do yo still have plans to go to Japan? My wife and I are going in May for a couple of weeks.
While the salmon looks delicious, I beg people to remember to be considerate of coworkers and try to avoid reheating fish in the microwave at work or just any communal space.
That said, using sous-vide, you can cook your salmon at 110F for 45 minutes to get a fantastic soft and buttery fish that is absolutely delicious chilled. I highly recommend doing a 1:1 ratio salt/sugar dry brine for 10 minutes and then rinsing in cold water prior to seasoning (i recommend simply salt, pepper, and fresh thyme) and the bagging in a ziplock with a glob of olive oil to both add a bit of flavour and also act as a lubricant to prevent the extremely delicate fish from falling apart as you pull it out the bag.
^that recipe also works great for a hot suppertime meal if you do it at 120F for 45min but doing it with skin on, and then very quickly searing it on the skin side in a ripping hot non-stick pan after sous vide, that way you get some delightfully just starting to flake fish that has that amazing crunchy salmon skin on the bottom. I dont think it would reheat well though, nor would it be as good chilled
Came here to say the same thing. Don't reheat fish at work.
@@BriceStacey Is it due to the smell ?
@@alexandervlaescu9901 Yes, unfortunately reheated fish is pungent in enclosed breakrooms.
woooo love seeing imamu room getting a shout out. love her channel!
i love this guy
I think you got yourself a new sub, mate!
Thank you for deciphering the Bento box for me.
love this practical oriented style of video, this is why I subscribe to your channel. guides to cooking I can implement in my life. not as big a fan of the theory stuff.
Pleasantly surprised by the shoutout to imamu room, her channel is the ultimate form of relaxation for me!
that's it, I'm getting a bento box! sometimes i would watch husbento videos to relax and now this has convinced me