Picnicware

What makes good picnicware

Picnic kit gets dropped on paths, left in the sun and packed in a hurry, so weight, toughness and easy washing count for more than looks. That is why plastic earns its place in a picnic bag: it is light and far more forgiving of a knock than china or glass. Stainless steel is heavier but hard-wearing and less likely to hold on to smells, while silicone is soft and flexible. A few of our pieces are nylon, and some are made using recycled material, which is worth looking out for if that matters to you.

How to pick a lunch bag, lunch box or snack box

Among our picnicware you will find lunch bags, lunch boxes and snack boxes, and which suits you comes down to who is eating, how much and how far it has to travel. A lunch bag holds a whole meal together, a lunch box keeps sandwiches in shape, and a snack box suits fruit and nibbles on a shorter trip.

Check the size against the school bag or rucksack it has to fit, and let a child pick their own: they tend to look after something they chose themselves. A lunch bag that goes to the park at the weekend can just as easily go to school on Monday.

How insulation keeps a packed lunch cool

If you are choosing one of our insulated pieces, it helps to know what insulation does. It does not make food cold; it slows down how quickly warmth from outside reaches what is inside, so the colder the food starts, the longer it stays cool. Chill lunch and drinks in the fridge first, pack the bag or box snugly rather than half empty, and lay an ice pack from your freezer on top, since cold air sinks. Keep it closed and in the shade until you are ready to eat.

Putting together your own picnic set

Ready-made picnic sets are one way to go, but we think putting your own together is better: nothing comes along that you will not use. Start with a lunch bag or box per person, so nobody's sandwiches end up under someone else's, then add snack boxes for the fruit, crisps and biscuits that get passed round. A few of our pieces come as a set of three, handy when there are several of you to pack for. The picnic accessories worth carrying are the ones that keep food apart and your bag tidy.

Picnic gifts for children, teachers and grown-ups

A lunch bag or snack box is a present that keeps being used long after it is unwrapped, especially by a child who has one to call their own. Our picnicware includes a few that make a practical thank-you for a teacher, along with some for her and a few for him. Some suit Christmas, too, and a snack box makes a useful stocking filler. For a bigger gift, pair a lunch bag with a snack box or two.

Washing up when you get home

Some of our picnicware is dishwasher safe and some is not, so check the care notes on the piece you choose. You will also find pieces that are best washed by hand, and some that simply wipe clean.

Whatever the material, empty and rinse boxes as soon as you can, before food dries on, and leave lids off and bags open until they are completely dry, which helps keep smells and mildew away. A paste of bicarbonate of soda and water will usually lift a stubborn smell from plastic, and an afternoon in the sun can fade tomato stains. Avoid abrasive scourers on stainless steel, and wash silicone in hot soapy water, since it can hold on to oily smells.