The Janolia Electric Lunch Box is a slow but genuine desk-side steam cooker, best for office workers without a microwave. Rated 4.3 out of 5 across 956 user ratings. The main drawback: the power cord may sit loosely in its socket. We scored it 4.3 out of 5.
Gentle steam is why food from the Janolia never burns or dries out the way microwaved leftovers can, and it is also why it is slow: a 200W element boiling a little water under two stainless steel bowls takes around 20 to 30 minutes to reheat a lunch and closer to an hour to cook rice from raw. Start it before your break and it turns a desk into a small kitchen.
NoFussDeal rates the Janolia Electric Lunch Box 4.3 out of 5 at $32.99. Last updated September 26, 2026.
A 200W element boils water in the base to steam the food above it, so nothing touches a hot plate.
A deep bowl for rice, soup or oatmeal and a shallow plate for a main or side, both in 304 stainless steel.
The heater switches itself off when the water in the base has boiled away.
A carry handle, safety buckle and transparent anti-spill lid let you pack food at home and cook it at work.
Two of the six owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 91: we started at 86 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.
None of the six owner reviews we read mention it. Score 86: its 4.3 star average on a 100 point scale.
Five of the six owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 91: we started at 86 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.
Janolia lists the product dimensions as 8.27 x 7.87 x 8.27 inches and the item weight as 2.33 pounds. One of the six owner reviews we read mentions it. That owner gave the product four or five stars. Score 86: its 4.3 star average on a 100 point scale.
Five of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 18% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 80: we started at 86 and took off 6 because opinio…
Five of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 18% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 80: we started at 86 and took off 6 because opinion is split.
Janolia lists the capacity as 1300 Milliliters and the product dimensions as 8.27 x 7.87 x 8.27 inches. Five of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 18% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, w…
Janolia lists the capacity as 1300 Milliliters and the product dimensions as 8.27 x 7.87 x 8.27 inches. Five of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 18% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 80: we started at 86 and took off 6 because opinion is split.
68% of ratings are five stars and 14% are four. 7% are three stars and 11% are one or two. The spread skews positive, but enough ratings sit low that the drawbacks below are worth reading. Score 86: its 4.3 star average on a 100 point scale.
Two of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 18% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 80: we started at 86 and took off 6 because opinion…
Two of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 18% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 80: we started at 86 and took off 6 because opinion is split.
Based on 956 Amazon customer ratings, averaging 4.3 out of 5, recorded 12 September 2026. See the reviews on Amazon
| 5 stars | 68% | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 stars | 14% | |
| 3 stars | 7% | |
| 2 stars | 3% | |
| 1 stars | 8% |
I'll be moving soon and rather than a 2-minute commute and hour-long lunches in my comfortable kitchen, I'll be stuck at work over lunch break since my new place is about 25 minutes away. As… Read it on AmazonK · February 25, 2020 · Verified
I watched a lot of videos about these little steamer lunch boxes before I decided on this one. I was skeptical even though there were so many positive reviews. I received mine today and took… Read it on AmazonH · September 11, 2019 · Verified
I use it to cook Oatmeal every morning. It does a great job. I also use it to cook rice, pears and apples. It never burns due to the fact that it only uses steam to cook. I had an intermitte… Read it on AmazonAce Barton · February 2, 2021 · Verified
I been looking into electric lunchboxes recently because I heard of this device recently. I use the microwave a lot, but I don't think it's very healthy so I thought I would try this. But I … Read it on AmazonTheresa · December 31, 2018 · Verified
Wow. If you are watching what you eat and are tired of eating out for lunch but don't like to prepare your food ahead of time, this is for you. I love this thing. Makes a fresh steamed meal … Read it on AmazonSteel · February 18, 2020 · Verified
I ordered this as I was looking for a a food warmer that could make my food warm while I don't have access to a stove, mircrowave or a boiler to boil hot water for coffee or tea. Also I do n… Read it on AmazonMalhar · May 30, 2020 · Verified
Open the top cover and pour water into the base using the included measuring cup. More water means a longer steaming time.
Put food in the deep bowl and the shallow plate. Remove the transparent lid before heating.
Put the cover back on and fasten the safety buckle.
Plug it in and press the button. It turns off by itself when the water runs out, or press the button to stop it early.
Wait for the bubbling to settle, then open the lid away from you to avoid escaping steam.
For most buyers, yes: we score it 4.3 out of 5. The Janolia electric lunch box is more capable than its name suggests.
Rated 4.3 out of 5 across 956 user ratings, with 68% giving it five stars and 8% one star.
Poorly translated instructions with no guidance on water amounts. Spills water and releases steam if not handled carefully.
Wash the stainless steel bowls after each use. Wipe the base clean with a damp cloth once it has cooled.
Put rice with some water or broth in the deep bowl and allow around an hour. Par-cooked rice is faster.
The Janolia electric lunch box is more capable than its name suggests. It does not just warm leftovers; with enough time it cooks rice, oatmeal, eggs and thin cuts of meat, gently and without burning, in two stainless steel bowls. It is quiet, shuts off when the water runs dry and packs up for carrying. The price of that gentleness is speed, and the translated instructions leave you to work out water amounts by trial. Handle it with care around steam and water, and check the cord fits snugly.
A handy steam cooker for fresh hot lunches away from a kitchen, as long as you plan for its slow pace.
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