In my overloaded cupboards, I have about fifty thermoses that I purchased for my kid over the course of her fourteen years of squeamish life, each with the hope of it being the one that would keep her food hot until lunchtime. All failed, until one day, I happened upon this Zojirushi two-compartment thermal lunch jar in a Japanese department store in New Jersey called Matsua. My daughter reported that her veggie chicken nuggets stayed warm for the first time.

Purusing the Zojirushi website, I came upon an energy-saving thermal cooking pot, which is essentially an extension of the thermal lunch jar idea. You bring your stew or whatever to boil on the stove using the inner pan, and then insert the whole thing into an outer container and vacuum-seal it to finish cooking. Perfect for potluck picnics and tailgate parties.